Chapter 15: Lighting
lamp
Part of a lighting instrument that glows when electricity is supplied. The consumer term for this item is "lightbulb."
C-clamp
a clamp in the shape of a "C" that is used to attach lighting instruments to the grid
triangle lighting
a common lighting technique that uses three lighting instruments for each person or object photographed: a key light, a fill light, and a back light; also called three-point lighting
three-point lighting
a common lighting technique that uses three lighting instruments for each person or object photographed: a key light, a fill light, and a back light; also called triangle lighting
scoop
a common type of flood light with a half-spheroid shape that produces a great deal of light
dimmer
a device attached to the power control of a lighting instrument that regulates the amount of electricity that flows to the lamp
honeycomb
a device that attaches to fluorescent instruments to reduce the shape and size of the light beam, making the light more directional and easier to control
light plot
a diagram developed by the lighting designer that indicates the placement of lighting instruments on the set of a program
flag
a flexible metal rod with a flat piece of metal attached to the end; used to block light from hitting certain objects on the set
Fresnel
a hard light instrument that is lightweight and easily focused
gel
a heat resistant, thick sheet of plastic placed in front of a lighting instrument to turn white light from a lamp into a colored light
back light
a lighting instrument that is placed above and behind the talent or object in a shot, at the twelve o'clock position, to separate the talent or object from the background
fill light
a lighting instrument that is placed opposite the key light and above the talent to provide illumination on the other side of the talent's face or object in the shot
background light
a lighting instrument that is pointed at the background of a set
floor stand
a lighting support with three or four legs and a long vertical pole to which a lighting instrument is attached
limbo lighting
a lighting technique in which the background of the set is lit to create the illusion of a solid-color, indistinct background
cross-key lighting
a lighting technique that covers more than one person or object in the lighting spread using only two key lights and one back light
four-point lighting
a lighting technique that uses four lighting instruments for each person or object photographed: two key lights and two fill lights; the two key lights are positioned diagonally opposite each other, and the two fill lights are placed in the remaining two corners
bounce lighting
a lighting technique where a lighting instrument is not pointed directly at the subject of the shot, but the light is bounced off of another object, such as a ceiling, wall, or the ground
grid
a pipe system that hangs from the studio ceiling and supports the lighting instruments
Kelvin color temperature scale
a scale developed by the scientist Lord Kelvin for measuring color temperature of light in degrees Kelvin
flood light
a soft light instrument that provides general lighting in a large area
diffusion
a translucent material that is placed in front of a lighting instrument to soften and reduce the intensity of light, without altering the color temperature; diffusion material reduces and softens the light coming from an instrument
light hit
a white spot or star shaped reflection of a lighting instrument or sunlight off of a highly reflective surface on the set
scrim
a wire mesh or woven material placed in front of an instrument to reduce the intensity of light
barndoors
fully moveable black metal flaps attached to the front of a lighting instrument; used to block or reshape the light
instrument
the device into which a lamp is installed to provide illumination on a set
rough hang
the initial process of hanging instruments over the set according to the light plot and plugging them into the raceway; also called a basic hang
basic hang
the initial process of hanging instruments over the set according to the light plot and plugging them into the raceway; also called a rough hang
key light
the lighting instrument that provides the main source of illumination on the person or object in a shot
raceway
the system of electrical cables and outlets used to power lighting instruments on the grid; the raceway either hangs beside the grid pipes or is mounted to the ceiling above the grid
3200 Kelvin (3200K)
the temperature of white light in degrees Kelvin; also noted as 3200K or "32K" when spoken
spotlight
type of hard light instrument that creates a circle of light in varying diameters
soft light
type of illumination used in a studio that creates indistinct shadows
hard light
type of illumination used in a studio that creates sharp, distinct, and very dark shadows
fluorescent lamp
type of lamp that functions when electricity excites a gas in the lamp, which causes the material coating the inside of the lamp to glow (fluoresce) with a soft, even light
incandescent lamp
type of lamp that functions when electricity is applied and makes a filament inside the lamp glow brightly