Technical Theater: Introduction to Lighting

PART I: The Basics

What are the four purposes of stage lighting?

What are the three elements of stage lighting?

Who are the three team members responsible for stage lighting?

The Purposes of Stage Lighting

Visibility – The audience has to be able to see the action.Emphasis – Lighting can direct the audience’s attention.Mood – Lighting can set the tone or indicate a change in mood.Logic – Lighting sets time of day, directional lighting from real light sources (sunlight, moonlight, lamplight.)

The Elements of Stage Lighting

Intensity – How bright is the light?Color – What color is the light?Distribution – Where is the light and what is its shape?

Lighting for the Theater

The Lighting Designer designs the placement, color, and intensity of lighting.

The Master Electrician creates the lighting by hanging and focusing the lights. He is assisted by a team of Electricians and Gaffers.

The Light Board Operator executes the lighting effects during the show.

The Lighting Designer

The Lighting Designer designs the overall look of the lighting including:AreasColorsSpecial Effects

The Lighting Designer must balance two demands:1. The practical purpose of lighting (making sure actors and

set can be seen, the logic of the script)2. The artistic purpose of lighting (creating tone, mood,

effects, etc.)

The Master Electrician

The Master Electrician and the team of Gaffers create the hang and focus.

1. Hang – the placement and proper connecting of the lighting to the light grid.

2. Focus – the focusing of each instrument in the proper area

The Light Board Operator

The Light Board Operator executes the lighting effects during the show.

1. Operate the light board and oversees all lighting instruments.

2. Follows the cue sheet.3. Reports to the Stage Manager.

InstrumentsLighting instruments (not lights) come in

many sizes and shapes. Each has a specific purpose.

1. LED – Light Emitting Diode (digitally controlled for lighting/color mixing within instrument)

2. PAR Can – Provides a beam of direct light; cannot be adequately focused; harsher light (concert lighting).

3. Strip Light – A row of lighting to wash a general area; may be used as footlights.

4. Work Lights (Clip Lights) – Used for safety; not for “show” lighting.

PAR Can

LED Light

PART II: Equipment

What are the main types of lighting instruments?

What is the purpose/use of each one?

What are the parts of a lighting instrument?

InstrumentsLighting instruments (not lights) come in

many sizes and shapes. Each has a specific purpose.

1. Cyc Light – Projects light onto cyc2. Fresnel – 6” and 8”. Provides an even

light over a wide area.3. ERS (Ellipsoidal Reflector Spotlight) –

Focuses a more narrow beam of light at a smaller area.

4. Follow Spot – similar to an ERS but with more motion control; often free-standing and manually operated

FRESNEL

ERS

FOLLOW SPOT

Parts of an Instrument1. Barn Door – Attaches to the front of an instrument to focus

the beam externally.2. C-Clamp – Used to attach the instrument to a batten3. Connector (3 Pin or Twist-Lock)4. Gel – Colored plastic sheeting to adjust light color.5. Gobo – Metal cut-out to project a shape through light (used

w/ERS only)6. Housing – The metal casing of the light.7. Lamp (not light) – The “bulb”8. Roundel – Colored glass lens that covers a light (used w/Strip

Lights)9. Safety Cable – Secures instrument to batten10. Shutter – Panels adjusted inside the light to focus the beam

internally11. Twofer – Used to cable two instruments to the same power

source12. Yoke – C-Shaped metal bar that attaches Housing to C-Clamp.

Parts I-II: Review1. What is meant by “logical” lighting?2. What is meant by “distribution” of lighting?3. Who is responsible for hanging and focusing the lights?4. Which instrument is most commonly used for providing a wide

area of unfocused light?5. What main function does an ERS have that a fresnel does not?6. How are LEDs fundamentally different than other theatrical

lights?7. What is the difference between a “barn door” and a

“shutter”? How are they the same?8. What is a theatrical light bulb called?

PART III: Hang and Focus on a Grid / Safety

What safety procedures must be followed when working with lighting?

What are the types of lighting by location and purpose?

What special lighting effects can be achieved?

What are the parts of a grid?

How do I read and create a light plot?

What are the elements of focus?

What is the “Rule of 45°”?

Lighting Safety and ProceduresWear gloves.Do not touch the housing, lens, or lamp of an instrument until

it is completely cool.When working on ladder, tools must be clipped to belt.Never work on lighting alone!Disconnect instrument before changing the lamp.Check cables for wearAlways disconnect cables by the connector; never by the cable.Always gaffe down cables that could be a trip hazard.Carry a C-Wrench / Channel Lock¼ turn tighten once the C-Clamp touches the pipe

QuizPART I1. What is meant by “emphasis” in lighting?2. What three elements of lighting can the designer control?3. Which instrument is most commonly used for providing a wide area of unfocused light?4. What main function does an ERS have that a fresnel does not?5. What is one tool should you have with you when working on lights?6. What rule do you need to remember when changing a lamp?7. What is one important safety rule when working on lights?8. True/False: A gobo is used to change the color of an instrument.9. True/False: Gels are used with LEDs.10. True/False: Most instruments in the Kell Theater are LED.

