The Basics Designing a Stage Lighting System.

Starting at the End

You Got to Know the Territory

You Got to Know the Product

What is a Lighting System?

Lights Dimmers Control

First things First What are the functions of light in an entertainment system ? Visibility – Provide enough light to see the performer. Modeling – The use of light and shadow to reveal form. Focus – The use of light to focus the audiences attention. Information – The use of light to establish time of day, mood and composition in support of the event.

What are the standard directions of light? Front Light – Provides a flat quality, but is good for lighting the eyes.

What are the standard directions of light? Diagonal Front Light – Adds dimensionality to the actor while providing good face light.

What are the standard directions of light? Side Light – Reveals the dimensionality of the actor.

What are the standard directions of light? Back Light – Highlights and separates the actor from the background.

What are the standard directions of light? Diagonal Back Light – Like side light reveals dimensionality as well as separates the actor from the background.

What are the standard directions of light? Down Light – Dramatic, reveals form.

What are the standard directions of light? Up Light – Reverses shadows.

Fixtures and Accessories The end that justifies the means Ellipsoidals Fresnels Cyc Lighting Lamps Patterns / Gobo’s Scrollers Extension cables Color Media / Gel

Patented in 1933 by the founders of Century Lighting Joseph Levy and Ed Kook Beam is controllable and shapeable. Shutters Patterns Focus Color Ellipsoidal Reflector Spotlight – LEKO, ERS, SL

5°, 10°, 19°, 26°, 36° and 50° field angles High efficiency dichroic glass reflector and coated aspheric computer-designed lenses Coolbeam operation for extended gobo, shutter and gel life High performance 575W lamps Fast and easy lamp centering with positive screw driver lock so that it won't move in transit Fast positive peak/flat adjustment via screw drive mechanism for smooth, tool-free field settings Bayonet action lamp changing system for simple lamp changes without affecting field setting

Compact and lightweight, allowing closer hanging in tighter spaces Smooth 360° body rotation for quick and easy gobo and shutter positioning Shutters in three planes for triangular shutter cut Highly versatile rigging by combining 360° rotation with two balance positions for yoke Large rear handle for easy positioning Wide gate will fit 2 gobo holders, including glass gobo holder, drop-in iris or rotating gobo holder

Fresnel Spotlight Beam is controllable and shapeable. Focus Barn Doors Color Soft Edged Beam

Fresnel Spotlight High-output Fresnels Lightweight extruded aluminum body, with black finish 1000W and 2000W Vented lens door Smooth and concise spot-to-flood adjustment All handles thermally insulated Barndoor optional Bi-post socket version available. Ideal for small television studios particularly low-power, educational and in-house commercial and industrial facilities

Cyclorama Lighting Smooth Field of Light Asymmetric distribution Color Mixing feet

Moving Lights Add Flexibility to the Lighting Design Pan, Tilt and Beam Shape Patterns, Color and Effects

Identifying your Materials Power Handling Equipment Control Equipment Circuit Distribution Lighting Fixtures and Accessories 4 Primary Equipment Categories of EVERY Stage Lighting System

Power Handling Equipment Dimmer Racks L/V Relay Racks Emergency Transfer Cabs Company Switches FOH Intercept Panels

Control Determine how lighting will be controlled Theatrical Consoles Architectural Stations Stage Mgr. Panels Ethernet Equipment Remote Inputs Aux. Control A / V Interfaces

Control 100 Series Console Fully digital control console 12 channel 2 scene preset, 24 channel single scene preset operation with unique Hold function in single scene mode Built in effect operation Designed for portable or rack mounting applications Split crossfader with time fade function Bump buttons Grand Master and Black out key DMX 512 output

Control 200 Series Console Fully digital control console Two models available 12/24 channels or 24/48 channels Two pages of Submasters memories All consoles feature 2 scene preset operation or expanded single scene preset operation with unique Hold function in single scene mode Up to 24 effects each with up to 99 steps Split crossfader with time fade function Bump buttons on all channels Grand Master and Black out key Full DMX 512 operation with patch

Distribution Distributing circuits throughout the facility Connector Strips Plug Boxes Drop Boxes Multicable Extensions Floor Pockets

Plug Boxes Multi-Cable Floor Pocket

CD80 Packs Rugged dimmer packs for portable and permanent applications Full range of capacities: 24 – 1.2kW, kW, kW 6 - 6kW or kW Full range of output connectors: pin connectors, twist locks and parallel blades or terminal strip output for permanent installations Plug-in digital command module Overlapping simultaneous 0 to +10V analog control output Illuminated push buttons for local control (full/normal) plus ‘panic’ feature for instant on Input and output XLR connectors for daisy chaining packs Simple phase change from single phase 3 wire to three phase 4 wire Toroidal chokes for high-quality filtering Portable Dimmers

CD80 Single Dimmer Rugged dimmers for portable applications Capacities: 2.4kW, 12kW and 24kW Stage pin power connections Plug-in digital command module Integral circuit breaker Recessed controls DMX512 control versions Stackable UL, cULlisted Portable Dimmers Light Pack Quiet IGBT Dimming Technology Fully short circuit protected DMX In/Out Local Control for easy set up 800μs transition time Forward or reverse phase operation Integrates with all Strand Dimming Systems UL cUL listed 3 Year Warranty

