key light

American  

noun

1. (in photography or motion pictures) the main light that illuminates the subject being photographed or filmed.

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key light British  

noun

1. television theatre photog the main stage or studio light that gives the required overall intensity of illumination

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Etymology

Origin of key light

First recorded in 1935–40

Compare meaning

How does key-light compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• key light vs. fill light

Example Sentences

I think her team wouldn’t let her shoot unless they had a key light on her, so they had to jigger this key light.

From Los Angeles Times

If you’re darker-skinned, make sure your key light is positioned properly.

From Los Angeles Times

The 21-year-old from Manchester works in the lighting department, providing the key light for artists and presenters on the stage.

From BBC

As a result, in “Armageddon Time,” the actors are almost never filmed in their key light.

From Los Angeles Times

Inside, it features Intel’s Core i7-12700H processor and Nvidia’s RTX 3070. $1,599 at Walmart The Key Light Mini can screw into a tripod or stick to a magnetic surface.

From The Verge