Lighting Key Words Flashcards
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. Often used for projected scenery or special effects. Because the projector is usually close to the screen, special lenses are needed
to ensure that the image seen by the audience is large enough.
barn-door
fixed to the front of a Fresnel or PC type lantern
to cut off the beam in a particular direction(s).
blackout
a lighting cue where all stage lights go off simultaneously.
flood
to wash the stage with general lighting. The name given to a basic box-shaped lantern with a simple reflector used to achieve this effect.
fresnel
a focusable spotlight used in film, television, and theater lighting, which can be adjusted via a knob on the back of the light from “spot” for a narrowly focused beam, to “flood” for a wider beam
gel
coloured lighting film (originally made from gelatine)
gobo
metal slide placed in gate of lantern which throws a pattern
groundrow
floodlight battens placed on stage
house lights
the lights that illuminate the auditorium before and after the performance and during intermission.
kill
instruction to stop action or effect
lantern
stage light
light set
a term used to describe a situation where no physical set is used on stage. The ‘set’ is created entirely by means of lighting.
par can
type of lantern containing a fixed beam par lamp
perch
lighting position concealed behind proscenium
