Stage Lighting Basics
traveler
A curtain that can open to the sides of the stage
Lighting Plot
A detailed drawing that shows the location of each lighting instrument on the hanging grid, where its light will be focused, its type, wattage and the circuitry needed, and its color.
line set
A fly system, or theatrical rigging system, is a system of rope lines, blocks (pulleys), counterweights and related devices within a theater that enables a stage crew to fly (hoist) quickly, quietly and safely components such as curtains, lights, scenery, stage effects and, sometimes, people.
Gel Frame
A metal frame into which a gel is placed so that they may be inserted into the front of a lighting instrument.
Magic Sheet
A pictorial reference, or cheat sheet, to the lighting instruments and their respective channel numbers; used exclusively by lighting designer during cue writing; crucial during tech rehearsals.
Gobo
A piece of metal or glass, which fits into the gate of a an ERS to project a pattern onto the set; Sometimes called a template or breakup.
Fly system
A platform that runs above the stage on one side, used in the operation of fly lines.
show portal
A portal consists of a header (border) and tabs (legs) that can be moved to adjust the size and shape of the proscenium opening to fit various performance needs. It is usually located just up stage of the front curtain and may have provision for mounting lights
ground row
A row of lighting fixtures placed (usually) downstage of a backdrop in order to light it. The low-lying row of scenery that often masks the electrics ground row is also referred to as a "ground row".
Pigtail
A short piece of flexible cable that runs between the lighting instrument and the stage plug.
raked stage
A stage that is built on an upward slant.
thrust stage
A stage with the audience around it on three sides.
grid
A steel framework above the stage from which the fly system is rigged. Also called the Gridiron.
C-Clamp
Clamp shaped like a "C" that is used to attach a lighting instrument or any item to a pipe
Fill Light
Fills in shadows created by the Key light(s).
Gel frames
Gel frames hold the colored sheets of gels that allow the designer to color light. Gel frames slide into notches set in front of the lenses of a stage instrument.
The formula for Power
P=IE
revolve / turntable
Portion of the stage that revolves. Also called Revolving Stage
trap
Removable areas of the stage floor that allow access to the area underneath the stage.
grand drape
The main curtain in a proscenium theatre. Usually paired with the "Grand Valence".
sight lines
The offstage-most edge of what can be seen, onstage, from the audience.
properties
The opening in the wall which separates the stage from the seating area. Often framed on either side by pilasters.
proscenium arch
The opening in the wall which separates the stage from the seating area. Often framed on either side by pilasters.
teaser /borders
in scenery, material hung at the top of the set to hide the fly system from the audience. Also called the Teaser. In lights, lighting instruments hung on battens over the stage area.
source 4 juniors
lots in disney, food courts., outside etc. cheeper than seniors?? strand axials diameter of lens focal length (distance of focal point ot lens) of lens 6 inches
Frensnel
soft- edge light even wash, or a small focused spot. spherical reflector in the back that is attached to a slide in the bottom of the fixture. 3 to 24 inches
Voltage
the difference of electrical potential between two points of a circuit. V= W/A
Wattage
the rate at which electrical energy is transferred by an electrical circuit. W= VA
wings
The right and left sides of the backstage area.
apron
The stage area which is downstage of the proscenium arch.
Gel Cut List
The total number and sized of gels needed.
Batten
a wood or metal pipe from which stage lights, drops, and scenery are hung. If for lighting, can also be called an 'electric'
Parts of lights (LEKO)
-yoke - lamp housing -reflector housing -shutters -lens train -barrel -gel housing or gel frame
Hang a light
1) Tighten clamp + batten bolt w/ finger 2) safety cable 3) tigten C---> batten w/ wrench 4) point in correct directions 5) open shutters 6) plug in + turn on 7) ensure its hard focused 8) center object of interest 9) adjust shutters 10) adjust lens train if fuzzy extra 11) snug everything
Law of Reflection
"The angle of reflection is equal to the angle of incidence." The reflector is a mirror (usually curved) in the back of a lighting fixture, which redirects back through the front of the fixture those rays of light which hit it. To understand how stage lighting fixtures work, you must first understand how reflectors work. To understand how reflectors work, you first must understand how reflection works. Specular Reflection changes the direction of a beam of light without otherwise appreciably altering the nature of beam. A mirror is a specular reflector. Diffuse Reflection occurs when the beam of light is completely dispersed. The light bounces off the reflector in all directions. Spread Reflection is similar to diffuse reflection, except that a greater percentage of the light is reflected along the angle of reflection than along any other line. Example: crumpled-up aluminum foil. Mixed Reflection is a mixture of diffuse and specular reflections. Examples: a doorknob / shiny wood floor /gold watch
Top Light
(aka down light) - Light positioned directly above the subject shining down. Creates contrast by highlighting features that stick out like noses.