PART II: Number your paper 11-30 and identify the items set up in the theater. NO TALKING!11-30.

BONUS: Who assists the Master Electrician?

Hang and Focus

In order to understand lighting, you must understand where instruments are placed, how they are connected, how they are powered, and how they are focused.

Hang and FocusThe Stage and Types of Light1. Area – an area of the stage to be lit by an instrument2. Backlight – light coming from behind the actor3. Curtain Warmer – lights used during preshow to light the closed main drape4. Fill Light – light used to “fill” in dark spaces between areas5. Flood Light – light used to “wash” an entire area6. House Light – lighting in audience areas7. Key Light – a specifically lit point used for adding emphasis (ex. On an actor’s face or

a prop)8. Practical – a working light embedded in the set such as a streetlamp9. Sidelight – light coming from the wings10. Special – a light that is used for a special effect11. Spotlight – a light focused on a specific person or area (more broad than a key light)12. Work Light – light used for safety during hang and focus, preshow and rehearsal

Lighting Effects

1. Black Light – For neon and glow effects.2. Gobo Rotators / Loops – For creating

movement in shadows thrown by gobos.3. Scrim – A wide-woven mesh fabric that can be

painted. When lit from in front, it is opaque. When lit from behind, it becomes transparent.

4. Strobe – Flashing lights; must be used sparingly. Audiences must be notified.

Hang and Focus

The Grid and Equipment1. Batten – A metal pipe that holds instruments2. Electric – A row of dimmer connections 3. Gaffe (Tape) – to tape down loose cables4. Grid – All battens/electrics combined5. Hang – Place and connect instruments6. Instrument Schedule – a detailed list of all instruments,

their type, wattage, color, and dimmer7. Light Plot – A diagram of all lights placed8. Tree – A free standing metal structure for hanging lights

Lighting Areas6 5 4

3 2 1

The Kell Grid

1

6 5 4

3 2

Hang and FocusFocus Terms1. Beam (Angle) – The area of intense, effective light coming from an instrument

from 100% to 50%. It is expressed by an angle in degrees, ex. 20°2. Bleed – Colored light that spills from its area of focus into other areas3. Bounce – Indirect light reflected off of floors and walls.4. Field (Angle) – The area of all light emitted from 10%-50% of maximum

intensity. It is expressed by an angle in degrees, ex. 20°5. Flood – To fill an area with bright light.6. Spill – Similar to “bounce”; an area outside of the intended focus area that is

illuminated by an instrument; for area lighting, the designer tries to minimize spill

7. Throw – A specific distance that an instrument can illuminate effectively; it is determined by the size of the instrument.

8. Wash – General illumination to cover an entire playing space.

6-Inch ERS Beam, Field and ThrowLENS TYPE BEAM ANGLE FIELD ANGLE THROW

6 x 9 24° 40° 15-30 ft.

6 x 12 18° 30° 25-40 ft.

6 x 16 15° 20° 35-55 ft.

Fresnel Field AnglesLENS TYPE SPOT FIELD ANGLE FLOOD

FIELD ANGLETHROW

6” 16° 60° 15-30 ft.

8” 14° 50° 25-40 ft.

6 x 16 15° 20° 35-55 ft.

Quick Review1. What is area light?2. How many lighting areas are there usually?3. What is a practical? Give an example.4. What is the difference between wash light and flood light?5. What is one disadvantage to using a strobe light?6. What is a batten?7. What is the difference between a batten and an electric?8. How many main electrics does Kell have?9. What information is on an instrument schedule?10. What is an instrument’s “beam”?11. What is an instrument’s “throw”?12. What is the difference between “bounce” and “spill”?

PART IV: The Light Board

What are the basic functions of a light board?

How is light controlled through the board?

What is an instrument schedule?

What is a cue sheet?

