Production Arts

Stage Lights

Different Lights

• ParCan• LED ParCan• Spotlight/Source Four• Minuette Profile• Pinspot• CCT• Selecon• PC• Scena 1K• Flood Light• Birdie

ParcanThis light is mostly used in music shows and theatre shows as its brightness and its size can light up most of the stage. This light can be controlled e.g. going up and down and it does not have a fixed light making it a good light for general cover. Parcans have four different beam angles of 6X12 (Degrees) 7X14 (Degrees) 12X28 (Degrees) 24X48 (Degrees)

The accessories for this light include a G clamp and safety chain. These are used to hang up the light during shows and makes it more safer. A Parcan also comes with gels and gel holders, with these we can change the colour of the light by switching the gels. An adjuster is equipped on the side of the light so you can move it up or down.

If you wanted to create a chase effect in a music performance, you would use a Parcan over a profile as a Parcan does not give as much of a defined light as a profile and, for a chase effect, you need more of a general cover. You would use a Parcan instead of a Birdie for a chase effect as it is much better and has a much more brighter light.

LED ParcanThis light is very much similar to the Parcan light, however, the colour of this light can be controlled whereas on the Parcan, it can not be. Like the Parcan, it is mostly used in music gigs and theatre shows as it gives an overall general cover on stage. This light can be used in a 13 or 15 amp. This has a beam angle of 90-120 degrees.

The accessories for this include a G clamp and safety chain to ensure that the light is hung up safely. This light also includes dip switches, these switches are used so the light can have a fixed colour before a show. The LED Parcan is controlled by a DMX cable. This cable has two ends; a male and a female end.

If you wanted to provide multiple colour to enable a scene during a performance to change its mood, you would use an LED par over a Parcan or a flood light. You would use an LED Par as you can control the colour of the light from the desk, this makes it a lot more convenient than a Parcan or a Flood light as you can not control the light of these from the desk.

Spotlight/Source FourThis light is used if shows need a fixed light upon something or something. The source four is mostly used in theatre shows as shows like this need a spotlight on a particular person more often than not. It may also be used in a music shows. The beam angle for this can range from 24 degrees to 60.

Like every other production light, it has a safety chain and G clamp to support the light when hanging on a bar. This light has shutters on either side of the head so you can manipulate the shape of the light for different types of shows. The source four also has something inside it called an iris enabling the light to create a small pin of light for focus on a small object e.g. an apple. A gel frame and gels also come with the light so the colour can be changed. This light is equipped with two knobs, the first knob controlling the shape of the light and the second light controlling the sharpness. You can also insert gobos into these so you can change the pattern.

If you wanted to isolate an actor on the stage, you would use a source four rather than a selecon or a flood light. Flood lights are only used for general was and aesthetics, they can not be used as a spotlight. You wouldn’t use a selecon as they do not give a defined light, they are, like flood lights, used for general wash.

Minuette ProfileMinuette Profiles are very much similar to a source four. They are not as preferred as source fours as they are almost an old version of a source four. However they are still used as a spotlight if desperate. Mostly, they are used to add depth and general cover to a stage as they have a minimum beam angle of 27 degrees and a maximum beam angle of 32 degrees. This would cover a wide range of the stage.

Accessories for this light include a G clamp and safety chain. This light also has a gel frame so gels can be used, this means the colour of the light can be changed. Minuette profiles also have gobo holders to fit gobos so you can add patterns to the light. An iris can also be inserted into the light so the size of the light coming out can be changed to how you want it to be. For example if you wanted to light an apple on the stage, you would use an iris to make the light very small. Shutter can be put into the light so you can manipulate the shape of the light.

If you needed create a window effect for a set design, you would use a minuette profile over a CCT or a parcan as you can insert gobos into minuette profiles; gobos can not be inserted into a CCT or a Parcan as they do not come equipped with a gobo holder.

CCTFirst of all this light has a minimum beam angle of 35 degrees. A CCT is used in general shows like music gigs and theatre shows as it has a watt capacity of 500. This would create a general cover as it is very bright and if a show needs to be brightly lit then this light is most commonly picked.

Again and like all lights, this light comes with a G clamp and safety chain to give it more support when hung on a bar. CCT lights also come with barn doors, these are very much like shutters; you can manipulate the shape of the light. It also comes with an adjustable knob on the bottom to a change the focus of the light.

If you needed to create a side light for a dance performance, you would use a CCT as apposed to a profile or a pinspot. Profiles and pinspots give a certain defined light and are not usually used for general cover. A CCT would give a general cover and create much more of a back light then a profile or pinspot.

