Theater Spot Lights
Theater spot lights are used to illuminate certain parts of the stage during a performance. They help to keep the audience’s attention on the performers.
Often paired with coloured filters, spotlights are used to draw focus on a particular element of the stage. They are also used to separate a character from the backdrop and characters around them, especially during an important piece of dialog.
Cyclorama Lights
Cyclorama lights, or cyc lights, create a soft and uniform wash of color to light cycloramas, which are used as backdrops on a stage. These large stage curtains, typically made from muslin or canvas, can be plain in order to allow projection of light and images onto them, or painted with a specific scene to suit the production. Cyc lights are used from both ground and fly pipes, either to illuminate the entire cyclorama or to highlight particular areas.
One expert tip that we’ve found helpful is to use a snoot (sometimes called a top hat) to reduce the amount of flare and stray light coming off of lighting fixtures. A snoot is a cylindrical accessory that fits over the head of a fixture, which helps to reduce the amount of light spilling out around the fixture.
A good cyclorama light will offer a smooth, even wash that’s free from flickering. This will look better for video recordings, especially if the show is being recorded. At Sweetwater, we recommend the Chauvet Pro Ovation CYC 1 FC RGBAL, which has an adjustable pulse-width modulation that eliminates on-camera flicker. It also offers a Virtual Color Wheel that’s matched to popular gel colors and temperature presets, as well as 16-bit dimming for master dimmer control. It’s convention-cooled and silent, making it perfect for theatre applications.
Fresnel Spotlights
Fresnel spotlights use a lens design that channels a soft-edged beam of light. They are often used on stage performances, film sets and photography sets. They offer precise control over the direction and intensity stage light manufacturer of their light output, making them ideal for lighting up a theater set or capturing high-quality imagery.
For example, a theater spot can be adjusted to spotlight a single actor during an emotional performance. As the scene progresses to a full ensemble number, the same fixture can be broadened to flood the entire stage with a more general light. Similarly, a film director may use a fresnel spotlight to emulate the setting sun during a sunset sequence.
Modern LED fresnel spotlights, such as the BeamZ Professional BTF100Z COB LED Fresnel Theatre Spot Light RGBW, offer a versatile range of adjustments. These include the ability to adjust the size of the light’s beam, allowing professionals to focus their attention on specific areas of the stage. They also feature a compact design, making them easier to handle and move around. Some even come with slots for projecting gobos, giving them extra versatility.
Lighting operators can manually control the intensity levels of a fresnel spotlight using a light board or dimmer switches. They can also test their lighting designs during rehearsals or the actual performance to ensure that all the cues are working properly.
Follow Spots
Follow spots are powerful stage lighting tools that track performers to highlight their movements with a bright beam of light. They’re often used in concerts, musicals, and large-scale productions where it’s important to focus the audience’s attention on a particular actor or object. Follow spot operators must have strong observation skills and reflexes to make sure they’re following the movement of the actors and objects correctly. They also need to know how to operate the spotlight well enough to adjust its intensity, focus, and size.
The type of followspot you’ll need depends on your production’s needs, but BulbAmerica has a wide range to choose from. You can get a standard, medium-powered followspot or a more advanced model with a variety of features like gobos, dichroic color filters, and iris adjustment. Some models can even be controlled remotely using DMX512 protocol and connectivity, and feature built-in effects such as frost.
Smaller follow spots use a traditional halogen lamp, while larger ones are powered by high-intensity discharge lamps. They also have a wide variety of mechanisms that the operator can use to control the spotlight’s brightness, power, shape of the beam, and other attributes. Curved Led Light Bar Some have a manual iris, while others come with a telrad spotting scope to help the operator find their mark. They may also have a slot for adding gels and a dowser to control the intensity of the light’s edge.
PAR Spotlights
The workhorses of stage lighting, PAR spotlights (also called “PAR cans” due to their round-shaped metal casings) are sealed-beam lights that direct light at a single spot. They have limited precision with focus or zoom options, but they can be changed in color with the use of colored gels to illuminate and set the mood of a performance.
Typically, these theater spot lights are rigged above the stage to illuminate onstage action. They can also be used for backlighting, or to create exciting effects by shining a spot on a mirrorball to project shapes and patterns. They’re often paired with wash lights to highlight performers, and can be manipulated in various ways to produce a range of visual effects.
Many traditional halogen and incandescent PAR lamps are being phased out, so it’s important to look for LED alternatives that deliver the same optics as your previous bulbs but are more energy efficient. HyLite LED PARs feature excellent energy efficiency, a plug-n-play design that doesn’t require retrofitting of the fixture, and several power options to suit your needs.
In addition to illuminating stages, Par cans are great for venues of all sizes and types, including dance studios, art performance groups, clubs, and other social gathering spaces. They’re also popular for creating mood-setting color washes, directing spotlights, and enhancing architectural spaces.