Conference Tools of Tomorrow Lighting & Rendering
ON SITE Meidinger-Saal Thursday, May 08, 15:45

Painting with Light: Creative Image-Based Lighting for Art and Industry

What if Image-Based Lighting wasn’t just about capturing reality, but about creating it? In this session, we’ll explore how artists can use IBL as a powerful creative medium - not just a static HDRI file, but a canvas of light. With tools like HDR Light Studio, we can design lighting that brings out the best in every subject, from accentuating sleek car profiles to crafting perfect glints on jewelry. We’ll discuss how shaping light, color, and exposure allows artists to tell stories, define moods, and highlight design - giving full creative control over how a subject is seen. Whether you're working in automotive, product design, or entertainment, discover how rethinking IBL can elevate your lighting artistry.

Mark Segasby

Mark Segasby, CEO & Co-founder, Lightmap

I’ve been passionate about creative technology since childhood, spending time in my dad’s graphic design studio where I first used early Apple Macs running Illustrator 88 and Photoshop 1. I loved how software allowed me to design with precision and experiment creatively - a theme that’s carried through my entire career.

I trained as a product designer and fell in love with 3D graphics at university, using 3ds Max to bring my ideas to life. After graduating, I taught traditional marker (felt tip pen) rendering techniques and challenged myself to master Alias StudioTools, an industry-leading nurbs modeller. This experience led to my dream role as a product designer at Priestman Goode, London, where I worked on high-profile projects and deepened my understanding of design, visualization, and presentation.

Later, running my own studio, I specialized in high - end visualization, using Maya, SolidWorks, and investing in cutting-edge ARTVPS RenderDrive raytracing hardware to create photorealistic images.

Bringing all this experience together - as a designer, 3D artist, and visualizer - led me to co-found Lightmap and create HDR Light Studio. My goal has always been to create a lighting tool that helps artists light their work creatively and precisely. I care deeply about how the software looks, feels, and functions because I’ve experienced the lighting challenges myself.

Although I no longer produce images professionally, I still enjoy seeing the incredible work artists create with HDR Light Studio and knowing Lightmap has contributed to their success.