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