Theater Spot Lights
Theater spotlights are a powerful device that can draw the audience’s focus to an actor or object. They are often used paired with colored filters to highlight a particular character or element on stage.
Spot fixtures (also known as ERS, Leko, or Source Four) and followspots are the most commonly used spotlights in theatre. These have fixed beam angles.
Spotlights
Resembling small searchlights, these luminaries focus light on well-defined areas of the stage to highlight actors and draw attention to particular elements of a production. They often feature gobos and color filters to create dramatic effects.
Ellipsoidal reflector spotlights, or ERS lights, are the workhorses of theater lighting. These cannon-shaped fixtures shoot a tight beam of light and reveal costumes, facial expressions, and movements. They can be framed and shifted around the stage using pan and tilt controls, and their internal mechanisms allow them to project different shapes and colors.
Follow spot lights are another type of ERS spotlight that can be manually operated to follow an actor around the stage. These spots can Theater spot lights be framed, but they don’t have as much adjustment for the size of their beam angle as other spotlights.
Backlights
Backlights are a type of light used to highlight subjects in a scene. They are usually placed behind the subject to separate them from the background, allowing for more three-dimensional effects than front lighting alone. They can also be used to add contrast and drama to a composition, and are often used in chiaroscuro effects in painting.
When using a backlight it is important to control the intensity of the light to avoid overwhelming the scene. Employing a variety of techniques like flags, dimmers and diffusion can help to achieve the desired effect.
LED backlights typically use a light guide plate (LGP) which is a layer of plastic that diffuses the light through a series of unevenly spaced bumps. The density of these bumps increases as the distance from the LED increases according to a certain diffusion equation.
Gobos
Gobos are a powerful lighting technique that can add both depth and practical effects to a scene. Whether used in physical theater lighting setups or in 3D rendering, gobos 3 in 1 moving head light can help to bring your production to life in new ways.
A gobo is a metal or glass template with designs cut into it that can be inserted into a lighting fixture to shape the light emitted. These can range from simple geometric patterns to more complex images that mimic foliage or architectural elements.
Gobos are often used to create specific moods or atmospheres in a scene. They can be shaped like swirls that convey movement and wispiness or geometric shapes to create a more futuristic feel. They can also be patterned to imitate natural elements like sunlight filtering through leaves to create an outdoor feeling. Gobos can be used to draw attention to specific elements of a set, such as a cake or centerpiece, or can be used to highlight a logo.
Dimming Shutters
Dimming shutters are like two window treatments in one. They combine the soft fabric features of a blind with room darkening fabric vanes that rotate open to allow sunlight in and close them when you want complete darkness. These shades from Levolor can also be controlled using a home automation system for added convenience.
These layered shutters are designed to allow a greater amount of light transmission than conventional dimmer units that require multiple power cycles to reach full performance. In certain embodiments, a transition from power 621 OFF to power 621 ON is accomplished in less than a hundred (100) milliseconds and takes about the same time to achieve 50% light transmission.
These dimmer shutters are made of an active liquid crystal layer configured to adjust a transparency level when electrical power is provided between the electrodes and a photoactive layer that is responsive to absorption of UV radiation. GH molecules in the LC layer are aligned in a clear state when no electrical power is applied and the PhCh layer is in a dark state when no UV radiation is present.
