In a three-point lighting setup, what does a 2:1 key-to-fill ratio imply?

• A. Fill is twice as bright as key.
• B. Backlight is twice as bright as key.
• C. Key is twice as bright as fill.
• D. Key and fill have equal brightness.

Answer: (C)

Key-to-fill ratio in three-point lighting describes how much brighter the key light is compared to the fill light. A 2:1 ratio means the key is twice as bright as the fill. In practical terms, the fill provides about half as much illumination as the key, so shadows are present but softened rather than completely erased. This yields a natural-looking contrast between light and shadow. The backlight (rim light) is a separate element that affects separation from the background, not the key-to-fill relationship. So the interpretation is that the key is twice as bright as the fill.