4 Functions of Light
1) Visibility (see actors) 2) mood 3) selective focus (eye goes to light) 4) modeling (alter perception of object being lit) The generally agreed upon functions of stage lighting are: Visibility, Focus- The designer's use of contrast to focus the audience's attention Composition- The creation of an image or series of images which assist in telling the story Modeling- The use of high light and shadow to reveal the three dimensional form of the performer. Information- The use of light to establish the time of day, the season, and the location of the play's action. Mood- The reflection of the ever changing emotional content of the play. It is, in a way, very close to the style of production.
Twofer
A 'Y' shaped adaptor with one plug and two receptacles.
Cyclorama
A backcloth colored pale blue, gray, or white, used as a sky backing. This was originally a curved architectural plaster background to the stage. Many cloth cycs are still curved, but flat cycs are more common today.
Quick Color Facts
A color has 3 attributes:- Hue - Frequency of the light energy.Red is the lowest humanly visible frequency and Violet is the highest. Hue is what people usually mean when they say "color".- Saturation - Is purity, or being free of other Hues mixed in.Sometimes called Chroma- Value - Brightness, independent of Hue or Saturation.
Followspot
A hand-operated lighting instrument mounted on a swivel stand that emits a high-intensity beam of light, used to follow an actor on stage. Can create harsh circles on the stage/scenery.
Gel (filter)
A heat resistant, thick plastic sheet placed in front of of lighting instrument to turn the white light from a lamp into a colored light
baton/batten/etc
A horizontal pipe or strip of wood, usually as wide as, or wider than, the width of the stage, hung overhead. Battens which run upstage/downstage, as opposed to side to side, are referred to as "tabs".
Ellipsoidal reflector Floodlight The scoop
A lense less instrument, fallen into disuse, but used to hung to light drops. Inefficient, but provides a smooth even wash of light.Comes in a variety of sizes but 14, 16, 18: are typical.
Front Light
A light coming from downstage of the subject, ideally in 45 degrees angles off full front.
Parcan PAR (Parabolic aluminized Reflector)
A light-weight basic rock concert light, looks like an old car headlight in a can, creates a basic wash of light. The lamp, parabolic reflector and lens are self-contained and can be rotated so that the oval-shaped beam is aimed either length or width-wise. The lamp and the reflector are sealed together with a lens (like car headlight) Parabolic If a light source is placed in the focal point of a parabolic reflector, the rays of light will be reflected parallel to one another. This type of reflector can be found in some floodlights, scoops and PAR lamps.
2-scene preset
A lighting console with 2 banks of identically labeled channels; x & y cross faders - placed in opposing directions; each scene is preset manually on the console while one scene is playing out.
Instrument Schedule
A spreadsheet used to record all the technical data about every instrument used in the production sorted by hanging position first then channel number.
arena stage
A stage with the audience surrounding it on all four sides.
border
Borders, are wide, short draperies that span the width of the stage; these are used to mask lights and scenery that have been raised into the fly loft.
Stanley McCandless
Considered the father of modern lighting design; taught for years at Yale school of drama. Major works: "A Method of Lighting the Stage"
Cyc light
Cyc LightA Cyc Light us another light used for drops and Cyc's. it uses a Square reflector, which provides a even distribution of light output. They are much bulkier, but brighter than a strip light.
