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Light Sourcing Reference Guide Part 1 — Description
Just a little exercise type thing to show how light sourcing is supposed to work. I've noticed a lot of people use light sourcing so their dolls don't look pillow shaded, but they end up looking like their shading is running off of their doll or it's pillowshaded with an angled light source... So. Here's a basic little step-by-step of how I shade with a light source. The shading is not my best, but the point is that the folds are all the same, just different intensities in different places, etc. I didn't put words because a lot of it would have just been basic shading instructions which... wasn't really what I was trying to share. I do have some tips though I'll add at the bottom. If you have any questions, feel free to ask me!

Base:

Tips & Notes:

*Even on a centered light source, there is a part of the doll that is closest to the light source. You shouldn't use your darkest shade here for your shadows, even if its only a single shade higher, to give a sense of 3D-ism.

*You can use an extreme light source, stepping your brightness every couple of folds, or simply make one side 1-2 shades brighter. The important thing is to remember to use lighter shades for the shadows as you go across to bridge the fade.

*Don't forget that your doll will have shadows, even on the brighter side of the doll. Her highlights will probably not sit on the outline. You /can/ have darker shades and shadows on the brighter side. Actually, you should.

*Folds don't change! The intensity does. The angle of the light source and the closeness to it determines how a fold is defined, but the material will bend in the same way regardless.

*Don't forget to shift your outline color too! If you leave it all with the same outline color, the brighter side is going to look really starkly outlined in a bad way. You don't have to change the outline a lot, but make sure its lighter on the brighter side.