Shotlisting Just Got A LOT Better! Set a Light 3D Review

Summary

In this video, the creator extends his exploration of the Blackmagic Ursa Mini Pro 12K and introduces a new favorite software, Set A Light 3D by Elixir Software. This innovative tool allows users to design 3D sets and lighting arrangements, offering realistic previews to streamline the setup process. The creator demonstrates the software's capabilities by recreating a dramatic lighting setup in real life, showcasing its potential to save time and effort on set. Despite minor adjustments needed due to differences in lighting equipment, the software proves to be a valuable asset for filmmakers and photographers alike.

Takeaways

• 📹 The video creator received an extension to use the Ursa Mini Pro 12K camera for another week and will be posting a final update video next Friday.
• 💡 They discovered a new software called Set A Light 3D through an Instagram ad, which is developed by Elixir Software.
• 🎨 Set A Light 3D allows users to create a 3D set or environment and simulate different lighting setups, including lights, reflectors, modifiers, cameras, and actors.
• 🕵️‍♂️ The software provides a realistic preview of lighting setups, which is beneficial for planning shoots and avoiding time-consuming on-set adjustments.
• 🚀 The creator highlights the convenience of testing lighting setups on the computer before physically setting them up, which saves time and effort.
• 🖥️ The video demonstrates how to use the software by creating a unique setup with different color temperatures and a dramatic look.
• 📈 The software interface includes a work area for designing the 3D room and a preview pane to see the camera's perspective, with adjustable camera controls.
• 🔍 There is a mention of a scaling issue with the software on ultra-high-resolution monitors, but it does not affect the functionality.
• 🎨 The creator plans to test the accuracy of the software by recreating a lighting setup in real life based on what was designed in the software.
• 🔧 After setting up the lights in real life, the creator notes that while the software is useful, adjustments are needed due to differences in light models and power outputs.
• 📈 The video concludes with the creator achieving a lighting setup close to the one designed in the software, demonstrating the software's practical application.

Q & A

What is the purpose of the software 'Set a Light 3D' mentioned in the video?

The purpose of 'Set a Light 3D' is to allow users to create a 3D set or environment for filming and to set up different lights, reflectors, modifiers, cameras, and actors to preview how the lighting setup will look realistically.

Why is the 'Set a Light 3D' software beneficial for filmmakers?

The software is beneficial because it enables filmmakers to experiment with lighting setups virtually, saving time and effort that would otherwise be spent physically adjusting lights on set, especially under tight deadlines or when working with clients.

How does the video creator plan to demonstrate the accuracy of 'Set a Light 3D'?

The creator plans to demonstrate the software's accuracy by setting up a unique lighting scenario in the software, saving the layout, and then attempting to recreate the exact lighting setup in real life to compare the results.

What is the issue the video creator faces when trying to match the lighting setup from 'Set a Light 3D' in real life?

The issue faced is that the creator does not have the exact make and models of lights as represented in the software, which requires them to adjust the intensity and positioning of the lights to approximate the virtual setup.

What is the video creator's opinion on the usefulness of 'Set a Light 3D' after testing it?

The creator finds 'Set a Light 3D' useful as it helps them understand the style and look of the lighting setup, even though some tweaking is necessary due to differences in the actual lighting equipment used.

What is the video creator's strategy for dealing with the lack of exact lighting equipment in 'Set a Light 3D'?

The creator's strategy is to use lights that are relatively close to those in the software and then adjust the intensity and positioning to get as close as possible to the desired setup.

What is the video creator's experience with setting up lights when filming with a client?

The creator mentions that when filming with a client, there is usually a strict deadline and schedule, which puts time pressure on setting up lights efficiently without causing delays.

How does the video creator describe the process of setting up lights in their own studio?

In their own studio, the creator has more flexibility and time to experiment with different lights, softboxes, grids, and setups to see what works best for their YouTube videos.

What are some of the features of 'Set a Light 3D' that the video creator highlights?