Lamp Efficiency
Efficiency for a light source is how well it turns input power into the desired output, which is lumens or light
Color Scroller
Fits in the color frame holder on the front of an instrument and houses cuts of different gels precisely taped together in a roll; changes color in front of instrument.
Types Of Lamps
Florescent- •Inside lamp is coated with florescent powder•Oxide coated tungsten filament is used as electrodes at ends.•Light output is 70 lumen/watt•Average life is 7500 hours ADVANTAGES:•Heat is relatively low•Energy efficient•Range from low grade to high grade•Long lamp life•Usually Cool source DISADVANTAGE:•Color temperature•Require ballast: preheat, instant-start, rapid-start•Makes everyone look like the undead.
Gobo Holders
Gobos are thin pieces of metal with patterns cut into them. When inserted into an ERS they can be used to project realistic images (corporate logos) and also suggestive images (such as a window frame) and textures (foliage, etc.). Gobo Rotators- The TwinSpin is designed to rotate two patterns in opposite directions in the gate of an ellipsoidal spotlight, creating fantastic kinetic images. The variable speed motor drive can be controlled by almost any dimmer.
Striplights
Groups of lamps arranged in metal troughs; usually 3 to 12 lamps per trough. Standard equipment in low budget situations.
Controllable Qualities of Stage Lights
How bright (dimmers) Color (gels. not LED) Shape (distribution. globos) shutters lens (size) intensity
Purpose of Theatrical Lighting
Illumination, Focus, Composition, Mood, Plausibility, Revelation of Form, Punctuation
Types Of Lamps
Incandescent-incandescent lamps work by sending an electric current through a metal wire called a filament. The metal resists the passage of current, and in so doing it gives off heat, and if it gets hot enough it gives off light. The wire is placed in a transparent glass envelope in order to keep out oxygen; otherwise it would just burn. Originally there was a vacuum inside. However if the filament is hot enough to give out light, eventually due to heat it will evaporate, so the bulb is filled with a gas which conducts away some of the heat and slows down evaporation. When enough bits of filament evaporate from the same part of the wire, a gap is formed in the wire and it can't conduct the current, and so the lamp burns out. light output- 5-100 watts operating life less than 1000 hour increase efficiency coiled filament Advantages: less $, can be dimmed, warmer than flourecsent, high light output Disadvantages: NRG inefficient, lamp life less than 500-1000 hours, H O T Tungston Halogen: lamp life is far longer than that of the traditional incandescent bulbs, theatre light filled not with inert gas but rather with one of the halogen gases — iodine or bromine. Advantages: can be dimmed, brighter and whiter, high light output Disadvantages: NRG inefficient, more hot, more expensive
What are the controllable properties, or qualities, of light?
Intensity: The amount of light reflected by the performer and the background or how relatively bright a light source is. •Color: The color of the light it self and how it is reflected by the performer and the background. •Direction: The direction (or angle) of the light determines the length and location of the shadows cast on and by the performer and the three dimensional props around him. •Distribution: The distribution of light determines which part (or parts) of the stage will be lit. •Texture: Texture is the quality of the light -- its diffusion or clarity. Does it have a soft edge or is it hard edged? Is the field of the light smooth, diffuse, or is it heavily textured? •Movement: Movement is any change in the intensity, color, direction, distribution, or texture of the light. Such a change is a light cue.
Types of Lamps
LEDs ( Light Emitting Diode) are semiconductor devices that produces light when an electrical current applied to them. Latest Lighting Technology.Invented in 1962.Lower energy consumption. Longer life : 50,000 - 100,000 Hrs.
Back Light
Light from upstage, used to light the back of the performer - Gives depth and mood; helps to separate the performer from the background.
discharge lamp
Light is produced by passage of an electric current through a vapor or gas, rather than through a wire as in incandescent lamp
Intelligent Lighting
Lighting instruments that can be computer controlled to move light around the room, and project color and patterns on screens, scenery, walls or floor.
Cyc lights
Lighting instruments used to light cycloramas or drops.
Safety Cable
Loops around the yoke of a lighting instrument and a batten so it doesn't fall on someone below in case the clamp of the light slips.
