Stage Lighting: Techniques and Equipment

Stage Lighting

Special Effects

• Physical: Smoke, snow, wind, fire, rain, etc.
• Electronic: Projectors (front and rear screen projection) for simple and moving images.
• Luminous: Laser.

Audiovisual

Displays, video projectors, cameras, etc.

Light Sources

Controllable characteristics:

• Intensity: Brightness level.
• Distribution: Area of illumination.
• Color: Controlled with gels (e.g., Rosco catalog).

Purpose of Stage Lighting

• Illumination: Provide visibility.
• Dimension: Create shadows and depth.
• Selection: Highlight specific elements.
• Atmosphere: Set the mood and environment.

Projector Placement

1. Front: Angle relative to the illuminated object no more than 75° on the horizontal plane.
2. Rear (Contra): Creates dimension and volume, highlights actors' outlines. Fresnel and PAR64 are common choices.
3. Overhead (Zenith): Dramatic, perpendicular light. Used for effects like caves or wells. Common fixtures include PC, PAR64, and Fresnel.
4. Footlights: Low light from the front of the stage, creates an unsettling atmosphere. Quartz lamps or small fixtures are often used.
5. Side (Lateral): Creates ambiance and dimension. Used for effects like moonlight (high) or firelight (low). Common fixtures include PC, PAR64, and Fresnel.

Focus Types

PAR-64

Mounted in elongated boxes. Simple, durable, and easy to handle. Intense beam of light with an oval shape. Can have narrow, medium, or wide beam angles. No lens, but uses a protective crystal or granulated/scratched cover. 1000W power.

PC

Flat and convex lens. Spherical reflector. Mounted on a carriage for adjustable angles (5° to 50°). Defined conical light beam. Can use visors. Available in 500W, 1000W, and 2500W. Used for side, overhead, and general lighting.

Fresnel

Similar to PC, but with a "laddered" plano-convex lens for a diffused conical light. Available in 500W, 1000W, 2000W, and 5000W (halogen) and HMI 1200W (discharge). Used for backlight, essential for film and TV.

Cuts

• Fixed Angle: Lens focuses but beam size is fixed. Edge can be hard or diffused. Categorized by name and degree.
• Variable Angle (Zoom): Lens moves and focuses, allowing for adjustable beam size and hard or soft edges.