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BASIC LIGHTING TERMS
SHUTTERS:
a moveable piece within the ellipsoidal or follow spot
light that can shut out part or all of the light coming
out of a fixture.
BARNDOORS:
with a similar purpose to that of shutters (but used on
Fresnels and PARs), these are attachable metal pieces
that have hinged panels that can mask the light out
of certain areas.
Lamps:
light bulbs (the equipment they are used in are referred
to as "fixtures").
Color frame:
two connected square pieces of metal or cardboard with
a hollowed circle in the center; this frame holds the gel
in front of the fixture.
Diffusion:
similar to gel, these sheets are used to diffuse, or
soften, the beam of light and don't usually change the
color of the light (unless it is colored diffusion).
Gel:
also known as color media filter; the plastic film placed
in front of lights to change the color of the beam of
light.
Intensity:
the level of light output coming from the fixture
(usually measured in percentages on a control board);
the brightness of the light.
Open-face fixture:
any lighting fixture that has no lens
Patterns:
Also known as gobos thin, steel, circular pieces with a
design cut-out; when placed into a slot in the
ellipsoidal, these project patterns of light onto the
stage.
Snoot:
also known as top hat; an attachable accessory with a
long cylindrical tube used to reduce flare (stray light
beams) from lighting fixtures.
INTRODUCTION
A church should be a well-lit place for its worshippers. Good
church lighting only enhances the environment, as it is
essential for different places within the building.
There are three main areas that church lighting can be
utilized at its best.
1. Main Stage
2. Choir
3. Congregation
WAYS OF LIGHTING
There are two main ways to light a church;
a). Direct Ray
High ceilings play a major role for direct lighting as it is
used overhead to light these areas.
b). Reflection
This is used where the ceiling is near.
Both ways can be used depending on the design of
your facility
QUALITIES OF LIGHT
The main qualities of light include;
1. Intensity
2. Color
3. Distribution
4. Movement
FUNCTIONS OF LIGHTING
Visibility
Visibility is seeing what is meant to
be seen. It is not only what you
see, but what you are unable to
see, that makes it so important.
The ability to determine what you
want the audience to see at a
given time is known as “Selective
Visibility”.
FUNCTIONS OF LIGHTING
Composition
Stage lighting can be used to
compose
a
picture.
Some
events contain little or no
scenery and use lighting to
create the overall picture of the
scene. Musical concerts can be
an example of this function.
FUNCTIONS OF LIGHTING
Placing of Action
The stage lighting can be effectively
used to represent the location of
your presentation. Does the action
take place inside or outside? At day
or night? At dusk in a garden or at
dawn in Manhattan? The lighting
can be instrumental in establishing
time and place.
FUNCTIONS OF LIGHTING
Mood
Are you staging a “light” comedy or a “dark” drama? These
metaphors are used on purpose to make the point that
stage lighting can help provide the mood for your event.
Comedies are often bright and cheery. Dramas may be
darker with shadows.
LIGHTING TECHNIQUES
Front Lighting
is most commonly achieved by positioning two lighting fixtures at
approximately forty-five degree angles above the subject or object
on either side. It provides a natural look and is commonly used for
visibility purposes along with color washes. If you are in search of an
effect where the light appears harsher and shadows are much
steeper, this can be easily accomplished by moving the lights to
where they create a higher angle towards the object. A lower angle
will in turn cause what is known as flat lighting because shadows
disappear and there is no definition of key features.
LIGHTING TECHNIQUES
Side Lighting
gives you the additional flexibility of
hanging more lights along the side of a
performance space. It can be very
effective with the use of bold colors and is
commonly
used
during
musical
productions because it provides a very
presentational look to a piece.
LIGHTING TECHNIQUES
Back Lighting
is another technique of lighting that
has its own unique characteristics.
When something is lit from behind as
well as overhead, it separates the
object from the background, creating
depth.
LIGHTING PLACEMENT
As the lighting designer, you can
define goals by choosing
which
qualities and functions of lighting you
wish to accomplish in your design.
How do you accomplish your goals?
We will first describe a method for
lighting fixture placement.