5	4	3	2	1
Technical	Maya file, rendered image turned in. Image is correct size.	One or two small errors in technical requirements	Several errors in technical requirements	Many errors in technical requirements	Project incomplete
Believability	Lighting obeys real world physics and looks like it could exist in real life.	Lighting is mostly believable with small areas where it doesn’t look quite real.	Several areas where lighting doesn’t look real.	Lighting breaks laws of physics and/or looks fake.	No attention to believability of lighting.
Lighting techniques: focus and direct light	Lighting has clear focus. Lighting uses direct lighting, but goes beyond basic 3-light set up to show exceptional nuances in form and surfaces. Lighting is neither too bright nor too dim in any part of the frame. Light color, intensity, and fall off enhance scene.	Lighting has clear focus and goes beyond basic 3-light set up to show nuances in form and surfaces. Most surfaces are neither too bright nor too dim. Light color, intensity, and fall off work with scene.	Lighting set up is basic but solid. Focus may not be entirely clear. Lighting of other surfaces may work for some objects and not others. Image may have areas of excessive brightness or dimness. Some color or intensity choices may not be working.	Little thought put into lighting set up. Main subject may not be clear. Other surfaces may be lit poorly.	Lighting isn’t working to clarify scene and creates confusion.
Lighting techniques: GI or indirect lighting	GI or bounce lighting is balanced with direct/key lighting and adds realism throughout the scene.	GI or bounce lighting is balanced with direct/key lighting and adds realism to some areas of the scene.	GI or bounce lighting may not be working on all areas.	GI or bounce lighting is missing or minimal	No bounce lighting.
Shadows	All objects have appropriate and believable contact shadows or ambient occlusion. Primary lights cast shadows with appropriate color and softness. Shadows add to composition.	All objects have appropriate and believable contact shadows or ambient occlusion. Primary lights cast shadows with appropriate color and softness.	Some objects are missing contact shadows or contact shadows are not convincing. Cast shadows may have errors in color or softness.	Several shadows are missing and/or basic properties of shadows not working.	No shadows.
Aesthetic/design principles: color, composition	Exceptional attention to aesthetic principles in scene design and composition of frame; lighting used as compositional element that enriches the content.	Good use of aesthetic principles in scene design and composition of frame; elements reinforce the content	Some aesthetic choices work, but some don’t support the content. Some lighting may not work with composition or scene design.	Little attention to aesthetic principles; elements work against content	Aesthetic principles are ignored; elements used in hodge podge fashion.
Days Late	0	1	2	3+

CS125: Lighting evaluation rubric