Starting at the End
You Got to Know the
Territory
You Got to Know the
Product
What is a Lighting System?
Lights
Control
Dimmers
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
Ellipsoidal Reflector Spotlight – LEKO, ERS, SL
Patented in 1933 by the founders of Century Lighting
Joseph Levy and Ed Kook
Beam is controllable and shapeable.
Shutters
Patterns
Focus
Color
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.
Soft Edged Beam
Focus
Barn Doors
Color
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
6 - 8 feet
Color Mixing
Moving Lights
Add Flexibility to the Lighting Design
Pan, Tilt and Beam Shape
Patterns, Color and Effects
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
Portable Dimmers
CD80 Packs
Rugged dimmer packs for portable and permanent applications
Full range of capacities: 24 – 1.2kW, 12 - 2.4kW, 24 - 2.4kW 6 - 6kW or 6 - 12kW
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
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
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
2 Circuits to 36 Circuits per Cabinet
UL1008 and NFPA 110 Available
Layout and Design
Identify traditional lighting positions
Grid
Electrics
FOH
Proscenium
Cyclorama
FOH Cove or
Catwalk
45 º angle
Audience or “House”
Stage Rake
Locating the Lights. Fresnels, Spots and Pars.
- Front of House,(FOH) Position is a primary part
of the stage front lighting
45º Angles Create
Dimension
SL Spotlights
Fresnels
FOH Position
Stage
(Top View)
Fresnels
SL Spotlights
Create a flat field
Stage Left
Up Stage
FOH Position
Down Stage
Stage Right
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
CYC
4th Onstage Electric
Cyc lighting
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.
6 - 8 feet
Onstage - the First Electric
4th Onstage Electric
Stage Electrics are trussing or pipes
that are numbered to identify them easily
1st Onstage Electric
Onstage - Filling in the rest
3rd Onstage Electric
2nd Onstage Electric
1st Onstage Electric
Intercept Panels
4th Onstage Electric
Floor Level Circuits
* Floor Pockets
* Plug Boxes
Plug Boxes
Stage circuits can be on the walls,
on flexible cables for the Electrics
or in floor pockets
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
Solutions made Simple
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