Types of Theater Spot Lights
In theatrical performances, spotlights help to set the mood for the scene. As ABBA sang in their 1970s hit, “Tonight the Super Trouper beams are gonna blind me.”
Followspot spotlights follow mobile actors around with a powerful circle of light and have shutter and lens control along with internal color filter capability to change their hue.
Fresnel Spotlights
Fresnel spotlights are among the most popular type of spot lights for theater, photography and film production. Their adjustable lens system made of concentric circles allows professionals to control the light’s beam, creating a smooth lighting gradient that minimises harsh shadows and highlights important elements for an overall polished aesthetic. Adjusting a fresnel spotlight to beam mode also expands its versatility, allowing it to project gobos for captivating stage effects.
Aside from their use in theatre, photographers, filmmakers and other production companies can leverage the usability and portability of Fresnel spotlights. They can be mounted on stands or rigging for precise positioning. They can also be covered in a variety of different filters and diffusion materials for various lighting effects. For example, a photographer can add Theater spot lights a blue filter to produce cool blue lighting for a dramatic portrait. Alternatively, a content creator can add a yellow gel to recreate the look of sunset for an atmospheric video clip.
For talk shows and news desk setups, Fresnels with wide beams can highlight guests and ensure they stand out against backdrops and screens. They can also be used with diffusion materials for a soft glow to highlight beauty tutorials or DIY crafts. Moreover, these lights are ideal for vlogs because they’re portable and can be easily adjusted to match different locations or lighting environments.
Followspot Spotlights
The follow spot is a large, operator-driven spotlight used to track a character or object around the stage. As a spot operator, you will need to be able to control the size of the beam and change its color. You may also be expected to assist with scene changes, if needed.
There are a wide variety of follow spots available on the market. They are designed for different venues and throw distances, but most of them have a few basic features. First of all, you will need to make sure the lamp is properly balanced. If not, the intensity of the spot will be affected and its edge will appear either sharp or soft.
Spot ops use a device called a Telrad to help them align the follow spot’s beam before it hits the stage. This can be useful if your stage has an irregular shape or if you need to spot light from an angle that’s not ideal.
Unlike PAR cans and ellipsoidals, follow spots typically use some type of high-intensity discharge (HID) bulb. For this reason, wattage specs aren’t as helpful when comparing this type of fixture to others. Instead, look for specifications such as center beam candle power (CBCP) or foot-candles. The higher these ratings, the more powerful the spot.
Ellipsoidal Spotlights
Resembling small searchlights, ellipsoidal spotlights shine light on well-defined areas of the stage to emphasize specific characters and moments of dialogue, emotion, or action. They are also useful for illuminating scenes or objects from the back of the set, which can help to reduce the need for a lot of scenic changes during performances.
ERS, or ellipsoidal reflector spotlights are the most popular type of theater spot lights in use today. They are known for their crisp beams of light that can be shaped using a wide variety of shutter angles and the ability to accept slide-in gobos for pattern projection. Most ellipsoidal spotlights have a field angle that is fixed at five degrees, but some offer a zoom lens as an option.
The Ovation E-910FC IP from CHAUVET Professional is a high-performance LED ellipsoidal that offers the performance you Dual Row Led Light Bar need for state-of-the-art stage and event lighting. Featuring full RGBA-Lime color-mixing and industry-leading efficacy, this fixture is a powerful tool for creating spectacular visuals that will wow audiences and impress cameras.
Like fresnels, ellipsoidal spotlights feature a concentric lens that creates an even field of light with minimal scatter. This gives them a smooth, soft quality that works well for romantic or more classical stage designs. However, unlike fresnels, ellipsoidal lights have hard edges that make them better for more dramatic and intense lighting effects.
PAR Spotlights
A familiar sight on stages and theaters around the world, PAR lamps are one of the most popular types of spotlights. Their simplistic design uses a reflector and cylinder to concentrate light into a single beam. While halogen PAR lights were common in the past, LED bulbs have now become the standard due to their superior cost-efficiency and brighter light output.
With their wide coverage and ambient lighting abilities, PAR spotlights are ideal for a range of stage applications. They can be used to wash a stage with color, provide mood lighting for a performance or create special effects that are synced up with the music and movement onstage. They also feature a high color rendering index, which means the colors they emit will appear as realistic as possible to audience members when viewed in person or broadcast on television.
HyLite offers a wide range of LED PAR spotlights that are compatible with your existing hardware, making it simple to upgrade to more energy efficient lighting. With different powers available and a retrofit design, you can easily replace your old halogen or incandescent PAR lights with LEDs without replacing the entire fixture. By switching to LED, you can save up to 21,480 kWh a year, depending on the power of the lamp being replaced. That is a significant savings for your facility, and an excellent way to cut back on your energy costs while improving the efficiency of your lighting.