Barn Doors
Metal flaps mounted in front of a lighting instrument to control the spread of the light beam. Used mostly with Fresnels and Parcans. These are most often used with Fresnel instruments. They act as external shutters to control the light.
Shutters
Moveable metal plates, located near the gate of an ellipsoidal reflector spotlight (ERS), that allow the beam to be shaped from any of four directions.
Jennifer Tipton
One of the most admired lighting designers - works extensively in dance. Has won multiple awards for lighting designs. Recognized for teaching at Yale. Tony Award winning Lighting Designer for Our Town and Cherry Orchard.
Dimmer Schedule
Or "Dimmer Hook-Up"; a spreadsheet sorted by dimmer number then circuit or channel numbers and includes all pertinent information about the instrumentation for a given production.
Fresnel Lens/ Fresnel - quality of light - shape- what makes it special?
Originally created for use in lighthouses by a French physicist. A kind of step lens in which the glass has been cut away from the convex side to reduce weight and heat build up. Creates a soft edged beam that can be 'flooded' or 'spotted'. Identification of each fresnel is by diameter of the lens in inches. The size of the fresnel reflects the size of the lens. For example, fresnels come in 3", 6", 8", 10" and 12" diameters. Fresnel Spotlight manufactured by Altman. Each fresnel has one fresnel lens. Identification of each fresnel is by diameter of the lens in inches. The size of the fresnel reflects the size of the lens. For example, fresnels come in 3", 6", 8", 10" and 12" diameters. The fresnel has a spherical reflector which travels on a track inside the unit along with its lamp. The fresnel emits light in the shape of a cone. Although the you cannot achieve a sharply focused pool of light with a fresnel, you can alter the size of its beam. Spot position is the narrowest beam that the fresnel can achieve. Flood position is the widest beam the Fresnel has.
Donut
Piece of cardboard or plastic that goes in front of ellipsoidal with gobos to sharpen the image.
Follow Spot
Produces a high intensity hard or soft beam of light that needs to follow a performer around the stage. Has multiple colors in a boomerang (color selector) it can also iris in or out to make the beam smaller.
The first step in Lighting Design
Read the script
Set Screw
Side screw at the base of the C-clamp, stops an instrument from spinning
acting areas
That area within the performance space within which the actor may move in full view of the audience. Also known as the playing area This term is also used to describe the smaller subdivisions of the main stage area which are lit separately by the lighting designer (e.g. 'The stage is split into 6 acting areas, 3 downstage and 3 upstage'). (Also the name of an early Strand down-lighting floodlight - it was called an Acting Area Flood, and was colloquially known as 'Ack Ack' or 'A.A.').
Snootor 'Top Hat'
The 'Top Hat' gets its nickname from its shape. It is used to control extra light (flare) and to narrow down larger beams.
E.R.S. or Leko// Ellipsoidal Reflector Spotlight (ERS) - quality of light - shape- what makes it special?
The Ellipsoidal Reflector Spotlight, is a lighting instrument characterized by hard edged light with little diffusion; designed for long throws. The light beam can be shaped with internally mounted shutters and has a gate to insert a gobo. ERS can be focused to achieve either a sharply defined image or a soft, "fuzzy" image. Each ERS has two, six inch diameter plano-convex lenses identification of each type of OLDER ERS is by diameter and focal length of the lens in inches. For example, a 6X9 ERS has a 6 inch diameter lens with a focal length of 9 inches. There are STRAND 6X9's, 6X12's, 6X16's and 6x22's in our inventory. 2 lenses focus the beams by changing the distance between the two lenses, just like changing the focal length on a camera's lens. flexible shutters in lekos are pieces of metal inside the leko with a handle the ETC Source 4 is identified by its 10°, 19°, 30°, 40° and 50° field angle. The barrel lengths do not differ as much in these models and it is harder to visually identify them without close inspection of labels. Ellipsoidal he ellipsoidal reflector is more efficient than either the spherical or parabolic. By mathematical definition an Ellipsoid has two focal points. When a reflector is placed at the focal point at that end, all rays of the light that strike the reflector will be diverted through the second focal point. Ellipsoidal reflectors are used in Ellipsoidal instruments and can improve the efficiency of an instrument by 75%.
c clamp
The clamp that attaches a lighting fixture to the hanging position. In the US, these are usually made of malleable iron; in other parts of the world (notably the UK) they are made of more substantial material.
