Theater Spot Lights
Theater Spot Lights
Theater spot lights are powerful stage lighting instruments that shine bright beams of light onto a performance space. They can help a director or lighting technician paint a scene with colors and moods.
Ellipsoidal spot lights can be framed and focused, making them great for following mobile characters around the stage. PAR cans spread lots of light broadly, but aren’t as adjustable.
Cyclorama Lights
Cyclorama lights are specialized stage and studio lighting fixtures designed to illuminate cycloramas – large, seamless, curved backgrounds often used Theater spot lights to create various scenic effects. When properly illuminated, cycloramas can transport audiences to different worlds and heighten the drama of theatrical and studio productions. Lighting designers can bring their visions to life with a wide array of cyclorama light options, ranging from simple washes to powerful, high-intensity models with customizable features like beam angle and color temperature settings.
Unlike other types of stage or studio lighting, cyclorama lights are focused on illumination of the background rather than spotlighting actors and other scenic elements. To achieve the desired visual effect, cyclorama lighting can be used with a variety of accessories such as barn doors and snoots to further shape and direct the beam.
The EclCyclorama LED cyclorama fixture offers a wide and even wash that is unparalleled in its category. Featuring an RGB+WW color mixing system, this fixture is able to achieve an impressive color consistency with no hotspots or fades. In addition, the fixture is 100% wireless and can be powered by battery or an AC mains, providing a flexible solution for any application. It also has a variety of control possibilities including DMX, RDM, Artnet, sACN and Wireless DMX.
Fresnel Spotlights
Invented by Augustin-Jean Fresnel in the early 1900s, the theater spot light is an essential lighting tool for film and TV. These focusable spotlights have a Fresnel lens that features concentric rings, like the rings on a tree trunk, that bend light rays into a focused beam.
The Fresnel lens makes the spotlights a powerful lighting tool, allowing the operator to control the size and sharpness of the light beam. Spotlights also often feature iris control mechanisms, which can be adjusted to vary the diameter of the spotlight beam. These controls allow the operator to create a narrow, concentrated beam or a wide, diffused floodlight, depending on the scene.
For example, in a dramatic climax scene, a spotlight can be adjusted to focus on a single performer, drawing the audience’s attention and heightening the drama. And when the scene shifts to a full ensemble number, the same spotlight can be widened to flood the stage and ensure everyone is well-lit.
Some theater spot lights also feature slots or holders for color filters and gobos, which can be used to modify the spotlight’s chromatic spectrum or mood. For example, a director may add an orange gel to a spotlight for a sunset scene, giving the light a warm, golden glow. Lastly, many of these spotlights come with pan and tilt adjustments that let the lighting director track performers or objects on stage.
Follow Spots
Follow spots are powerful light fixtures that help keep the audience’s focus on a Side Emitting Led Light Bar specific performer or prop. These lights can also add a dynamic element to a show by creating unique shadows and effects. They can also be equipped with accessories such as barn doors and snoots to create different lighting effects.
A good follow spot operator must be able to precisely track the movements of performers, which requires technical expertise and intense stamina. It’s essential that they be familiar with the entire show so that they can anticipate cues and act on them quickly. In addition, they must be able to multitask and adapt to changing circumstances on stage during a performance.
Spot operators should use the chopper function on a follow spot to shut off the light when they’re not tracking a specific target. They should also make sure they choose a spot that can fit their needs and the space. For example, a spot with a long throw distance will be necessary in larger theaters.
When choosing a spot, look for specifications that describe the power of the lamp, such as center beam candle power (CBCP) or foot-candles, instead of wattage. This is because the brightness of a spotlight can vary based on the lens type and other factors, and comparing wattages can be misleading.
PAR Cans
PAR Cans are some of the most simple stage lighting tools in use. The classic PAR can is basically a hollow cylinder with a lamp socket that holds a PAR bulb. The bulbs are sized by the number that follows “PAR,” with a PAR 64 being a bulb with a diameter of 64/8 inches. These bulbs are then covered by colored lenses or gels that produce specific color effects. These lights are often used for musical performances where a distinct colored light is needed to change the mood of a scene or create transitions between acts.
A PAR can can also be a good choice for theatrical lighting when you need a large amount of flat light to illuminate a scene. They can be used in conjunction with ellipsoidal spotlights to help shape and focus the light that is projected onto the scene. They can also be used to create a wide wash of light over the entire set, especially in larger venues.
LED PAR cans are becoming more and more common in theatre production. They provide the same intense beam and rich colors that you can get with a traditional PAR can but without the need to replace the entire fixture. HyLite offers a variety of LED PAR Lotus lamps that are designed to retrofit your existing fixtures, so you can make the switch without having to invest in expensive new lighting gear.