The creator highlights features such as the ability to design a 3D room, preview camera angles, change camera settings like shutter speed, and customize characters and lighting equipment within the software.

What is the video creator's final verdict on the effectiveness of 'Set a Light 3D' in replicating real-life lighting setups?

The creator concludes that 'Set a Light 3D' is effective in getting about ninety percent of the way to the desired lighting setup, with some manual adjustments needed due to differences in actual lighting equipment.

Outlines

00:00

🎥 Introduction to the Ursa Mini Pro 12K and Set a Light 3D Software

The video starts with the host welcoming viewers to a new update on the Blackmagic Ursa Mini Pro 12K camera, which they have been allowed to keep for an additional week. They invite viewers to comment with any remaining questions and to subscribe for notifications about the upcoming video release. The main focus of the video is to introduce and discuss a new software discovery called 'Set a Light 3D' by Elixir Software. This software allows users to create and preview 3D environments and lighting setups for filming, which can be particularly useful for planning shoots under time constraints or when working with clients. The host shares their personal struggle with setting up lights efficiently and how this software can help streamline the process by allowing for virtual testing and adjustments before actual filming.

05:03

💡 Exploring Set a Light 3D Software Features and Setup

The host dives deeper into the features of Set a Light 3D, demonstrating how it can be used to design a 3D room, preview camera angles, and adjust lighting with various modifiers. They mention a minor scaling issue with the software's interface on high-resolution monitors but find it manageable. The video proceeds with a practical demonstration where the host sets up a unique lighting scenario within the software, including a mix of different color temperatures and colors for a dramatic effect. They plan to recreate this virtual setup in real life to test the software's accuracy and utility. The host also discusses the types of lights and modifiers available in the software, such as sky panels, re lights, and various brands like Kino Flo, Aperture, and Titan Tube lights, noting that while they don't have every exact piece of equipment, they can approximate with what they have.

10:04

🔍 Real-life Testing of Set a Light 3D Software

The host moves on to the practical application of the Set a Light 3D software by setting up a real-life version of the virtual lighting scenario they created. They detail the process of adjusting the lights to match the software's layout, including the use of a Blackmagic Pocket 6K camera and an Irix millimeter cine lens. They address the challenges of replicating the software's setup with different equipment and the need to tweak light intensities and angles to achieve a close match. After some adjustments, they conclude that while the software doesn't perfectly replicate the real-life setup due to differences in lighting equipment, it provides a valuable tool for planning and getting approximately 90% of the way to the desired look. The host wraps up by asking for viewer's opinions on the software's effectiveness and reminds them to watch for the upcoming Blackmagic 12K video.

Keywords

💡Ursa Mini Pro 12K

The Ursa Mini Pro 12K is a professional digital film camera produced by Blackmagic Design, known for its high-resolution capabilities. In the video's context, the creator mentions having the camera for an extended period, which implies they are testing or reviewing it. The camera is central to the video's theme as it is the device being used for the lighting tests and demonstrations.

💡Set a Light 3D

Set a Light 3D is a lighting design software created by Elixir Software. The software allows users to create and visualize 3D lighting setups for photography or videography. It is highlighted in the video as a new favorite tool that helps in planning lighting arrangements efficiently. The video's creator uses it to design a lighting setup before attempting to replicate it in real life.

💡Lighting Setup

A lighting setup refers to the arrangement and configuration of light sources in a photography or film set. In the video, the creator discusses the challenges of setting up lights in a studio and how Set a Light 3D helps to preview and plan the lighting before actual shooting. The term is central to the video's theme as it discusses the process of creating a dramatic lighting effect.

💡Modifiers

In photography and videography, modifiers are tools used to change the quality of light produced by a light source. Examples include softboxes, grids, and diffusers. The video script mentions using modifiers within the Set a Light 3D software to simulate the effect of different light modifiers on the subject.

