[AI Shion's Introduction to Image Generation] #138 The Magic of "Rim Light"✨ An Emotional Effect Where the Outline Glows! (AI Illustration Prompt Explanation Using Microsoft 365 Copilot's Image Generation AI)

Hello everyone, I'm Shion!🙌

When you draw a character with AI image generation, have you ever thought,
"It feels like they're getting buried in the background..."
or "I want to make the character stand out more!"?

There is a magical prompt that can solve those worries in one go💡

Today's keyword is"rim light"!

🌟 What changes when you add "rim light" to your prompt?

I'll give you the conclusion right away!

When you add [rim light], the character's outline is framed by light, creating an overwhelming sense of depth and an emotional atmosphere!✨

By shining light from behind the subject, the lines of the hair and clothes sparkle.

Just by adding this, you can finish your AI illustrations with a dramatic, high-quality look as if they were drawn by a professional illustrator!

Let's look at the reason why in three points!

🤔 Why does that happen? 3 reasons

① 👤 The character stands out clearly from the background!

If you place a character with dark clothes against a dark background, they will blend in and become hard to see, right?

However, by applying rim light (light from behind) to make the outline glow, the boundary between the background and the character becomes clear, making the main subject pop!

② 📦 A sense of three-dimensionality and depth is born!

Because the contrast between light and shadow becomes stronger, a sense of depth is created throughout the illustration.

It makes it easier to feel the depth of "a character in the foreground and a background in the back," so you can break away from a flat impression.

③ 🌌 It creates a dramatic and fantastic mood!

Situations where only the outlines glow within limited light sources, such as at dusk or on a street corner at night, are very emotional on their own!

It is perfect for creating a dramatic worldview, such as "it feels like a story is about to begin..."

💡 Recommended combinations

I will introduce some compatible prompt words that further bring out the charm of rim lighting!

• "Night view" × Rim lighting: The light on the outlines shines best in the darkness! (This combination is used this time as well 🌃)

• "Sunset" × Rim lighting: A finish with maximum emotional impact, as if the warm orange light is shining through the hair.

• "Backlight" × Rim lighting: It is effective to use as a set when you want to emphasize the expression of light even more.

• "Light particles" × Rim lighting: The sparkle of the light increases, and the fantastic atmosphere is further enhanced ✨

🎨 Let's compare with and without it!

Now, let's compare with and without [Rim lighting] under the same conditions 👀✨

This time, I used Copilot to generate a magical girl with a night view in the background!

▼ Prompt used

主題=女性が腰に手を当てる, 
背景=都市の夜景, 
世界観=現代風アニメ, 
構図=サイドビュー, 
照明=リムライト, 
ムード・雰囲気=幻想的,
服装・ファッション=魔法使いのローブ, 
特殊効果=光の粒子

(*The "None" image was generated by removing "Lighting = Rim Light" from the prompt above)

📖 Without Keyword (1st Image)

📖 With Keyword: Added "Rim Light" (2nd Image)

✨ Overall Atmosphere

The "None" version is an illustration with a calm atmosphere, gently wrapped in the light of the night view. This is beautiful in its own way!

On the other hand, the "With" version expresses a strong light shining in from the back left, instantly transforming the space into something dramatic and fantastical!

👤 Differences in Character Expression

This is the biggest difference!

In the "None" version, the black robe blends a little into the darkness of the background, but in the "With" version, the outlines of the hat, hair, and back down to the hem of the robe glow strongly in orange!

The character's presence is greatly enhanced, which is cool, isn't it? 😆

🌌 Differences in Background

The city night view in the background is similar, but by adding "Rim Light," a contrast is created between the bright light in the foreground and the bokeh of the night view in the background, giving the entire screen a sense of depth.

🧩 Other Features

The "Special Effect = Light Particles" added to the prompt also looks more beautifully radiant when combined with the strong light of the rim light, as if using light magic ✨

✅ Summary: If you're unsure, try adding the word "Rim Light"!

How was it?

"I want to make the character stand out from the background!"
"I want to create a three-dimensional and emotional atmosphere!"

In such cases, try adding "rim lighting" to the lighting category of your prompt 🌟

Just by adding that one phrase, the quality of your AI illustration will jump significantly!

First, don't overthink it; just try adding "rim lighting" to your favorite prompts as if you're playing around 🙌

Next Episode Preview

The theme for next time is...
"Dramatic Lighting"! 🎭

I will introduce production techniques that look like a scene from a movie, skillfully using light and shadow, which is a bit different from the rim lighting we covered this time.

I would be happy if you thought, "I want to read the next one too!" ✨

Look forward to it!

Digi-Sashimi's Tweets

There was a Sunday, wasn't there?
I don't really have any memory of it 💦

Well, this time's "rim lighting"
is an expression I admire as a lighting effect.

I ended up getting a bit too elaborate with the prompt as well 😆

It hasn't become a skill of my own yet, so
I want to practice a few more times to increase my expressive power.

📚 Click here for past articles (Introduction to the magazine)

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