The document provides information on different types of stage lights, including Parcans, LED Parcans, Spotlights, Minuette Profiles, Pinspots, CCTs, Selecons, PCs, Scena 1Ks, Flood Lights, and Birdies. Each type of light is described in terms of its common uses, beam angle, accessories, and when it would be used over another type of light for a specific purpose.
2. Different
Lights
• ParCan
• LED ParCan
• Spotlight/Source Four
• Minuette Profile
• Pinspot
• CCT
• Selecon
• PC
• Scena 1K
• Flood Light
• Birdie
3. Parcan
This light is mostly used in music shows and theatre shows as its
brightness and its size can light up most of the stage. This light
can be controlled e.g. going up and down and it does not have a
fixed light making it a good light for general cover. Parcans have
four different beam angles of 6X12 (Degrees) 7X14 (Degrees)
12X28 (Degrees) 24X48 (Degrees)
The accessories for this light include a G clamp and safety chain.
These are used to hang up the light during shows and makes it
more safer. A Parcan also comes with gels and gel holders, with
these we can change the colour of the light by switching the gels.
An adjuster is equipped on the side of the light so you can move
it up or down.
If you wanted to create a chase effect in a music performance,
you would use a Parcan over a profile as a Parcan does not give
as much of a defined light as a profile and, for a chase effect, you
need more of a general cover. You would use a Parcan instead of
a Birdie for a chase effect as it is much better and has a much
more brighter light.
4. LED Parcan
This light is very much similar to the Parcan light, however, the colour
of this light can be controlled whereas on the Parcan, it can not be. Like
the Parcan, it is mostly used in music gigs and theatre shows as it gives
an overall general cover on stage. This light can be used in a 13 or 15
amp. This has a beam angle of 90-120 degrees.
The accessories for this include a G clamp and safety chain to ensure
that the light is hung up safely. This light also includes dip switches,
these switches are used so the light can have a fixed colour before a
show. The LED Parcan is controlled by a DMX cable. This cable has
two ends; a male and a female end.
If you wanted to provide multiple colour to enable a scene during a
performance to change its mood, you would use an LED par over a
Parcan or a flood light. You would use an LED Par as you can control
the colour of the light from the desk, this makes it a lot more
convenient than a Parcan or a Flood light as you can not control the
light of these from the desk.
5. Spotlight/Source Four
This light is used if shows need a fixed light upon something or something.
The source four is mostly used in theatre shows as shows like this need a
spotlight on a particular person more often than not. It may also be used in a
music shows. The beam angle for this can range from 24 degrees to 60.
Like every other production light, it has a safety chain and G clamp to support
the light when hanging on a bar. This light has shutters on either side of the
head so you can manipulate the shape of the light for different types of shows.
The source four also has something inside it called an iris enabling the light to
create a small pin of light for focus on a small object e.g. an apple. A gel
frame and gels also come with the light so the colour can be changed. This
light is equipped with two knobs, the first knob controlling the shape of the
light and the second light controlling the sharpness. You can also insert gobos
into these so you can change the pattern.
If you wanted to isolate an actor on the stage, you would use a source four
rather than a selecon or a flood light. Flood lights are only used for general
was and aesthetics, they can not be used as a spotlight. You wouldn’t use a
selecon as they do not give a defined light, they are, like flood lights, used for
general wash.
6. Minuette Profile
Minuette Profiles are very much similar to a source four. They are not as
preferred as source fours as they are almost an old version of a source
four. However they are still used as a spotlight if desperate. Mostly, they
are used to add depth and general cover to a stage as they have a
minimum beam angle of 27 degrees and a maximum beam angle of 32
degrees. This would cover a wide range of the stage.
Accessories for this light include a G clamp and safety chain. This light also
has a gel frame so gels can be used, this means the colour of the light can
be changed. Minuette profiles also have gobo holders to fit gobos so you
can add patterns to the light. An iris can also be inserted into the light so
the size of the light coming out can be changed to how you want it to be.
For example if you wanted to light an apple on the stage, you would use
an iris to make the light very small. Shutter can be put into the light so you
can manipulate the shape of the light.
If you needed create a window effect for a set design, you would use a
minuette profile over a CCT or a parcan as you can insert gobos into
minuette profiles; gobos can not be inserted into a CCT or a Parcan as they
do not come equipped with a gobo holder.
7. CCT
First of all this light has a minimum beam angle of 35 degrees. A CCT
is used in general shows like music gigs and theatre shows as it has a
watt capacity of 500. This would create a general cover as it is very
bright and if a show needs to be brightly lit then this light is most
commonly picked.
Again and like all lights, this light comes with a G clamp and safety
chain to give it more support when hung on a bar. CCT lights also
come with barn doors, these are very much like shutters; you can
manipulate the shape of the light. It also comes with an adjustable
knob on the bottom to a change the focus of the light.
If you needed to create a side light for a dance performance, you
would use a CCT as apposed to a profile or a pinspot. Profiles and
pinspots give a certain defined light and are not usually used for
general cover. A CCT would give a general cover and create much
more of a back light then a profile or pinspot.
