Imagine this: You’ve got a stunning product photo—but the lighting feels flat. Or a portrait where shadows look like they’re plotting against you. Fixing this used to mean wrestling with sliders for hours or hiring a pro. Not anymore.
Enter IC Light, the free, open-source AI tool that rewrites lighting rules. Whether you’re a hobbyist, or designer, or want your cat photos to look less cursed, this tool lets you steer light like a boss. No PhD. No fees. No scams.
What is IC-Light?
IC Light (Imposing Consistent Light) is an open-source AI tool that rewrites lighting in images with precision. Whether you’re tweaking shadows, adding neon glows, or blending natural light, it ensures every pixel follows your vision.
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Pro tip: Avoid “ic light ai dot com”—it’s a scam. Stick to the official GitHub repo or Hugging Face Space.
Two Models, Endless Possibilities
- Text-Conditioned Relighting: Describe lighting like “sunset over sea” or “sci-fi RGB glow”. The AI adjusts light based on your words.
- Background-Conditioned Model: Upload a background image, and IC-Light matches the foreground lighting to it. Perfect for realistic composites.
Why It’s Cool
- Consistency: Merge lighting effects mathematically for surreal edits (think normal maps without training data!).
- No Jargon, Just Results: Use simple prompts like “cinematic lighting” or “soft studio glow”.
- Free and Open: No paywalls, no ads—just pure creative power.
How to Use IC Light (Imposing Consistent Light)
Using IC Light is easier than teaching your cat to pose for photos. Here’s how to get started, whether you’re a coding newbie or a tech wizard:
Option 1: For Non-Coders (Hugging Face Demo)
- Visit the Hugging Face Space.
- Upload your image: Drag and drop a photo (people, pets, or even that weird garden gnome).
- Choose your model:
- Text-conditioned: Type a prompt like “golden hour glow” or “moody noir shadows”.
- Background-conditioned: Upload a background image (e.g., a sunset) to match lighting.
- Adjust sliders: Play with Lighting Preference (left/right/bottom) to tweak light direction.
- Hit “Generate”: Let the AI work its magic. Download your lit-up masterpiece!
No installation. No code. Just pure fun. 🎮
Option 2: For Developers & Tinkerers (Local Setup)
Step 1: Install IC-Light
Run these commands in your terminal:
git clone https://github.com/lllyasviel/IC-Light.git # Clone the repo cd IC-Light # Navigate to the folder conda create -n iclight python=3.10 # Create a virtual environment conda activate iclight # Activate the environment pip install -r requirements.txt # Install dependencies
Step 2: Run the Text-Conditioned Model
python gradio_demo.py
- Upload your image.
- Type a lighting prompt (e.g., “neon cyberpunk cityscape”).
- Adjust Lighting Preference sliders.
- Click “Generate” and watch the AI relight your image!
Step 3: Try the Background-Conditioned Model
python gradio_demo_bg.py
- Upload a foreground image (your subject) and a background image (the scene).
- Use simple prompts like “cinematic lighting”.
- Let IC-Light blend the two seamlessly.
Pro Tips for Stellar Results
- Batch process: Use scripts to relight multiple images (GitHub’s code is customizable!).
- Start simple: Use basic prompts like “soft sunlight” before experimenting with “interdimensional portal glow”.
- Layer edits: Run the model multiple times—add light first, then tweak shadows.
- Fix weird artifacts: If faces look uncanny, reduce the slider intensity or tweak the prompt.
Behind the Magic
IC-Light uses HDR space consistency—mixing light sources like blending paint colors. This lets you merge relit images into normal maps (yes, really!). No PhD required; the AI handles the math.
Who Should Use It?
- Designers: Fix product shots or create moody ads.
- Artists: Craft neon-lit cyberpunk portraits or serene landscapes.
- Developers: Experiment with latent diffusion models.
Pro Tips
- For commercial projects, replace BRIA RMBG 1.4 with tools like BiRefNet.
- Play with “Lighting Preference” sliders—left, right, bottom—to nudge light direction.
Final Take
IC Light isn’t just another filter app. It’s a lighting playground for creators who hate cookie-cutter edits. Want a Buddha statue bathed in sunset hues? Or a dog glowing in studio-lit majesty? Go wild.
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