Screen light for video calls

How to light a video call with a screen

1. Use a second device as the light: a tablet, a phone or a second monitor in front of you, just above or beside your webcam. The screen you are calling from can't show the call and the light at the same time.
2. Open the screen light on that device and turn its brightness up.
3. Pick a colour: warm white matches lamps and evening light, neutral white matches most office lighting, cool white matches daylight from a window.
4. Move the light closer rather than raising the slider: a screen is a weak light, and distance matters more than anything else.
5. Check yourself in the camera preview and adjust with the slider or the ↑ ↓ keys until your face looks even, without shine on your forehead or glasses.

Getting a flattering result

• In front, slightly above eye level: light from below looks unnatural; light from one side only leaves half your face in shadow.
• Match the room: if a window or lamp is also lighting you, choose the white closest to it. Mixed warm and cool light makes skin look patchy on camera.
• Glasses: move the light higher or to the side until its reflection leaves your lenses.
• Two screens: a light on each side of the camera gives the even, shadow-free look of a ring light.
• For a pink, flattering tint for selfies, use the pink screen.

Limits

• A screen is far dimmer than a real ring light or LED panel. It works at arm's length in a dim or moderately lit room, not as a key light across a room.
• The slider dims the image in software; the brightest result is always 100% with your device's own brightness at maximum.
• Colours are approximate: how warm or cool they look depends on your screen and on night-light filters, which you should switch off.
• Webcams adjust exposure and white balance automatically, so the image may shift for a second after you change the light.
• For a plain white screen for checking pixels, dust or backlight evenness, use the white screen; to trace drawings, use the lightbox for tracing.