ringlight

English

A photographic ringlight

Dione and rightlight next to Saturn

Etymology

ring +‎ light

Noun

ringlight (countable and uncountable, plural ringlights)

1. (photography) A light source in a ring or torus shape that prevents distinct shadows.
   • 1960, University of Michigan. Museum of Paleontology -, Contributions - Volumes 15-16, page 128:

     Figures 2 and 6 are of the same specimens but photographed with a ringlight.

   • 1980, David Brooks, Carl Shipman, Theodore DiSante, How to control & use photographic lighting, →ISBN, page 132:

     Until recently, ringlights have been chiefly associated with technical illustration, such as close-up photography in medicine and dentistry.

   • 1985, Eyes of Nikon: a comprehensive guide to Nikkor and Nikon series E lenses:

     Built-in ringlight flash provides virtually shadowless, wraparound illumination for inaccessible or elusive subjects.

   • 2014, Master Lighting Guide for Portrait Photographers, →ISBN, page 151:

     One of the characteristics of ringlight, when used as the only source, is its shadow. Because the light expands equally in all directions, it also throws an even shadow.

   • 2014, Benny Migs, Alternative Portraiture, →ISBN, page 100:

     I had created a faux-ring light, and I was able to get a very cool ringlight effect for very little money.

2. Synonym of ringshine
   • 1908, George Newnes, The Strand Magazine - Volume 36, page 298:

     The planet is illuminated by a superb ringlight, in addition to the radiance of various moons—for of the satellites there are several always above the horizon at the same moment.

   • 1983, John Varley, Titan, →ISBN, page 26:

     Gray striations became visible on the planetary surface, illuminated by ringlight.

   • 2016, Donald Suddaby, Prisoners of Saturn, →ISBN:

     The superbly designed hills already were taking on the blackness of coming night, several glaring in the ringlight as usual, those towards the horizon fading off into a jet obscurity.