The Light Board1. Blackout – to bring all instruments to 0 instantly2. Bump – to increase the intensity of an instrument or area3. Channel – A circuit channel that can handle multiple dimmers4. Crossfade – to bring down one area while bringing up another5. Cue (Cue Sheet) – a lighting change expressed by number, channel/sub, intensity, timing,

and prompt; a cue sheet contains all the cues for a show6. Dim/Dimmer – to control an instrument; essentially a socket; one instrument may be

plugged into one dimmer unless a “two-fer” is used7. DMX – A digital protocol that allows the console to speak to the instruments8. Fade – to slowly decrease the intensity of instruments9. Ghost – to allow the faintest amount of light to come from an instrument; or the afterglow

of a light that has been taken to 0.10. Light Board (Panel) – Also called the “console”; the operation panel for the lighting11. Master – Controls all other dimmers, channels, and submasters12. Patch – to assign a dimmer to a channel13. Preset – a designers cheat sheet; shows the general area and instruments on the light plot14. Submaster – A circuit channel that can bundle multiple channels15. Slider – the knob that controls channels, subs, and masters

Lighting Flow ChartPOWER SOURCE / CIRCUIT

DIMMER

MASTER

CHANNEL

SUBMASTER

INSTRUMENT

CUE

CONNECTOR / TWO-FER

Quick Review

1. What is a ghost light?2. What does an instrument connect directly to?3. What control slider must be up on the light board for

anything to happen?4. What does it mean to “patch” a dimmer?5. Put these light board controls in order: submaster

– dimmer – master – channel6. About how long does total blackout take in our

theater?7. How do you perform a crossfade on the light board?

Instrument ScheduleNUMBER TYPE WATTAGE COLOR DIMMER

Instrument ScheduleNUMBER TYPE WATTAGE COLOR DIMMER

F1 6” Fresnel 500 Amber FOH 1

F2 6” Fresnel 500 Amber FOH 20

E1 20° ERS 1000 Red E1 - 24

“There’s only color and light . . .”

- Stephen Sondheim from Sunday in the Park with George

PART V: Color and Light

1. What are the primary and secondary colors of light?

2. How do colors in light mix on white and colored surfaces?

3. What are the four different types of color Modification? Additive, Subtractive, Reflective, Intensifying

Color in Light

Color works differently in light than it does in pigment.

Primary Light Colors: Red, Blue and Green

Secondary Light Colors: Yellow, Magenta, Cyan (light blue)

All Colors Combined Make WHITE

Color in Pigment

Primary Pigment Colors: Red, Blue and Yellow

Secondary Pigment Colors: Orange, Green, and Purple

All Colors Combined Make BLACK

Color in Pigment

COPY AND LABEL

Pigment: Secondary ColorsCombine two primaries to create a secondary:

=

=

=

+

+

+

Color In LightThe Light Color Mixing Triangle

Color in Light

Primary Light Colors: Red, Green, Blue

Secondary Light Colors: Yellow, Cyan, Magenta

All Colors Combined Make WHITE

Color in Light

Color Mixing in LightCombining two colored light sources is considered “Additive”

mixing.

Using a colored filter over a white light source is called “Subtractive” mixing because you are taking away all other colors from the white light to create your color.

Tip: Combining two “Subtractive” light sources creates progressively darker light.Example: a green gelled light mixed with a blue gelled light will create a blue-green light, but it would be darker than if two green or blue light sources were crossed.

The Baker’s Wife (2007)

Color ModificationCOLOR MODIFICATION occurs when a pigmented surface is lit

with a colored light source.

When adding light to a pigmented surface, remember these rules:

Reflection: If a white surface is lit with a colored light, it will reflect that color.

Intensification: If a colored surface is lit with a light of the same color, that color is intensified or darkened.

Color ModificationCOLOR MODIFICATION occurs when a pigmented surface is lit

with a colored light source.

When adding light to a pigmented surface, remember these rules:

Additive Mixing: If a white surface is lit with a mix of colored lights, the lights will mix on the surface according to light mixing rules, i.e. – red + green = yellow.

Subtractive Mixing: If a colored surface is lit with a colored light, it will mix according to pigment mixing rules, i.e – blue surface + yellow light = green.

Color Modification: ReflectionColored Light on White Surface

INCIDENT LIGHT

SURFACE REFLECTED LIGHT

AUDIENCE

Color Modification: Reflection

Colored Light on White Surface

?

INCIDENT LIGHT

SURFACE REFLECTED LIGHT

AUDIENCE

Color Modification: Reflection

Colored Light on White Surface

RED

INCIDENT LIGHT

SURFACE REFLECTED LIGHT

AUDIENCE

Color Modification: ReflectionWhite Light on Colored Surface

INCIDENT LIGHT

SURFACE REFLECTED LIGHT

AUDIENCE

Color Modification: Reflection

White Light on Colored Surface

INCIDENT LIGHT

SURFACE REFLECTED LIGHT

AUDIENCE

?

Color Modification: Reflection

White Light on Colored Surface

INCIDENT LIGHT

SURFACE REFLECTED LIGHT

AUDIENCE

YELLOW

Color Modification: IntensificationColored Light on Same Colored Surface

INCIDENT LIGHT

SURFACE REFLECTED LIGHT

AUDIENCE

Color Modification: Intensification

Colored Light on Same Colored Surface

INCIDENT LIGHT

SURFACE REFLECTED LIGHT

AUDIENCE

?

