Object source lighting

Object source lighting, often shortened to OSL, is a technique where a painter treats a glowing element on a model, a lantern, a magic effect, a glowing weapon, as an actual light source and paints its colored glow spilling onto the surfaces around it. Nearby armor, cloth or skin gets a subtle tint and brightening on the side facing the glow, fading out with distance the way real light does.

This technique adds a strong focal point and a sense of story to a miniature, since a convincing OSL effect draws the eye immediately and suggests the model is lit by something happening in the scene rather than sitting under generic studio light. It is frequently used on models with built-in lighting effects like eyes, weapons or magical auras.

Success depends on committing to one clear light color and direction and keeping the brightest point small, since spreading the glow too far or using several competing light sources confuses the effect rather than strengthening it. A common mistake is making the glow too uniform in intensity, when real light falls off quickly with distance and should fade to almost nothing a short way from the source.