Hard Light Productions Forums

Off-Topic Discussion => General Discussion => Topic started by: TrashMan on March 28, 2008, 02:25:35 pm

Title: A kind of a stupid question
Post by: TrashMan on March 28, 2008, 02:25:35 pm

What exactly is the difference between the terms lighting and shading (in 3D graphics)? I've seen them used for the same thing more often than not in various literature.

From what I gather they mostly are the same thing, only lighting focuses more on the light sources and their properties, and shading on the way a pixel on a polygon surface (pixel) is coloured.

so lighting - determinign the type of light (directional, spotlight, omni, etc..)

shading - calculating how a surface is calculating color for the light (phong, flat, gouraud)

any thoughts?

Title: Re: A kind of a stupid question
Post by: Nuke on March 29, 2008, 04:39:16 am

lighting should be the placement of lights in a virtual scene (duh). and shading is how that light behaves when it interacts with a surface. i think.