Subtractive Color mixing
The combining of different colors in pigments or paint. The result of combining all colors a lack of color, or a brown-ish/black.
Additive Color mixing
The combining of different colors of light, where each new color adds to the total amount of lightwaves present. The result of combining all colors additively is white.
Light Board
The console that controls the lighting instruments - can be manual or highly computerized.
focal length
The distance from the lens to this point A plano-convex lens is described by its diameter and focal length. For example, a 6"x9" lens will have a diameter of 6" and a 9" focal length. The shorter the focal length, relative to the diameter of the lens, the wider the beam of light; thus, a 6"x12" lens will emit a beam of light 3/4 the width of the 6"x9" lens.
Key Light
The dominant source of light.
Doughnut
The doughnut controls the flare (extra light) on ERS fixtures and allows for crisper projections of gobo images.
Plasma lamp
The internal-electrodeless lamp was invented by Tesla after his experimentation with high-frequency currents in evacuated glass tubes for the purposes of lighting and the study of high voltage phenomena.
Side Light
The lights which come from side stage to shine on an actor or dancer. Highlights and contours the shape of the body; used heavily when lighting dance.
act curtain
The main curtain in a proscenium theatre.
Leko
The nickname for any ERS lighting instrument that has a very defined beam; capable of a very hard edge; comes varied sizes; beam can be shaped using internal shutters or iris; can project patterns.
Lamp
The part of a lighting instrument that glows when electricity is supplied
Strip light/ zip strips
The strip light is used to create a smooth wash of light, it resemble a long trough with a series of lights inside. They come In diffident types of lamps to allow a designer to choose different types and shapes of light. Used for lighting drops and cycs. Good for limited space.
Basic Color Theory-
There are two ways to mix colors in lighting: 1. Additive mixing happens when two or more differently-colored lights are aimed at the same surface. 2. Subtractive mixing happens when a single light source shines through differently-colored filters. Each filter allows certain colors to pass while blocking or absorbing other colors. In additive mixing, primary colors are those three colors which, when aimed at the same place at the same intensity, theoretically form white light ("theoretically", because in practice, this is limited by the imperfections of color filters and light sources). These colors are red, green, and blue. The secondary colors in additive mixing are those colors which can be created by evenly mixing two primaries. These colors are: Cyan (blue and green) Magenta (blue and red) Amber (red and green. Really.)
Focus knob
This allows you to move the reflector and lamp forward and back so that you can 'spot' or 'flood' some types of lighting instruments.
back drop (drop)
Victorian stretched framed and painted canvas. Used as a visual stimulation during scene changes, and to indicate that there was more to come (the end being indicated by the HOUSE TABS). There are believed to be only two operational today - an original one at Gaiety Theatre, Isle Of Man, and a 1996 reproduction at Her Majesty's Theatre, Ballarat, Victoria, Australia. Term now used to refer to any front cloth or tabs lowered during intervals. Especially pantomime / musicals. In ballet, the act drop permitted pre-interval curtain calls to take place.
Yoke
a connecting bar to hang a lighting instrument off of a C-clamp
Plano-Convex
a lens that is curved on one side and flat on the other.
Reflector
a light colored or reflective coated surface housed usually at the back of a lighting instrument used to bounce the light from a light source to a focal point and toward the lens. Can be spherical, ellipsoidal or parabolic.
box set
a set with a proscenium arch stage and three walls. The proscenium opening is the fourth wall.
