The Technique

Cube shading helps turn a flat square into a solid block. By giving each face of the cube a different value, artists can show which surfaces are facing the light and which are facing away from it.

Unlike spheres, which change gradually from light to dark, cubes often have clear changes between their different faces. This makes them a great way to practise understanding light and form.

Used For

Buildings, boxes, architecture, vehicles, machines, furniture, and any object built from flat surfaces.

You Can Try

Move the light source, change the contrast between the faces, use different shading techniques, or experiment with cubes viewed from different angles.

Your Turn

Observe the example, practise shading the different faces of a cube, then experiment with light and shadow in the Shading Toolkit.