8. Pinspot
Pinspots are very much like Birdies as they are mostly used for
aesthetics. A pinspot is most commonly used to light up a glitter ball
and create a glitter ball effect. They can also be used to light up a very
small object on stage. Instead of inserting an iris into a minuette
profile, you would just use a pinspot light.
Accessories include a g clamp and safety chain like all lights. You can
change the colour of the bulb inside of the light, therefore, the colour
of the light can be changed.
If a certain performance require a glitter ball effect you would use a
pinspot as apposed to a flood or LED par as you can not manipulate the
light of those lights to go as small as a pinspot. These lights are used for
general cover, whereas a pinspot is not.
9. Selecon (Fresnel)
Like all Fresnel, this light is used for general cover on a show as it
gives off a bright light. These lights have to be focused before a show
is going to start as it can not be controlled by the desk. When this light
is on, the brightness is spread near enough across the whole stage. The
beam angle for a selecon can be a minimum of 6 degrees and a
maximum of 60 degrees.
Again, this light is equipped with a G clamp and safety chain. This
light comes equipped with barn doors attached on all four sides of the
light . This makes it easier for crew as they would not have to insert
the barn doors before the show. Selecons also have two adjustable
knobs, one controlling the size of the light and one controlling the
focus of the light.
If you needed to create a general wash for a show, you would use a
selecon over a Parcan or a PC as a selecon light gives a better and
brighter cover a s apposed to a Parcan or a PC. Selecons also come
with shutters so the light can be manipulated to how you want it to be.
10. PC (Frenel)
A PC is mostly used for general cover on stage as the light is very bright,
however, if you needed a replacement spotlight desperately you would
use this light. A PC is much more preferred as apposed to a Parcan light
as it is brighter. The beam angle for this light is a minimum of 7 degrees
and a maximum of 38 degrees.
Like the same with every light, this light comes with a G clamp and safety
chain attached to it. Gels can be inserted into a PC as it has gel frames.
The arm on this light can be adjusted so you can move the light to where
you want it to go before a show. Also there is an adjustable knob that
determines the size of the light coming out. Like most frenels, a PC comes
with barn doors so you van manipulate the shape of the light coming out.
A 15 amp plug is used for this light.
If, during a show, profiles or source fours are broken, you would use a PC
instead of CCT or selecon as the pebble convex effect gives a much more
defined area of light whereas the a PC and Selecon give much more
general cover.
11. Scena (1K)
Scena are relatively similar to parcan lights as they are mostly used for general
wash. They are also used for backlight in performances, backlight is a general
light at the back of a performance that creates a 3D affect. It is usually fairly
dimmer than a front light like frenels and spotlights. This light has 1000 watts
as apposed to 500-650 in a standard parcan or frenel, this makes it a lot
brighter and a lot more useful in performances where the stage has to be
brightly lit. It has abeam angle of 24-65 degrees.
Accessories include a G clamp and safety chain. Gels can be used in a Scena as
a gel frame is equipped, therefore, the colour of the light can be changed.
Barn doors are attached to the front of the light so you can change the shape
of the light. A Scena has a ridged lense, this makes the light coming out of it
merge together or diffuse.
If you needed to create a back light for a performance, a 1k would be much
more preferred as apposed to a Birdie or Profile as a 1k has much more
wattage so can cover a lot more of the stage. A 1000 watt light would be much
more effective than a 100 or 500-650 watt light.
12. Flood Light
Flood lights are the most common light off stage. People use them
within the house hold like in a garage or an outside motion detector
lights. When it comes to on stage performances, flood lights are
mostly used to light up the audience and light up the surrounding
area. It can also be used for general wash during a performance. This
has a beam angle of around 45 degrees.
Accessories for a flood light consist of a G clamp and safety chain.
Gels can be inserted as it comes with a gel frame. You would
normally see the colours lilac and light blue in flood lights as these
are not harsh colours. There is a minimum of 500 watts and a
maximum of 650 in watts in a flood light so they are reliable for
general wash.
If a cyclorama needed to be lit, a flood light would be used instead of
a Profile or a pinspot as it gives much more of a direct light as it is lit
from the floor. Also, profiles are mostly used fro general cover and a
pinspot is used for a glitter ball effect.
13. Birdie
A Birdie is a very small light that looks like a parcan. They can be used in
performances but they really can only be used for aesthetics. Their job
is to make the stage look more appealing and to add that extra bit of
light. Beam angles for Birdies can range from around 15 degrees to 60
degrees.
Accessories for a Birdie include, like all stage lights, a G clamp and
safety chain. Halogen light bulbs are used in Birdies so can be brighter
than most stage lights and they can also take a 13 to 15 amp plug so
can they can be used within a household. Gel frames are attached to a
Birdie so, therefore, gels can be used which means the colour of the
light can be changed.
If you needed to light the audience during a performance, you would
use a birdie instead of a Selecon or Parcan as it is not as bright as these
lights and are used for aesthetics.
