How to light your scene for better tracking
Good tracking starts with good lighting. Mimem.AI reads your movement based on what the camera sees — and if parts of your body are hidden in shadow or overexposed, the system might lose track.
The good news? You don’t need fancy gear. With just a couple of lamps and a bit of positioning, you can create soft, even lighting that works great for motion capture.
Use soft, even lighting
The goal is simple: reduce harsh shadows and light your whole body from head to toe.
Avoid strong spotlights, ceiling lights, or anything that creates hard shadows under your arms, chin, or feet. Instead, use diffused light — light that’s bounced off a wall or softened with fabric.
If you see sharp shadows on the floor or on your face, the light is probably too harsh.
How to do it with what you have
You don’t need a studio setup. Here are simple ways to get soft lighting using what you already have:
- Aim a lamp at a nearby wall instead of pointing it at yourself.
- Hang a white sheet, paper, or curtain in front of a lamp to diffuse the light.
- Use two light sources on either side of you (left and right) to reduce shadows.
- Avoid sitting right under a ceiling light — it lights the top of your head but leaves your body in shadow.
One well-placed desk lamp can go a long way — just make sure it lights your whole body, not just your face.
Want to upgrade? Here’s what to get
If you’re ready to invest a little, here’s a simple and affordable lighting setup:
- 2 × LED panel lights with adjustable brightness and color temperature (white light around 5000–6500K is ideal).
- 2 × small tripods or clamps to hold the lights at body level.
- Optional: softboxes or light diffusers for an even softer result.
This gives you full control over your light without breaking the bank.
Quick checklist before recording
No hard shadows on face, hands, or feet
Light reaches all the way to the floor
No single light from above or behind
Your body is evenly lit from both sides
The background isn’t brighter than you
Great lighting doesn’t need to be expensive. It just needs to be soft, even, and well-placed. A few adjustments can dramatically improve your tracking results.