Lighting design - EduqasLighting equipment

The lighting designer uses lots of tools to create different effects on stage:

• automated or moving heads - operated using a computer and can move and change colour and shape very quickly to create a range of effects
• cyclorama - a large white drape or screen that is positioned upstage and can be lit using floodlights to create a block of colour, eg to represent the sky
• floodlight - a lantern with a wide beam that can cover a large area on stage, an effect called a wash
• follow spot - a tight beam of light that can be used to highlight a particular area on stage, often used to highlight and follow a particular actor
• Fresnel - a lantern that creates a soft beam of light
• gel - a coloured filter that can be placed on a lantern in front of a beam of light to change the colour
• gobo - a metal template positioned in front of a beam of light to create shapes of light on stage, eg a window frame or tree
• lighting desk - a manual or software-based system for operating lighting
• Parcan - a type of lantern that produces an intense beam of light
• practical - a light that is used as part of the set design, eg a desk lamp or torch
• profile spot - a tight beam of light that can be used to highlight an area on stage
• rigging - the structure that supports the lanterns, eg a lighting bar
• strobe - a light that flashes quickly on and off to create the effect of slow motion on stage; a health and safety risk for people with certain health issues
• ultraviolet (UV) - when used with fluorescent costumes or set pieces, it can create spectacular effects on stage