Pinspot

Pinspots are very much like Birdies as they are mostly used for aesthetics. A pinspot is most commonly used to light up a glitter ball and create a glitter ball effect. They can also be used to light up a very small object on stage. Instead of inserting an iris into a minuette profile, you would just use a pinspot light.

Accessories include a g clamp and safety chain like all lights. You can change the colour of the bulb inside of the light, therefore, the colour of the light can be changed.

If a certain performance require a glitter ball effect you would use a pinspot as apposed to a flood or LED par as you can not manipulate the light of those lights to go as small as a pinspot. These lights are used for general cover, whereas a pinspot is not.

Selecon (Fresnel)Like all Fresnel, this light is used for general cover on a show as it gives off a bright light. These lights have to be focused before a show is going to start as it can not be controlled by the desk. When this light is on, the brightness is spread near enough across the whole stage. The beam angle for a selecon can be a minimum of 6 degrees and a maximum of 60 degrees.

Again, this light is equipped with a G clamp and safety chain. This light comes equipped with barn doors attached on all four sides of the light . This makes it easier for crew as they would not have to insert the barn doors before the show. Selecons also have two adjustable knobs, one controlling the size of the light and one controlling the focus of the light.

If you needed to create a general wash for a show, you would use a selecon over a Parcan or a PC as a selecon light gives a better and brighter cover a s apposed to a Parcan or a PC. Selecons also come with shutters so the light can be manipulated to how you want it to be.

PC (Frenel)A PC is mostly used for general cover on stage as the light is very bright, however, if you needed a replacement spotlight desperately you would use this light. A PC is much more preferred as apposed to a Parcan light as it is brighter. The beam angle for this light is a minimum of 7 degrees and a maximum of 38 degrees.

Like the same with every light, this light comes with a G clamp and safety chain attached to it. Gels can be inserted into a PC as it has gel frames. The arm on this light can be adjusted so you can move the light to where you want it to go before a show. Also there is an adjustable knob that determines the size of the light coming out. Like most frenels, a PC comes with barn doors so you van manipulate the shape of the light coming out. A 15 amp plug is used for this light.

If, during a show, profiles or source fours are broken, you would use a PC instead of CCT or selecon as the pebble convex effect gives a much more defined area of light whereas the a PC and Selecon give much more general cover.

Scena (1K)

Scena are relatively similar to parcan lights as they are mostly used for general wash. They are also used for backlight in performances, backlight is a general light at the back of a performance that creates a 3D affect. It is usually fairly dimmer than a front light like frenels and spotlights. This light has 1000 watts as apposed to 500-650 in a standard parcan or frenel, this makes it a lot brighter and a lot more useful in performances where the stage has to be brightly lit. It has abeam angle of 24-65 degrees.

Accessories include a G clamp and safety chain. Gels can be used in a Scena as a gel frame is equipped, therefore, the colour of the light can be changed. Barn doors are attached to the front of the light so you can change the shape of the light. A Scena has a ridged lense, this makes the light coming out of it merge together or diffuse.

If you needed to create a back light for a performance, a 1k would be much more preferred as apposed to a Birdie or Profile as a 1k has much more wattage so can cover a lot more of the stage. A 1000 watt light would be much more effective than a 100 or 500-650 watt light.

Flood LightFlood lights are the most common light off stage. People use them within the house hold like in a garage or an outside motion detector lights. When it comes to on stage performances, flood lights are mostly used to light up the audience and light up the surrounding area. It can also be used for general wash during a performance. This has a beam angle of around 45 degrees.

Accessories for a flood light consist of a G clamp and safety chain. Gels can be inserted as it comes with a gel frame. You would normally see the colours lilac and light blue in flood lights as these are not harsh colours. There is a minimum of 500 watts and a maximum of 650 in watts in a flood light so they are reliable for general wash.

If a cyclorama needed to be lit, a flood light would be used instead of a Profile or a pinspot as it gives much more of a direct light as it is lit from the floor. Also, profiles are mostly used fro general cover and a pinspot is used for a glitter ball effect.

BirdieA Birdie is a very small light that looks like a parcan. They can be used in performances but they really can only be used for aesthetics. Their job is to make the stage look more appealing and to add that extra bit of light. Beam angles for Birdies can range from around 15 degrees to 60 degrees.

Accessories for a Birdie include, like all stage lights, a G clamp and safety chain. Halogen light bulbs are used in Birdies so can be brighter than most stage lights and they can also take a 13 to 15 amp plug so can they can be used within a household. Gel frames are attached to a Birdie so, therefore, gels can be used which means the colour of the light can be changed.

If you needed to light the audience during a performance, you would use a birdie instead of a Selecon or Parcan as it is not as bright as these lights and are used for aesthetics.