Types of Lamps
arc lamp- or arc light is a lamp that produces light by an electric arc. The carbon arc light, which consists of an arc between carbon electrodes in air, invented in the first decade of the 1800s, was the first practical electric light. An arc is the discharge that occurs when a gas is ionized. A high voltage is pulsed across the lamp to "ignite" or "strike" the arc, after which the discharge can be maintained at a lower voltage. The "strike" requires an electrical circuit with an igniter and a ballast. •ADVANTAGES:•Energy efficient•Long lamp life•VERY BRIGHT DISADVANTAGE:•Color temperature•Require ballast: preheat, instant-start, rapid-start•VERY EXPENSIVE!
parts of a light
c clamp bolt- batten with arm side of c clamp- yoke to c clamp bolt (the bar that attatches to both sides of light) removable lamp housing (think a round lamp) reflector housing 4 shutter wings - shape light end of light- lens strain barrell gel frame shutter
black box
indoor performance space with plain black walls and a level floor, typically designed to provide flexibility in the configuration of the stage and the audience seating.
ampere (amp)
is a unit of electric current, or amount of electric charge per second. A= W/V
3 catagories of stage lighting
keylights- brighten, lighting facing actors (dominant playing position), ERS (ellipsoidal reflector spotlight) Leko brand fill light- normal lighting Cyclorama light/ Scoops- tends to throw large wash of light - relatively unfocused (light backdrop to light entire stage if placed out front) lens train- big magnifier that refracts light (bends rays of lights). Rays intersect and bend at a focal point.
scoop
open face units meaning there are no lens 10-18 inches sizes
Sidearm
piece of horizontal pipe with a clamp that attaches to a vertical boom
old style vs new (old ers, source 4)
source 4: the coolest beam on the market. That means your gels, patterns and shutters last longer and your performance space stays cooler. the Source Four features an improved lamp and reflector compared to previous ERS designs, tool-free lamp adjustment, and a rotating, interchangeable shutter barrel
West Virginia Formula
wattage=voltage x amperage
What are the five basic directions of light?
•Front light - often called face light, comes from the Balcony Rails, bays, or Ceiling Coves •Top light from an Electric Pipe •Side light from a Boom, Ladder, or "Pipe End" •Back light from an Up Stage Electric Pipe•Up Light from the Foot Light or "Shin Buster" position.
The Beam Projector
A lense less instrument, fallen into disuse, but is making a come back. It has two reflectors a parabolic and a spherical one. It produces a hard edged and sharp shaft of light with all parallel rays of light They are very bright and powerful. It has the same light characteristics of sun light.
Dimmer
An electrical devise that controls the amount of current flowing into a lighting instrument, thus increasing or decreasing the intensity of the light
center line
An imaginary DS/US line that bisects the stage, usually labeled with symbol like this:
Iris
An iris allows a light to be zoomed in and out to form smaller and larger pools on stage.
masking
Masking curtains are used to "mask" the stage. Borders hide lights and other equipment above the stage. They are finished with tielines at the top and hang from pipe battens. Legs (or side curtains) hide off-stage areas and provide wings for entrances and side lights.
Uplights
Often used at the front edge of the stage, lights in an upward direction toward the ceiling. "Halloween lights".
auditorium
The part of the theatre accommodating the audience during the performance. Sometimes known as the "house".
Connector
The plug at the end of a cable. (Stage plug)
first electric
The first row of lights hung on a batten behind the proscenium. Also called X-ray Border, First Border, Teaser Border, or Concert Border.
leg
A vertical masking unit place at the side of the stage in order to mask the offstage area from the audience.
plaster line
An imaginary line that runs across the proscenium along the upstage side of the proscenium wall. This line is used by the designers and technicians to position various technical elements in the theatre.
scrim
An open weave fabric which appears opaque when lit from the front, but turns transparent when objects behind it are lit (Note that a scrim is approximately 50% air, so when frontlighting it, care must be taken so the light passing through the scrim does not illuminate people or objects behind it.) Scrims are most often found in either black or white, but they are available in many colors and can even be painted (although the painter must be careful not to allow the paint to obscure the holes in the weave). The act of fading down the frontlight on a scrim while raising the intensity of the light on the objects behind it - therefore revealing those objects to the audience - is called a "bleed-through," or a "scrim-through".
stage directions
Instructions indicating the movement, blocking, or stage business of the performers or other descriptions of the physical setting or atmosphere of the play.
orchestra pit
The area below the front of the stage. May be used to house the orchestra. Also called the Orchestra Pit.
