Different Types of Theater Spot Lights
Theater lights help in creating different types of visuals on the stage. These lights can have natural effects like waterfalls and firewood as well as supernatural effects.
Resembling small searchlights, these powerful stage lighting instruments project intense illumination onto specific areas, drawing attention to a single character or emphasizing important dialogue and action. They are often paired with coloured filters.
Fresnel Spotlights
A directional stage light, the fresnel spotlight is characterized by its stepped lens with concentric rings that control the size and focus of the beam. Named after Augustin-Jean Fresnel who created the refracting surface that gave rise to the theater light, these workhorses are commonly used as key lights on sets and have been responsible for many of the iconic images associated with movie stars (think George Hurrell).
LED fresnel theatre spotlights are available in a wide range of sizes and wattages so you can customize the intensity according to your lighting design plans. You can also choose from ellipsoidal fixtures, which are designed for longer throw distances and offer more precise control over the light output.
Adjusting your fresnel light from a spotlight to a beam increases its versatility, enabling you to project gobos and other patterns into your set. LED technology offers energy savings and professional features such as instantaneous control over the full range Theater spot lights of intensity, spectral tuning, and more. You can even upgrade your traditional lamp-based fresnel light to an LED version for substantial savings and increased functionality.
Cyclorama Lights
Cyclorama lights (Cyc Lights) are specialized lighting tools designed to illuminate cycloramas – expansive, curved backgrounds that are frequently used in theater and stage productions. By diving into the purpose, applications, optimal techniques, physical attributes and prominent suppliers of cyclorama lights, professionals and enthusiasts alike can ensure that their productions are flawlessly illuminated – transporting audiences into the heart of the narrative.
Unlike border lights, which cast a narrow, asymmetrical wash, cyclorama lights throw a broad, even, and more diffuse wash of light. They can be hung from the ground or from fly pipes, and are often equipped with individual “cell” units that can be set to different colors to denote scene changes.
In addition to providing a smooth, uniform wash of light over the cyclorama wall or curtain, cyc lights help eliminate shadows by keeping lighting sources a good distance away from the cyclorama walls. For the best results, a general rule of thumb is to double the height of your tallest subject to determine how far back they should be from the wall to avoid having their shadows fall onto it.
Followspot Spotlights
The follow spotlight is a specialized type of theater spot light. This directional spotlight follows mobile actors around the stage, drawing the audience’s attention to them and adding depth to the performance space. A spotlight operator controls the spot from a specialized control booth called a “spot box” in a theatre, or on a purpose-built catwalk in larger venues like arenas and amphitheaters.
Most large follow spots use a high-intensity lamp that cannot be dimmed and require the operator to open a “dowser” in order to present the light to the stage. Some have gel color slots in their boomerangs for a hard or soft edge to the beam, as well as shutter cuts and other features depending on the manufacturer.
The LED Followspot 120ST is a portable follow spot with an intense 120W LED that illuminates a tight beam at long distances to highlight actors at a range of positions on the stage. It features DMX and manual modes for simple professional fading, as well as a mechanical iris for adjusting the size of the beam’s diameter.
Beam and Wash Fixtures
While the three main buckets of stage lighting are wash, beam and hybrid fixtures, these categories can become a bit blurry when it comes to selecting what type of fixture is right for the job. Ultimately, it’s up to the designer to know which fixtures work best for their needs and which will get the most bang for their buck.
Beam light fixtures produce thin, sharp beams of light that can reach long distances. These are used to highlight specific elements of the set or create a powerful, intense look that adds drama.
Traditional PAR cans are a common choice for these, although newer fixtures like the Clay Paky Sharpy have really kicked off the modern era of beam lighting. These fixtures feature a laser-like beam that is free of any halo, and are able to accept gobos. They also offer a variety of lens options that allow them to be used as either a spot or a wash. Some even have shutter framing to roughly shape the field of light. This level of control allows the designers to create a wide variety of looks.
Strobe Lights
Strobe lights, which are a staple of stage lighting, create a flashing effect that can be used to catch the audience’s attention or highlight specific areas of the set. These lights can also be manipulated to create specific emotions and moods.
Stage lighting is essential for creating a realistic stage setting and immersive experience for the audience. Different types of spotlights and other specialized lighting equipment allow you to deliver a variety of effects and colors.
Ellipsoidal reflector spotlights, often called ERS and pronounced Leko (rhymes with elf), are the workhorses of John Deere LED Work Light the theatrical lighting industry. They produce a round beam of light that can be changed with gels and a shutter or iris.
Follow spots, a type of ellipsoidal spotlight that can be manually operated to “follow” a figure around the stage, are commonly used for this purpose. Other popular options are PAR lights, which are sealed-beam lamps in cylindrical metal casings that can be positioned horizontally or vertically. They don’t provide the same level of flexibility in framing or focus as ellipsoidal lights, but they are great for when lots of coverage is necessary.
