Lighting Instruments

Fresnel Oldest still existing lighting instrument used in theatre August Fresnel: used light passing through a dense medium glass When light is projected through glass, the beam is altered Plano-convex lens: flat on one side and curved on the other Most lenses “pebbled” with rough texture on back so light emitted is more diffuse (covers up irregularities in beam of light) Use reflector shaped like a sphere to bounce light vaguely back in direction of lens Both lamp and reflector are fastened to a “sled” that can move back and forth The closer the sled is to the lens, the more spread out the beam pattern (FLOOD) When sled is moved away from lens, beam output is sharpened (SPOT) Light output is always somewhat diffuse with “hot” spot in center and lessening of intensity outward Fresnel

Fresnel Accessories 6” and 8” : common sizes of Fresnels Barn Door: limits the spread of the beam with adjustable flaps Top Hat: circular piece that limits the spread of the beam Gel: Color sheet placed in front of the light to alter color Color Frame: holds the color gel in place Fresnel is commonly replaced with source four Parnel Barn Door Top Hat Color Frame Fresnel Accessories

Ellipsoidal Reflector Spotlight – Source Four Commonly used in theatre lighting due to their ability to shape the light in the beam produced Uses two focal points to shoot light at specific angles Uses plano-convex lens to further focus light Uniform in intensity Useful features: qualities of high intensity, a coherent beam, adjustable focus Ellipsoidal Reflector Spotlight – Source Four

ERS – Source Four Features Gate: area where shaping of beam occurs Shutters: allow for masking of beam from each side Gobos: templates of steel that create patterns patterns must be inserted upside down and backwards to produce project properly Gobo Holder: Metal frame that holds Gobo in place ERS – Source Four Features

ERS – Source Four Angle Qualities Light increases at a given angle; farther away light is from stage, more spread out the light will be Ellipsoidals are measured according to two factors: diameter of lens and distance between focal points Deciding instruments Large diameter lenses enable a bigger fixture that can hold higher wattage lamp Distance between focal points determines the amount of spread that occurs in beam angle The farther apart the focal points, the narrower the angle 6X6 (50 degree) = wider beam (intended closer) 6X22 (19 degree) = narrower beam (intended further away) ERS – Source Four Angle Qualities

Parabolic Aluminized Reflector – PAR Essentially round car headlights with 110 volts Simple, lightweight fixtures, inexpensive Reflects straight outward whatever light rays strike it Lens is meant to blur light beam into more homogenous pool Beam is oval shaped and does not allow for changing from spot to flood Variety of lamps offered for different angles Possible to rotate the lamp within its housing to change orientation of oval beam from vertical to horizontal Sizes: 64, 56, 38 Modern PAR’s have standard reflector and lamp/lens is changed to alter beam “Bottle”: a ring used to rotate/change direction of oval Parabolic Aluminized Reflector – PAR

Ellipsoidal Reflector Light (“Scoop”) Primarily used to light drops and cycs Lensless instrument with a wide, smooth wash of light Equipped with a large color-frame holder Common theater sizes: 14”, 16”, 18” Ellipsoidal Reflector Light (“Scoop”)

Strip Lights or Cyc Lights known also as border lights have a number of lights strewn together by parallel circuit typical unit has 2-4 lamps in each circuit depending on size and/or wattage mini strips have large number of small lamps placed in groups of two commonly used across a cyc by using different colors in each circuit, colors on cyc can be mixed together best to use one set from above and one from below to fill cyc sizes: described by length – either 6’ or 8’ or single cell Strip Lights or Cyc Lights

Dowser – varies intensity of light output and to black out spot so no light gets on stage Iris – system of thin, curved metal plates in a moveable housing -acts a lot like shutters in an ellipsoidal except creates round shape -changing size of opening changes size of light -far from stage = smaller iris/pool of light -close to stage = larger iris/pool of light -DO NOT use Iris to black out stage – extremely close to light source so has greater potential to overheat Trombone – varies size of light -handle on side of light can be pulled back and forth -changes relationship between light source and lens mechanism -used more often in arena shows when performers change depth quickly Chopper – used to cut off top and bottom of light to gain a horizontal strip Follow Spots

Boomerang – color changer -normally six colors are available -gels are loaded into round frames designed for light -levers are outside of instrument to bring up each color Diffusion Filter – causes light to change from sharp edge to soft edged beam Targeting Device – helps focus clearly on actors “Ballyhoo” – spot instruction which means for each spot to criss-cross audience area in figure eight pattern or swirl “Pan” – going back and forth through group of actors; used often on curtain calls

Moving Lights have ability to move under own power -pan, tilt, change color, change beam angle, change/rotate gobos dichroic filter: prismatic device that changes white light to different colors by tilting angle of filter to pre-determined setting for that color two basic styles: one complete moving piece (not able to go 360 degrees), use of a mirror to move light beam Moving Lights

Plug instrument into nearest circuit and record on plot “two-fering” – (two for one) using a twofer cable with one male end and two female ends, connecting lights together “jumpers” – extension cords used to connect pigtail of lighting instruments all cable should be fastened to batten with tie line Boom: Metal structure used free-standing to hold lights; mostly used side stage to send light from wing space Hanging the Lights

Troubleshooting If light fails to come on when patched into circuit: unplug light and replace an adjoining light known to work Replace lamp fidget with lamp (while light of OFF) Bumpers – section of flat iron bar bent into a circle 18”-20” in diameter to keep lights from knocking one another out of focus Side Arm – used to attach lighting instruments that will not fit on pipe in normal way Troubleshooting

Requires minimum of 2 people: one to focus the instrument, one to run the light board Begin at one end of an electric and move down Focus “hot spot” to desired location on stage by locking all bolts in place Beam Area: center portion of cone of light where the intensity is at least 50% of maximum Field Area: the “whole beam of light” Tilting – up/down movement Pan – side/side movement Ellipsoidal requires some shutter cuts sharpen/loosen the focus by moving the barrel shutters will mask sections of light “flag” the light – motioning hand or foot in front to make beam flash on/off donut – black metal sheet that fits into gel holder spot; has 2” diameter to cut out ambient light Focusing