Different Types of Theatre Spot Lights
Different Types of Theatre Spot Lights
Theatre lighting is an essential tool that helps to convey a story, portray a mood, and draw the audience’s attention. It’s also a way of making a scene look more realistic and exciting.
Theater spot lights are specialized stage lights that shine focused beams of light on performers and props. They can also be used with gobos, which are sheets with designs cut into them to project pictures onto the light.
Cyclorama Lights
In the theater, a cyclorama is a backdrop used at the back of the stage to simulate sky or other background. Cyclorama lights, or cyc lights, throw a uniform wash of light over the cyclorama to illuminate it without creating shadows on your actors or sets. Cyc lights can be hung from the ground or from a fly pipe and are typically mounted with a snoot, or top hat, to reduce the size of the beam.
Expert tip: Remember to use softboxes or light panels for your cyclorama lights, especially when lighting a white one. This will prevent any unwanted light patterns on your cyclorama from the overhead lighting and help to create a more neutral and natural look.
The best cyc lights are high-output LED fixtures that can produce a wide and even wash of light over large curtains, walls and backdrops. They also feature multiple built-in programs to match the look of any scene or show you’re designing.
Another essential cyclorama light is a Fresnel fixture, which has the ability to adjust the size of the beam with the twist of a handle. Unlike other types of lights, Fresnels are able to change the size of their beam from a narrow spot to a broad flood with just a few turns of the handle, making them perfect for illuminating a cyclorama or even an entire theatre.
Followspots
A Followspot, also known as a spotlight, is a powerful stage lighting instrument that projects a bright beam of light onto a performance space or performer. It is controlled by a spotlight operator who tracks actors around the stage, and it is most commonly used in concerts, musicals and large-scale productions where highlighting a mobile individual is important to the overall presentation.
The word ‘Limelight’ is actually a nickname for the original Followspots, and comes from the way they worked – they were powered by Oxyhydrogen flames focused on a cylinder of Calcium Oxide (or Stage Lighting Supplier Lime) that produced a bright hard-edged beam of light. Modern Followspots use electricity and HMI (Hydrargyrum Medium-Arc Iodide) or Xenon lamps instead.
The most essential job of a Followspot operator is to keep the spotlight’s beam within the design determined by the Lighting Designer. To do this they have a range of controls, including the ability to open and close a dowser or aperture, and to adjust the intensity of the lamp and/or its field of coverage. Most modern Followspots are designed to be able to incorporate frost in their lenses, to provide the option of a sharp or soft edge, which is an essential artistic choice for some productions.
This type of work requires a high level of concentration and precision, especially on long running shows where the operator will see the same show up to eight times a week, sometimes over 400 times a year! It is for this reason that a good Followspot Operator is an incredibly desirable skill.
Elliptical Spots
A long-thin light beam that can be focused tightly to highlight actors, create visual interest or for other effects. A popular choice for commercial or retail lighting projects.
A coloured gel (usually a colour changeable) Single Row Led Light Bar used to alter the colour of the light beam. A ‘leafy breakup’ can be useful in a forest or spooky wood scene to add some texture to the beams without revealing the actor’s face to the audience.
Usually fitted to the front of a theatre catwalk. This position is generally located in front of the stalls and balcony in traditional proscenium theatres.
Ellipsoidal spotlights are named for the elliptical reflector that collects and directs the light through a lens barrel. They come in LED and HID (traditionally tungsten halogen). Also known as ERS, Leko lights or profile spots(in Europe) ellipsoidal spotlights are made by companies including Altman Lighting, ETC Connect, Chauvet Professional and Elation.
Although the lighting plan might show instruments allocated in a very orthodox way, anyone considering new equipment should consider adding some fresnels and/or Parcans to the bar: these offer smooth, soft-edged beams that avoid the problem of stray scatter light seen in other lantern types, and can easily be refocussed for specific purposes. A good proportion of the ellipsoidal spots on a bar should be fitted with barndoors to control the spread of the light and prevent spill light entering the audiences eyes.
PAR Lights
PAR lights, also known as “can” lights, are one of the most familiar fixtures found in a theater environment. They are sealed beam lamps in cylindrical metal casings that can be adjusted for a wide range of angles and colors. They can be used to spotlight actors with a narrow, focused beam or they can be used to wash the stage with a soft, wide glow.
Like other types of spot lights, par cans can be complemented with different color filters to create various moods and atmospheres during a performance or show. For example, warm colors can envelop the audience in an inviting embrace while cool tones can create a mysterious aura. Additionally, these lights can be paired with gobos, which are stencils inserted into the light’s frame that project intricate patterns or logos on the stage surface for visual impact.
PAR cans are also commonly used for backlighting, which is a technique that adds depth and dimension to the stage and set. This effect is particularly effective when used on a singer or dancer, as it can highlight their silhouettes and help them stand out from the background for a visually appealing and impactful performance.