💡Camera Controls

Camera controls refer to the settings and adjustments made to a camera to achieve desired visual effects. The video mentions changing camera controls such as frame, crop factor, aspect ratio, and shutter speed within the Set a Light 3D software to simulate the camera's perspective and how it captures the lighting setup.

💡Diffusion Panel

A diffusion panel is a type of modifier used to soften and spread light from a light source. In the script, the creator uses a diffusion panel in the software to simulate the effect of softening the key light in their lighting setup, which is an important aspect of achieving the desired lighting look.

💡Color Temperature

Color temperature refers to the color characteristics of light sources, measured in Kelvins. The video discusses using different color temperatures to create a mixed and dramatic lighting effect. The creator uses RGB lights and colored gels to achieve this in the software and later in the real-world setup.

💡Intensity Levels

Intensity levels describe the brightness or strength of a light source. The video script mentions adjusting the intensity levels of the lights in the software and then replicating those levels in the real setup to match the preview created by Set a Light 3D.

💡Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 6K

The Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 6K is a compact digital film camera known for its high image quality. In the video, it is used as the camera for the real-life replication of the lighting setup designed in the software. It exemplifies the practical application of the software's capabilities.

💡Irix Millimeter Cine Lens

The Irix Millimeter Cine Lens is a high-quality lens used for cinematography, known for its sharpness and image quality. The video mentions this lens being used on the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 6K, indicating the creator's commitment to using professional-grade equipment for their tests.

Highlights

Blackmagic extended the loan of the Ursa Mini Pro 12K for an additional week.

The video will be posted next Friday with a request for remaining questions in the comments.

Introduction of a new favorite software, Set A Light 3D, discovered through an Instagram ad.

Set A Light 3D is created by Elixir Software and allows for 3D set creation and lighting simulation.

The software provides a realistic preview of lighting setups for filming.

The creator discusses the challenges of setting up lights in a time-sensitive environment.

Set A Light 3D can save time and effort by simulating light setups digitally before physical setup.

A demonstration of the software's accuracy by recreating a digital setup in real life.

The software interface includes a work area for 3D room design and a camera preview pane.

Issues with button scaling on ultra-high-resolution monitors are mentioned.

Customization options for characters and posing within the software are highlighted.

The software includes a variety of lighting options and modifiers for realistic setups.

The creator discusses the limitations of not having exact lighting equipment in the software.

A step-by-step guide on setting up a lighting scenario in the software is provided.

Exporting the lighting layout from the software for real-life setup is demonstrated.

The real-life setup process is shown, including adjustments to match the software simulation.

Final thoughts on the software's usefulness and the need for fine-tuning with actual equipment.

A call to action for viewers to share their thoughts on the software and a reminder for the upcoming Blackmagic 12K video.

