Notes about Diffuse Lighting and Direct Lighting

Hey guys, 

Here are some examples that I have done in the past to illustrate the difference between diffuse lighting and direct lighting. The key differences I've noticed are listed below:

Direct Lighting:

1) Direct lighting has a strong light source, therefore, the shadows should be strong and clean shapes.

2) Direct lighting is usually tinted by sunlight, so everything around it is influenced by the color of the sun. 

3) The strong light source usually causes there to be a lot of bounce light in all shadow areas. 

Diffuse Lighting:

1) Local color shows through. Not having much influence from light source.

2) As the shadows show up, not only are the edges not solid, but they usually go towards the darker version of the local color. Just imagine going on photoshop and opening the "Color Picker" window

(Ctrl + u) and just shifting more towards the darker end. 

That is the biggest difference I see between diffuse lighting and direct lighting. Direct lighting has influences of color from all over because of the bounce light.

3) Soft and not super dramatic shadows.

4) Slower and more subtle value shifts.

Here are some photo examples:

Direct lighting:

Some good side by side direct and diffuse lighting:

More paintings from me:

Direct:

Diffuse:

Let me know if you have any questions. Thanks guys :)

Remember you are the artist so you can edit things whenever you want!!!!!!!!!!