Stage Lighting Fixtures Brandon Anderson Jan 16, 2006

Instrument Classes Pt.1 Wash / Flood fixtures –Usually open-face (no lense) –Provide a broad, soft beam of light –Normally used for color washes or fill light –Instruments: Scoop (Ellipsoidal Reflector Floodlight) Borderlights Cyc Lights Broadlights Other open-faced lights

Instrument Classes Pt 2 Spot fixtures –Produce a controlled, narrow beam –Most often use a lense –Used for area or special lighting –Instruments: Fresnel Spot Light Ellipsoidal Reflector Spot (ERS) Light Parabolic Aluminized Reflector (PAR) Lights* Followspots Others (beam projectors, etc)

Scoop Technically Ellipsoidal Reflector Flood Beam width depends on size (8”- 16” common) Open face with elliptical, white reflector. Produces soft, broad light Ideal for color washes and soft fill light

Border Lights Multiple-lamp strip Used as color wash or cyc lighting 3 or 4 circuit, 6’-8’ long common May use PAR, MR16, or R type lamps w lamps common May use class filters called Rondels

Cyc Lights Modern replacement of borderlights for cyc lighting Special reflector can light a parallel plain evenly if placed at top or bottom Provide even wash light of cycloramas and drops Usually hung from batten and placed on ground (ground row) Come in multiple “cells” and configurations

Broad Lights Produces square, even beam of light Some may allow beam width to be adjusted. Used for color wash, fill, or backlight More common in film and video than theatre

Floodlights Cont. Exceptions to the rule: –PAR38/FL (standard flood light) –PAR56 or 64 WFL or XWFL Wide beam PAR used for color wash Also used for Batten Ends (High Sides) –R40 (standard flood light) Similar to PAR38 but frosted and white reflector Produce softer light than PAR38

Ellipsoidal Reflector Spotlight Produces hard-edge, focusable beam Shutters allow for framing of beam May be used to project steel patterns (gobo), color patterns on glass (glass gobos) or color images on dichroic glass (lithos) Evenness of field depends on lamp position within reflector (bench focus) Long through makes them suitable for FOH applications. Labeled by either beam spread (26 deg) or lens width by focal length (6x12)

Next Generation ERS ETC Source 4, Strand SL, Altman Shakespeare, Silicone Pacifica Use dichroic glass reflector to maximize visible light while removing IR and UV radiation that burns through gels and gobos Use new, high performance lamps 575w is equivalent to 1K older instruments

Fresnel Spotlight Oldest instrument still in use Uses Fresnel lens to focus light Uses a spherical reflector Terribly inefficient (less that 50%) Distance between lamp / reflector and lens determines beam width (adjustable) Produces soft light Medium through suitable for overhead use

Parabolic Aluminized Reflector Sealed beam lamp contains filament, envelope, reflector, and lens all in one package Most efficient instrument available Wattage dependent on size (max PAR w) Beam dependent on lens Durable, weather resistant Most common outdoor fixture Elliptical beam optimizes light use.

PAR Lamps VNSP (Very Narrow Spot) NSP (Narrow Spot) MFL (Medium Flood) WFL (Wide Flood)

Next Generation PAR Contain separate reflector, lamp, and lens Beam can be changed w/o replacing lamp More versatile, but also more fragile and not weather resistant. May be used w/o lens for XVNSP beam similar to beam projectors Intended for stage use only

Followspot Long through instrument mounted on mobile stand Operated during performance to follow performers Usually contains multiple filters on a “boomerang” or a DMX controlled color wheel. Most have zoom and focus capabilities. May contain additional iris, top/bottom shutter, and douser (mechanical dimmer) Most use HID lamps.

Improvised Followspots City Theatrical produces accessories for Source 4s: –Handles mount on instrument body –Iris goes in gate –Boomerang box fits gel slot –Special stand-mounted yoke Intended for short through use only.

Spotlights Cont. Exceptions to the rule: –Beam projectors use parabolic lens and front reflector to produce soft, narrow beam of light (think Batman). These are obsolete and not common. Size determines beam width (12” or more common). –There’s a fine line between spot and flood fixtures if there is no lens. Beam projectors may be listed as either, even though the beam is narrow.