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Lighting Design Terms
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Intensity
The brightness or strength of a light source. Example: The director asked for the intensity of the stage lights to be increased for better visibility.
Floodlight
A lantern designed to cover a large area with light, often used for general washes. Example: Floodlights were used to illuminate the entire stage for the opening dance number.
Light Plot
A detailed diagram or map that indicates the location of lighting instruments, their type, and other pertinent information. Example: The designer explained the light plot to the crew during the tech rehearsal.
Key Light
The primary source of light on a subject, usually placed at a 45 degree angle. Example: The key light was positioned to highlight the actor's face during the monologue.
Luminaire
A complete lighting unit, including a lamp, reflector, lens, and housing. Example: The new LED luminaires were much more energy-efficient than the old ones.
Fill Light
Secondary light source used to reduce shadows caused by the key light. Example: We added a fill light to soften the shadows on the actress's cheekbones.
Fresnel
A type of lantern with a lens that produces a soft-edged beam of light, useful for washes. Example: We used Fresnels to create a warm, soft light across the whole stage.
Barn Doors
An attachment for a stage light that allows the light to be focused into narrower areas. Example: By adjusting the barn doors, we focused the spotlights on the lead singer only.
Color Temperature
A characteristic of visible light measured in degrees Kelvin (K), indicating the hue of a specific type of light source. Example: We chose a gel with a cooler color temperature for the moonlit scene.
Gel
A transparent, colored material used in lighting to color light and for color correction. Example: To achieve a sunrise effect, we can use an orange gel in front of the lights.
Backlight
Lighting that comes from behind the subject to create depth and separate them from the background. Example: Backlight was used to make the principal dancer stand out from the corps de ballet.
Followspot
A spotlight specifically designed to follow actors as they move around the stage. Example: The followspot operator kept the lead in the spotlight during her solo.
Cyclorama
A large curtain, usually concave, positioned at the back of the stage for projecting light and creating atmosphere. Example: The cyclorama was lit with a gradient to mimic a sunset.
DMX (Digital Multiplex)
A digital communication network used to control stage lighting and effects. Example: The DMX system made it easier to synchronize the lights with the music.
Practical
A light that appears on stage as part of the scenery and is used by the actors. Example: The practical lamp on the bedside table was incorporated into the play's action.
Dimmer
A device used to vary the brightness of a stage light. Example: The dimmers were adjusted to slowly fade to black at the end of the scene.
Parabolic Aluminized Reflector (PAR)
A versatile type of lantern with a parabolic reflector, used to produce a wide range of beam spreads. Example: PARs were rigged above the stage to provide general wash lighting.
Gaffer Tape
A strong, durable tape used in theater to secure cables and mark positions. Example: We used gaffer tape to make sure the power cables were safely attached to the floor.
Beam Angle
The angle at which light is emitted from a fixture, which determines the size of the light pool on stage. Example: We chose fixtures with a narrow beam angle to create focused areas of light.
Scrim
A piece of fabric that appears opaque when lit from the front and translucent when backlit. Example: A scrim was lowered for the ghostly apparition scene to achieve a mysterious effect.
Ellipsoidal
A type of light that produces a well-defined beam, often used for spotlighting. Example: An ellipsoidal was used to spotlight the actor during the climactic speech.
Gobo
A stencil placed in front of a light source to project a shape or pattern. Example: During the play's forest scene, a gobo was used to create the illusion of trees.
Cue
A signal for a lighting change or effect to occur at a specific moment in a production. Example: The lighting cue for the thunderstorm effect was executed perfectly by the tech crew.
Spotlight
A lantern that projects a strong, focused beam of light to highlight a performer or area on stage. Example: A tight spotlight was used on the magician during his act.
Blackout
A complete absence of stage lighting, typically used to signify the end of a scene or act. Example: A sudden blackout concluded the tense standoff between characters.
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