Color Modification: Intensification

Colored Light on Same Colored Surface

INCIDENT LIGHT

SURFACE REFLECTED LIGHT

AUDIENCE

DARK GREEN

Color Modification: Additive Mixing

Mixed Colored Lights on White Surface

INCIDENT LIGHT

SURFACE REFLECTED LIGHT

AUDIENCE

Color Modification: Additive Mixing

Mixed Colored Lights on White Surface

INCIDENT LIGHT

SURFACE REFLECTED LIGHT

AUDIENCE

?

Color Modification: Additive Mixing

Mixed Colored Lights on White Surface

INCIDENT LIGHT

SURFACE REFLECTED LIGHT

AUDIENCE

CYAN

Color Modification: Subtractive Mixing

Colored Light on Different Color Surface

INCIDENT LIGHT

SURFACE REFLECTED LIGHT

AUDIENCE

Color Modification: Subtractive Mixing

Colored Light on Different Color Surface

INCIDENT LIGHT

SURFACE REFLECTED LIGHT

AUDIENCE

?

Part VI: Basic Lighting Design

1. What is a light plot?

2. How do I create a simple area light plot?

3. How do I create and read a simple cue sheet?

A Lighting Plot

CREATE A LIGHTING DESIGN

1. Choose one of the scenes below.2. Read the scene and figure out where light is

needed.3. Draw a Simple Stage Set on the Stage Areas

diagram.4. Design a Cue Sheet with at least three light cues.5. Create a light plot using the Kell Grid for your

Lighting Design

“Trouble at Home” (2 Actors)Scene: Lights up. A living room with a sofa, chair, and table Center Stage. A lamp on an end table Stage Left. Door Stage Right. Moon light comes through a Window Up Stage Center. Mom sits on the sofa. It is late evening.

DIM LIGHT UPEnter BenMom: I’m glad you finally made it home.Ben: Sorry, I got held up in traffic. Why are you sitting in the dark?Mom: I was thinking. (Turns on the lamp.) There. So, would you mind explaining this? (Holds out a letter.)Ben: What are you talking about, Mom?Mom: This letter.Ben: Let me see that.Mom: Here you go.Ben: Did you open it?Mom: Yes.Ben: You invaded my privacy.Mom: When were you going to tell me you got a ticket?Ben: Leave me alone!Exit BenBLACKOUT

“Trouble in the Lab” (3 Actors)Scene: A mad scientist’s laboratory. A monster lies on a table.LIGHTS UPEnter Scientist and AssistantScientist: At last! The perfect electrical storm. It is time to bring my creation to life!Assistant: Is the creature ready?Scientist: Yes, turn on the animator!Assistant: Ready!Scientist: Open the sky light!Assistant: Ready!Scientist: Now, throw the switch!Assistant: Yes, doctor!There is a brilliant flash of light and an explosion. The creature begins to rise from the table.Scientist: It’s working! It’s working! It’s alive!Assistant: You’ve done it.Scientist: Come to me, my creature! (The creature moves towards the scientist.) That’s it! Keep coming! (The creature stops.) Assistant: What’s the matter, doctor?(The creature collapses to the ground.)Scientist: No!!!!!!Assistant: Oh, well, better luck next time.BLACKOUT

Practice Scene #3

Scene

UR UC UL

SR C SL

DR DC DL

6 5 4

3 2 1

Stage Areas (Acting + Lighting)

Cue SheetCUE # PAGE PROMPT PANEL % TIMING NOTE

1 1 Start of Show CH 48 0% 5 count House Out

2 1 END CUE 1 SUB 1 75% 1 Red Cyc; Low Wash

3 1 “Macbeth!” SUB 13 Variable / Lightning

Scene 1 Storm Effect (at will)

Cue SheetCUE # PAGE PROMPT PANEL % TIMING NOTE

1

2

3

The Kell Grid

1st – 21-42

1

6 5 4

3 2

CYC – 62-86

FOH 1-20

2nd – 43-62

93-94

95-96

2142

1-2 19-20

The Kell Grid

1

6 5 4

3 2

RULE OF 45°

When lighting an actor, two lights placed 45° apart and centered on the actor will eliminate most shadows.

Bonus Test Questions(ON SEPARATE PAPER)

1. Where are dimmers 87-92? 2. What is a light tree? 3. What one thing do we most need to be able to do more with our lighting? 4. Which instrument has the farthest throw: Fresnel, ERS, LED or Follow Spot? 5. “Leko” is another name for which type of instrument: Fresnel, ERS, LED or Follow Spot?