Portable Dimmers S21 Dimmer Stick Fully Digital Dimmer strip DMX 512 I/O Quiet convection cooled dual IGBT dimmers Energy efficient-only a 2.5 volt insertion loss Local Focus buttons and status display 450 μs transition time on 1.2kW dimmers and 800 μs on 2.4kW dimmers significantly reduces lamp sing Automatic Short Circuit protection Wide range of load connector options Integrates with Strand C21 and A21 Dimmers Hangers available for wall and pipe mount applications

Portable Dimmers

R21 Raceway Fully Digital Powered Raceway DMX 512 I/O Simplified Data distribution over ShowNet Networking Remote processor option provides support for up to 96 dimmers Quiet convection cooled dual IGBT dimmers Energy efficient - only a 2.5 volt insertion loss Local Focus buttons and status display 800 μs transition time significantly reduces lamp sing Automatic Short Circuit protection Wide range of load connector options Integrates with Strand C21 and A21 Dimmers Dimmer Status reporting standard Hangers available for Wall and pipe mount applications

Emergency Transfer UL1008 and NFPA 110 Available 2 Circuits to 36 Circuits per Cabinet

Layout and Design

Identify traditional lighting positions Grid FOH ProsceniumCyclorama Electrics

Locating the Lights. Fresnels, Spots and Pars. - Front of House,(FOH) Position is a primary part of the stage front lighting 45 º angle Audience or “House” FOH Cove or Catwalk Stage Rake

45º Angles Create Dimension Stage (Top View) FOH Position SL Spotlights Fresnels Cyc Light

Create a flat field FOH Position Stage Right Stage Left Up Stage Down Stage

COLOR CREATES * Shadow * Time of Day * Mood FOH “Electric” Overlap warm And cool color to set the mood

Side Lighting Fills the Shadows Box Booms

Onstage - Lighting the Cyc 4th Onstage Electric CYC

Cyc lighting feet The special reflector in a Cyc light washes the Cyc with a flat field of light. Multiple Cyc lights permit color mixing and good horizontal coverage.

Onstage - the First Electric 1st Onstage Electric 4th Onstage Electric Stage Electrics are trussing or pipes that are numbered to identify them easily

Onstage - Filling in the rest 1st Onstage Electric 2nd Onstage Electric 3rd Onstage Electric 4th Onstage Electric Counter Weight System Intercept Panels

Floor Level Circuits * Floor Pockets * Plug Boxes Floor Pockets Plug Boxes Stage circuits can be on the walls, on flexible cables for the Electrics or in floor pockets

Circuiting - Front of House Front of House - Space circuits on 18 inch to 2 foot centers Number from the furthest front of house position to the nearest, then from the furthest Side of House to the nearest Don’t forget the houselights - they are numbered after the last stage circuit

The First Electric Most heavily used 18 to 24 inch circuit spacing Sometimes “Double Hung” Use a connector strip rather than boxes when possible First Bridge at the San Francisco Opera -192 ccts

Cyclorama Electric Space circuits to match cyclorama lighting units on 6 or 8 foots centers in groups of 3 or 4 circuits Add circuits for use as backlighting or specials In small theaters cyc circuits may be “paired”

Mid Stage Electrics Circuit spacing is 18 to 36 inches May be a connector strips or “Drop” boxes Drop boxes get fed from both ends of a pipe If drop boxes are used, include a selection of extension cables for circuiting lights

Stage floor level circuits Locate both Stage Left and Stage Right at “tormentor” openings: typically 2 to 4 ccts each Used very heavily in dance facilities - ‘shinbusters’ Used for stage level effects, ground rows, and “practical lighting”

How many dimmers do I need ? Count circuits - dimmer per circuit is the industry standard Add Houselight circuits Paralleling is possible at Cyclorama and wall circuits

Electrical issues Always use separate neutrals for each circuit Derate to no less than 400 amps per rack whenever possible. Plan for K rated transformers for large installations 3% load loss, or 12 BTU/Hr per amp of connected load

Dimmer considerations Select modules with filtering to meet the needs of your facility - most use 350us, (micro seconds) standard dimmers for “Road Houses” Performing Arts Centers often use hi-rise time 800us dimmers or Sinewave dimmers for Quiet operation Television studios use 500us dimmers or 800 us dimmers depending on live stage recording requirements

Specialty Modules Contactor modules provide switching for fluorescent and metal halide loads as well as motors, effects devices and worklights Sinewave Dimmer Modules provide completely silent loads with very low harmonic content – ideal for houselights and other quiet applications 3 Wire Fluorescent modules are optimized for Hi resolution fluorescent ballasts such as Hi lume

Choosing a control console Basic and Mid-Range Manual control desks for smaller facilities Memory systems up to 500 channels for a variety projects Memory/Manual systems for flexibility Basic DMX Cable Belden 9829

Advanced control systems Larger channel capacities Highly sophisticated controls Networking Multi-console Automated luminaires Remote video

Sample Solutions

Small School Stage

A plan view

System riser

A Medium size system

System Riser

Larger system

System Riser

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