Transcripts

hey what's going on everybody welcome

back to another video and

just wanted to give you guys an update

blackmagic actually let me have

the ursa mini pro 12k for another week

and so if you have

any remaining questions for this i'm

starting to wrap up

this video to be posted next friday

don't forget to comment down below and

make sure you're subscribed so you get

notified

when this comes out but today i want to

talk about my new

favorite piece of software that i

stumbled upon through

a instagram ad and the spaces software

is called

set a light 3d it's made by a company

called

elixir software now what this software

does is basically

allows you to create a basic 3d set

or 3d environment where you may be

shooting

and it allows you to set up different

lights and reflectors and modifiers and

cameras and actors

and basically give you a realistic

preview

of what that lighting setup is going to

look like

now to me this is huge because one of

the things that i've battled with

over the years is knowing exactly

what lights to set up in which way you

see when i'm filming in my own studio

for my own youtube videos

i'm not really under any too much time

pressure i can pretty much play around

with the lights see what works what

doesn't work what i like what i don't

like but if i'm going to

film with like a client for example and

we have a very strict

deadline and schedule for what that

shoot day looks like and

even if it is a little bit more loose

you still have people waiting around

while you're

trying to figure out where to set up

lights the other logistical issue

with playing around with lights is when

you're by yourself it can just take a

lot of effort

to try something new i mean this new set

that i created here

took quite a few hours of playing around

with different lights

different softbox sizes grid no grid

and so that's where a software like this

comes into play

because you can basically do all of that

testing and playing around

on your computer without having to

physically move any light stands around

and instantly see what sort of final

result you're going to

get so what i want to show you guys real

quick today is how accurate

this software actually is so what i want

to do first is go on the

computer go on the piece of software and

create kind of a basic set that is a

little bit more unique and i want to use

maybe a mix of different color

temperatures or different colors in

general

do something a little bit more dramatic

set everything up and then i'll be able

to actually

save the lighting layout that you can

print out or save to your phone

and then in real life i'm going to

copy the exact settings will be a fun

little test

so let's get to it hey we're on my

computer and lighting's terrible

only said one light so that's going to

look all dramatic

but that's fine we're not here for my

face and it goes to the wrong screen

boom here we go we have uh satellite

all set up here and again i'm not going

to go through the

entire interface but basically the

gist of it is over here is kind of your

work area where you can

completely design the 3d room

and then on the right side here you have

basically a preview pane

of what the camera is seeing and so if i

move this around

can change the angles i can go

tripod up tripod down

and you have all these camera controls

and by the way

if all the buttons look super small to

you it's because we're on my 5k

monitor if you have like a 1080p

or 4k monitor the buttons look a lot

bigger

so the software seems to have a little

bit of a scaling issue

on ultra high res uh monitors

but it's personally fine by me i don't

really care

but yeah you can change between full

frame uh different crop factors

aspect ratios your shutter speed pretty

much the

entire thing right so let's go ahead

and get set up i'm actually going to

delete these lights so let's zoom out

here so what we're going to do is i

actually have

a orange backdrop so what i did is kept

the default backdrop and they have a

bunch of like

actual uh colors here

all right so they have savage which i

believe mine is savage

i got the orange one cool and

that's actually not going to be the main

focus i'm going to move this back here

move our dude and what's cool is you can

totally uh customize everything about

this person

and then if we go into posing mode you

can like

do everything i mean these are like

fully rigged bodies

so you can do some pretty crazy

things with it so across the bottom we

can see all of our different

lights and modifiers again a lot of this

is going to be for still photography

but if you go to permanent lighting

again we can see

our sky panels we can see our different

re lights

uh got some other panels over here looks

like kino flows

and then looks like we have a aperture

300d

yep 300d mark ii we got titan tube

lights

got ring lights all the goods all the

basic necessities and so i don't have

titan tubes but the pavo tubes

should uh give off a pretty similar vibe

so

first things first let's go ahead

and get a 300d because i use

nan light lights but they're cobs

so it should do the trick now can i

add a modifier to this

all right so you can't add like a

softbox onto the light

so what i did in the past is i would

just grab one of these like photography

domes one that would have like the

relative size

of my permanent light and it wouldn't be

exact

but kind of the trick for this one i'm

going to try something different

i'm going to try

all right so i want this kind of to the

side of me

i'm going to put it further back because

under

the helper so i have diffusion panel

first let me get my

framing here i want to be at a

i'm gonna say a 45 and then you can of

course change the

intensity of the light oh nice yep you

