Transcript Let There Be Light!

An overview of theatrical lighting.
Fresnel
• Used to create a “flood” or “wash” of light
• Specially designed lens focuses the light in one direction
• Circular beam of light
• Typical theatre wattage: 500w
PAR Can
• Parabolic Aluminized Reflector
• Creates a “flood” or “wash” of light
• Only fixture with an oval beam
• Typical theatre wattage: 1000w (PAR 64) or 500w (PAR 56)
Ellipsoidal Reflector Spotlight (ERS)
• AKA “ellipsoidal” or “Leko”
• Versatile fixture that creates a circular spotlight
• Has two focal points, giving it the ability to project images
• Typical theatre wattage: 575w or 750w
Followspot
• Operated manually by followspot operator
• High intensity beam that focuses on performers
• Operator can change color, iris size, and focus
How Electricity Works
How Electricity Works
• Electricity has to form a circuit
• Think of electricity as having to run around a racetrack
• At the bottom of the racetrack is the power source
• At the top of the racetrack is the lamp (light bulb)
• To the right of the racetrack is the light switch (dimmers)
•
If the switch is on (closed circuit) the electricity can pass through to the lamp
•
If the switch is off (open circuit) the electricity stops at the switch and can’t continue
Dimming
• Dimmers are like heavy duty switches
• They control the intensity of the light fixtures (i.e. how bright they are, or
how much power they are receiving)
• Standard theatrical dimmers are rated at either 1200 watts (1.2kw) or
2400 watts (2.4kw)
Circuits
• The cables connected to the dimmer pack that the light fixtures are
plugged in to.
• The three most common connector (plug) types in theatre are:
•
Stage Pin
•
Edison
•
Twist Lock
Lighting Console
• Communicates with the dimmers in order to control the function of the
light fixtures
•
Tells the dimmers to turn on and off
•
…at what intensity
•
…at what rate (time)
•
…how often
• Can be programmed to create effects cues such as lightning strikes or
chase sequences
• Uses a protocol called DMX-512 to communicate with dimmers and
certain light fixtures or accessories
Lighting Effects
• Gel – A plastic film that changes the color of the light
• Color Scroller – an accessory that scrolls through a series of different
colored gels that are strung together; makes one light fixture able to
produce several different colors of light
• Gobo – A pattern that is projected through an ellipsoidal light fixture
• Intelligent Lighting (or Moving Lights) – a light fixture that has the
capability of moving the beam of light; moving and rotating different
gobos or lithos; and changing the color of the beam