Drama and Theatre Studies - Key Terminology _ Lighting

advance bar

lighting bar hung from auditorium close to stage

backlight

light coming from upstage, behind scenery or actors, to sculpt and separate them from the background

back projection

a method of projecting images onto a translucent screen from behind

battens

compartmentalised floodlights set up so as to allow colour mixing (known in the US as a strip light)

beam light

lantern with no lens but with parabolic reflector

bifocal spot

profile lantern with two sets of shutters, one of which produces a hard edge, and one a soft edge

blackout

a lighting cue where all stage lights go off simultaneously

build

increase light levels

colour filter

a sheet of plastic usually composed of a coloured resin sandwiched between two clear pieces, sometimes known as a gel

cross-fade lighting

bringing another lighting state up to completely replace the current lighting state

downlight

a light from directly above the acting area

flood

to wash the stage with general lighting

focus

the adjustment of lighting/projection equipment and/or the direction in which it is aimed

follow spot

large profile spotlight with operator

gobo

metal slide placed in gate of lantern which throws a pattern

groundrow

floodlight battens placed on stage

lamps

the thing that creates light in a lantern (“bulb” in domestic terms)

lantern

stage light

level

intensity of light

reflector

shiny surface in back of lantern which helps throw light

slots

side lighting position in auditorium walls

strobe

flashing light