can change

the reduction so this is actually three

stops it's actually a quarter of a stop

what

am i at 180 degree oh there's my my f8

so i'm gonna go like f4 there we go

that's starting to

look more normal i really like the

performance of this two you can see when

i start to drag around lights the

preview pane in the right

kind of goes real bad quality for a

second and then when

i let go of everything it kind of goes

back to its

uh 1080p preview i'm actually going to

add a negative fill right here because i

don't want that

spill you can see that when i remove it

spilling onto the background

and i want to light that separately all

right so now we got

basic uh setup going on right there

so i'm not really liking the strength

that this

is putting out here let me yeah

just can't delete that all right so

let's say we just throw another

spotlight on it

and we're going to turn down the

intensity i'm going to say like

and we'll yeah we'll keep the lights

stand in frame i kind of dig it

and then on this side of the face i want

kind of a mixed

color temperature so let's see is there

any like

rgb i'm going to take a sky panel

because this is similar to

a rgb light that i have i'm gonna bring

that

intensity down a bunch and we're gonna

go

off a blue light maybe and then what if

we take

a light tube on this side just out of

frame

if i did red alrighty people we kind of

have

the setup this time what i'm gonna go

for i guess

and so if i go to the export section

here we can see that want to

export is this make like a pdf or

something and yeah

just like we saw it's not super

high res or anything maybe i can adjust

those uh

settings but all right so now time to

see if we do this exact setup in real

life

how close will look to this

alrighty first step we have the black

magic pocket

6k uh setup given the good old 12k

rest we have the irix

millimeter cine lens on top i need time

to

lower this guy

by the way i already know someone's

gonna comment about all the crap on my

shirt just knows that uh it's called

having kids

and i don't really care i'm not changing

it for the video so

deal with it but let's see we're trying

to match

[Music]

this guy right here so we can see part

of the wall

so it's not the entire backdrop so it's

kind of at

an angle so let's move

this to where

oh pretty close

[Music]

so we can see on this graph here that

our main

uh settings here oh man i totally

butchered that

working mistake iso 100

i wasn't thinking it's late well here

goes nothing

we are now at iso 100

and t4 right on the mountain

[Music]

all righty so we have all the basic

lights set up

now the most important thing is to kill

all the other sources kill the over top

lights

have our orange background check a light

shooting onto the background

check i have a tube light with a red

hue boom we have a what would be

sky panel check and we have our source

which technically i know i set this up

to do this going through diffusion and

then

having a bounce but softbox will do

so the very last thing that i did from

the computer is i went around to all the

lights

and put them on the exact

intensity levels that it showed on the

computer

if i were to sit down in front of that

camera

and show the angle hopefully the focus

is pretty decent

uh this isn't looking exactly right

the reason this isn't looking exactly

like it is

in the satellite software is because

as i mentioned before i'm only using

lights that are relatively close to the

ones

in the software and this is where the

lack

of video current equipment list

on there is kind of a con because while

this does

get me very close and that makes me feel

like the software is still

useful you do have to compensate for

the different specifics of the lights

for example

my key light is a 500 watt

not a 300 d a 300 watt

from aperture it's also going through a

soft box and which is a different level

of diffusion

tube light this light this light

they're all different power output

settings and so

i'm gonna have to dial it in more and

kind of just play around with the

intensities of all the lights

in order to get it as close as i can to

the uh one in the software so let me

dial it in and see if i can get it a

little

bit closer with some playing around so

i'd say that i have it locked in

to be as close as i can probably get it

with just around

five extra minutes of playing around

with the intensities

i also changed up the angles a little

bit this i moved

more towards the edge so that way you

can actually

it's catching more of the uh orange

background

the blue light was a little too much in

front of me so now it's more directly

on the side also lower the intensity i

moved

the uh red light here a little bit

further away so it was

a little less intense and honestly it's

almost a little disappeared so i

probably could bring it back or raise

the intensity slightly

and then my big key light is essentially

on like

two percent intensity even that's still

looking

a little bit strong but yeah this is

kind of setup

i definitely think that the satellite

software helped

it allowed me to understand what the

style was going to look like

but because i didn't use the exact make

and models

of the lights in there you do have to

play around with the intensities a bit

but it gets you about ninety percent of

the way there

pretty cool so there you guys have it uh

what do you think about this piece of

software do you think it was pretty

close

do you think it was pretty far off and i

still had to tweak things

like i said before all this stuff will

be linked down in the description below

if you want to check it out don't forget

to come back next week for my big black

magic

12k video thanks so much for watching

i'll see you in the next video