Theatrical Spot Lights
Theatrical spot lights are powerful lighting fixtures that create tight beams of light to captivate the audience and draw their attention. They can spotlight a single actor in a moment of introspection or illuminate a prop that holds the key to the plot.
Resembling small searchlights, these lights have shutters and an iris diaphragm for controlling the beam shape. They can also be filtered with color to produce different effects.
Fresnel Spotlights
Easily light your stage with this powerful LED Fresnel spotlight. It’s ideal for theatre, studio sets and live performances. Features include manual override controls for zoom and dimming as well as DMX integration, offering smooth 0-100% linear dimming. Manual control also allows you to adjust the size of the beam angle by moving the light closer or farther from the lens. Integrated barn doors help reduce glare and shape the beam.
A common lighting fixture in theatre, film and television, fresnel lights (pronounced “fruh-NEEL”) are known for their soft-edged wash of light. Their name derives from Theater spot lights the Fresnel lens – a set of concentric rings affixed to the front of the lamp that help focus and direct the light. They can be adjusted to produce a narrowly focused spot or wider flood of light, making them versatile for various types of productions.
For example, in a typical three-point lighting setup used for interviews, two or more fresnels can serve as a key light that spotlights the subject, a fill light to soften shadows and provide dimension, and a backlight for added depth and suspense. You’ve probably seen this setup in just about every sit-down interview on the news or in any documentary featuring an actor speaking directly to camera. Fresnels are also often used as a top or back light for large areas of the stage.
Ellipsoidal Spotlights
Ellipsoidal spotlights are a staple in stage lighting. They are powerful lights that can focus a high-intensity, sharp or soft edged beam that can illuminate a single person on the stage or a large area of the theater. They are also used in nightclubs, show windows, museums and other venues where precise controlled accenting is needed.
A theater ellipsoidal is named for its reflector, which is designed to collect and direct light through a barrel that contains a lens. The reflector has edges that are shaped like half an ellipse, and when positioned correctly, converges at the conjugate focal point (CFP). A series of double lenses located just after the CFP refract the light to a very sharp beam.
The resulting focused beam is ideal for illuminating set pieces, highlighting stage characters and creating a sense of depth in the space. They can also be used to project various shapes and patterns using slide-in LED Off Road Driving Lights gobos, and their ability to eliminate spill light allows them to create clean, crisp beams.
There are several manufacturers that produce ellipsoidal spotlights. ETC is known for its Source Four series, and Robert Juliat offers a range of Profile Series spotlights. They are available in a variety of color temperatures and tints, so you can choose the best option for your lighting setup.
Follow Spots
A Followspot is a special type of profile spotlight that is used to track and highlight a performer on stage. It is operated by a trained follow spot operator. Followspots are a vital part of the lighting design for musical theatre and some presentational productions. A follow spot operator must have a good understanding of the show they are working on. They must know who each character is, when they are supposed to be lit and the intensity of the light they need. Often they will also be expected to help move the lights for scene changes.
Modern followspots have many mechanisms for adjusting the size of the circle they illuminate and the color (by dropping in gels). They are generally controlled from a raised position onstage at floor level, but a ground control system such as PRG’s Bad Boy can be used to remotely operate the spot.
Older carbon arc followspots had two rods with tips that could be manipulated to create an arc of light. This was a difficult job to do well and the results were often less than ideal. Followspots can be hot to handle – especially in a heated room, so the operator needs to wear gloves, stay hydrated and take regular breaks. A poor follow spot operation can have a very negative impact on the performance of a production.