Stage Lighting Fixtures
The following is a breakdown of the differnt types of theatrical lighting fixtures you will likely encounter:
Stiplight/Borderlights are good fixtures to use when you need to floodlight or wash large expanses such as cycloramas (vertical surfaces) or to have general illumination on stage (horizontal surfaces). Sometimes called X-Rays, Striplights/Borderlights are basically a trough of between 8 and 12 individual lights that are wired in either 3 or 4 different colors/circuits. By mixing the three primary colors of light (red, green & blue), any color is possible. This is very useful on stage, particularily when lighting cycloramas to suggest time of day. Striplights/Borderlights are ususally quite long, between 6 and 8 feet and can be mounted on overhead pipes or the stage floor.
An Ellipsoidal Reflector SPOTLIGHT (ERS) is probabally the most common lighting fixture used on stage. It is a very good fixture to use when a controlled beam of light or projected image is needed. Also known as a LEKO, the ERS is mechanically more complex than the other stage lighting equipment. As the name implies, it produces a fixed beam spread or 'SPOT' of light measured in degrees. The Ellipsiodal Reflector Spotlight has the capability to project patterns by use of a variety of templates or gobos that fit into its gate. A gobo is a piece of high temperature thin metal with cut-outs that is inserted into the gate of the fixture. As light passes through the cut-out pattern, it will project the image in light. The ERS also has the capability to shape the beam of light by use of a shutter system which consits of 4 shutters; top, bottom and two sides. These 4 shutters are located in the gate assembly and act as internal masks to keep light off areas that do not want to be illuminated such as areas of scenery or drapery.
A fresnel is a good general purpose fixture to use when wanting to FLOODLIGHT large areas. It is a mechanically simple lighting instrument that produces a smooth, soft edge beam of light. The fixture has the capability of producing either a spot or flood beam. The most common fixture sizes are 6" or 8" lens diameters. Wattages vary between 500 watts and 1000 watts. A barn door is an accessory that can be fitted in the front of the fixture which helps control light spill and reduces stray light.
A Parcan is a round metal housing that holds a Par 56 or Par 64 lamp. The PAR lamp produces a very strong oval shaped, medium-soft beam of light. Because of the way the lamp is held in place, the beam can be rotated and adjusted to the oval beam pattern direction desired. The term PAR stands for Parabolic Aluminized Refelector. It is known as a sealed beam lamp which means it has the lens and reflector built into it. The PAR lamp is available in 500 watts or 1000 watts and 4 beam speads; very narrow, narrow, medium, and wide. The Parcan is a good all purpose floodlight when used in the medium or wide beam spreads and can be a good special effect light when used in the very narrow or narrow beam spreads.
A Scoop is a fixture used to floodlight large areas such as the stage or cycloramas. A scoop consists primarily of a wide distribution reflector and lamp. There is no control of light. Quite often Scoops are used as general worklight on stage during rehearsals, stage load-ins and strikes (dismanteling stage scenery and lighting when the production is finished). Average wattage is between 500 watts and 1000 watts.