By Kara Girvan

Lighting Operation

PC – Pebble Convex FresnelAccessories

• 500w bulb• G clamp• Safety chain• Gel frame and gels• Adjustable arm• Adjustable focus knobs• 15amp plug• Barn doors• Pebble glass lens • Beam angle: 8-31 degrees

ExplanationA Pebble Convex can be used for general cover or you could use it as a last resort for a spotlight. It has a pebble effect lens which effects the harshness of the light. A PC has the same lens of that in a spotlight but a spotlight has two lenses and a PC has one lens.Compared to a CCT Fresnel the light from a PC is more direct whereas a CCT is a more even spread of light.

ScenarioProfiles are broken but you need to isolate an actor on stage…You would use a PC as it has the same lens as any of the Profile lights and you can manipulate the light with the barn doors and the focus knobs, this is in comparison to a CCT Fresnel and a Selecon Fresnel which give a more diffused light which isn't good for lighting specifics

CCT FresnelAccessories

• G clamp• Barn doors• Adjustable arm• Safety chain• Ridged lens• Gel frame and gels• Smallest Fresnel• Beam angle: 35

degrees

ExplanationA CCT has a ridged circular glass lens which gives the light that is produced more of a diffused even spread. In comparison to a Selecon a CCT is smaller so it can be carried around easier.

ScenarioUsing side light for dance performers…You would use a CCT Fresnel because you can manipulate the light with the barn doors to help light all parts of the dancers without giving too much of a cover, in comparison to a Profile and a Pin Spot which both produce too much of a specific light.

Selecon FresnelAccessories

• Barn doors• 500w bulb• Adjustable arm• Safety chain• G clamp• Gel frame and gels• Ridged lens• 2 adjustable knobs• Beam angle: 6-60

degrees

ExplanationA Selecon is used for general cover or washes. You should genuinely use the same make of lighting for a general cover or wash jus to avoid patchiness. I would use a Selecon over a PC for a general wash as the light is more diffused and has a less of a sharp edge.

ScenarioCreating a general wash for the Christmas show…You would use a Selecon Fresnel over a Parcan and a PC Fresnel as it produces an evenly diffused light. You wouldn’t use a PC Fresnel because the light is a little too defined and you wouldn’t use a Parcan because we only use them to add depth if in desperate need.

1K – Scena FresnelAccessories

• 1000w bulb• Safety chain• Barn doors• Ridged glass lens• Gel frame and gels• G clamp• Mesh over lens• Brighter than the other

Fresnel's• Beam angle: 74 degrees

ExplanationA 1K is mostly used for back lighting to avoid the performers from blending as it cuts them out more. It can also be used for a general wash or cover (generally using light coloured gels like lilac and light blue)

Triangulation Having two smaller Fresnel's to every 1K helping to avoid the creation of shadows.

People often mistake a 1K for the beam travelling further however it is just a brighter light.

1K

ScenarioCreating back light for a musical…You would use a 1K over a Profile and a Birdie because its mainly used for back light. A Profile is no good as the light is too defined and they are used for specifics and a Birdies light isn't powerful enough.

ParcanAccessories

• Safety chain• Encased light bulb• Oval shape light• Gel frame and gels• G clamp• Adjustable arm• Beam angle: 50

degrees

Explanation A Parcan is aesthetically pleasing and it is used for things such a music gigs and creating a chase. It adds depth too general cover. I would use a 1K compared to a Parcan as the light in a 1K is brighter.

You can hang Parcans off booms to help highlight all parts of a performer.

ScenarioCreating a chase at a music gig…A Parcan would give a general cover in a chase at a music gig and is aesthetically pleasing, a Profiles light is too defined for this and are uses for specific things and a Birdie isn't powerful enough as it is powered by a halogen bulb also beam angle is too small.

LED ParcanAccessories

• 13/15 amp plug• G clamp• Adjustable arm• DMX cable• Beam angle: 25

degrees

ScenarioTo provide multiple colour enabling the scene mood to change…You would use an LED Parcan because you can change the colour of the light instantly as it is controlled from the desk which is more convenient then having more lights with different coloured gels in which is what you would have to do if you was to use Parcans or Flood lights. Also LED Parcans produce primary colours which means you can mix them to ass you desire.

ExplanationAn LED Parcan can be controlled from the desk through a DMX cable, it has separate little light bulbs to allow different colours to be produced at the same time, also it doesn’t get hot.

BirdieAccessories

• Safety chain• G clamp• Barn doors• Gel frame and gels• Halogen bulb• 13 or 15 amp plug• Beam angle: 16 degrees

ExplanationA birdie is usually used for things like museums and exhibitions to light art work etc. They can also be used in trusts at shows and also to light the audience.You would use a birdie over a pin spot as it is lighter and more compact to move around.

ScenarioLighting the audience…You would use a Birdie because they are aesthetically pleasing for the audience to see and they aren't too bright, in comparison to a Selecon Fresnel and a Parcan both of these produce too much of a powerful general cover.

Flood lightAccessories

• Safety chain• G clamp• Gel frame and gels• 500/600w bulb• 15 amp plug• Gradient % control• Beam angle: 40-50

degrees

ExplanationFlood lights can be used to add depth to a general wash/ cover and also can be used for lighting the audience at things like music gigs.In comparison to a birdie you can light the audience with both lights but with a flood light you can control the gradient of the light produced.

ScenarioLighting a cyclorama…You would use a flood light for lighting a cyclorama over a Profile and a Birdie because a Profiles light is too defined and a Birdie is too small too light a cyclorama. A flood light has a wider beam angle than the other two so its good for a general cover.

Pin SpotAccessories

• Safety chain• G clamp• 13/15 amp plug• Beam angle: 6-12

degrees

ExplanationPin Spot lights can be used for lighting disco/glitter balls for shows or parties. You can change the colour of the bulb as you can’t use gels with a Pin Spot.They can also be used in things like museums and exhibitions. A negative of using a Pin Spot for something like a exhibition is that you can’t direct the light.You could use a Birdie instead of a Pin Spot as you can use gels instead of having to change the bulb, it’s more convenient.

ScenarioYou would use a Pin Spot because you can direct the light easily, you wouldn’t use a Flood light because the beam angle is too wide so it would light all the surroundings and an LED Parcan again has a wider beam angle.

Source FourAccessories• G clamp

• Safety chain• 15 amp plugs

• Shutters (manipulate light)• Gel frame and gels

• Gobo holder and gobos• Iris (makes light really

small)• Adjustable nobs (one for

focusing the light and the other for the size of the

light)

• Built in shutters• Energy saving bulb (whiter

light)• Beam angle: 19 degrees

• Removable shutters• Normal bulb (brownie white

light)• Beam angle: 21-36 degrees

vs Minuette Profile

ExplanationThey are both used for lighting specific things and they both have the ability to make the circle of light bigger, smaller, softer edged or a harder edge.I would personally opt for the Source four light as it has built in shutters for convenience and an energy saving light which is also a whiter colour.

ScenarioIsolating an actor on stage…You would use a source four over a Flood and a Selecon Fresnel because a source four is used for lighting specific things. Selecon Fresnels you don’t get a defined edge of light and a Flood is just an on or off light you have no control over where it goes.

ScenarioCreating a window effect for a set design…You would use a Minuette Profile as you can use a gobo, in comparison to a CCT because a CCT you wont be able to use a gobo and a Parcan as you cant control the light coming out as the beam angle is bigger.