Designing with Light An Introduction to Stage Lighting

by Gillette, J. Michael; McNamara, Michael

• ISBN13: 9780073514239
• ISBN10: 0073514233
• Edition: 6th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2013-01-22
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill Education

Summary

Designing with Lightis a comprehensive survey of the practical and aesthetic aspects of stage lighting design. The authors approach stage lighting design as an art that integrates the vision of director, actor, and playwright, and as a craft that provides practical solutions for the manipulation of stage space. The sixth edition offers a wealth of new information on new trends in lighting design.

Table of Contents

PREFACE IV

CHAPTER 1

AN INTRODUCTION TO DESIGNING WITH LIGHT

Light and Perception

Design Characteristics of Light

Controllable Qualities of Light

Distribution

Intensity

Movement

Color

Functions of Stage Lighting

Visibility

Selective Focus

Modeling

Mood

Psychological Effects of Light

CHAPTER 2

LIGHTING PRODUCTION TEAM:

Organization and Responsibilities

Lighting Designer

Assistant Lighting Designer

Programmer

Master Electrician

Electricians

Production Design Team

CHAPTER 3

ELECTRICAL THEORY AND PRACTICE

Electricity—What Is It?

Electricity at Work

Direct and Alternating Current

A Simple Electrical Circuit

Basic Circuits

Power Calculations

More Practical Information

CHAPTER 4

LENSES, LAMPS, REFLECTORS, AND LIGHTING INSTRUMENTS

Lenses

Double Plano-Convex Lens Train

Step Lens

Fresnel Lens

Lamps and Light Sources

Incandescent Lamp

Tungsten-Halogen Lamp

Arc Sources

Light Emitting Diodes

Light Emitting Plasma

Lamp Structure

Color Temperature

Light Output of Lamps

Reflectors

Lighting Instruments

Ellipsoidal Reflector Spotlight

Fresnel Spotlight

Striplight

Cyc Light

Ellipsoidal Reflector Floodlight

PAR Can

Followspot

Specialty Equipment

Low-Voltage Systems

Booms and Ladders

CHAPTER 5

CABLES AND CONNECTORS

Electrical Cable for Stage Use

Wire Gauge

Connecting Devices

Extension Cables

Circuiting

Permanent Wiring

Spidering

Connecting Strips and Patch Panels

Dimmer per Circuit

CHAPTER 6

INTENSITY CONTROL

Dimmers

Dimmer Control Techniques

Autotransformer Dimmer

Silicon Controlled Rectifier Dimmer

Sine Wave Dimmer

Digital Control Systems for Electronic Dimmers

Control Consoles

Group Master

Preset

Combination

Wireless Dimmer Control

Computer Memory

Computer Board Control Capabilities

Lighting System Electrical Flow

CHAPTER 7

PRACTICALS AND EFFECTS

Lighting Fixtures

Gas Lamps

Candles

Lanterns

Torches

Fire Effects

Moon Effects

Star Effects

Lightning

Explosions and Flashes

Water Effects

CHAPTER 8

COLOR

Defining Color

Color Terminology

Seeing Color

Color Mixing

Primary Colors

Secondary Colors

Complementary Colors

Filtered Light

Integrated Color Wheel

The Practical Application of Colored Light in the Theatre

Meaning of Color

Practical Color Use

Warm and Cool Colors

Color Direction

Complementary Tint Theory

Complementary Color Shadowing

Color Media

CHAPTER 9

PROJECTIONS AND MEDIA

Film-Based Media

Digital Projectors

Digital Projector Characteristics

Projection Surfaces

Keystoning

Projection Mapping

Focus Grid

3D Modeling

Playback

Slide-Based Digital Systems

Cue-Based Systems

Timeline Systems

Media Servers

Display Techniques

The Future

CHAPTER 10

ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY INSTRUMENTS

Moving Light Fixtures

Control

Lamps

Color Changing

24-VDC Power Supplies

Dimming

Gobos

Beam Shape

Effects Projection

Movement

Directional Control

Examples of Moving Light Fixtures

LED-Sourced Fixtures

Fog and Haze

Stage Scaffolding

Previsualization Software

CHAPTER 11

THE DESIGN PROCESS

Commitment

Analysis

The Questioning Process

Research

Background Research

Conceptual Research

Incubation

Selection

Implementation

Evaluation

CHAPTER 12

THE IMAGE OF LIGHT

Script Analysis

First Reading

Second Reading

Third Reading

Analysis of the Image of Light

Analysis for Distribution and Intensity

Analysis for Movement

Analysis for Color

CHAPTER 13

THE LIGHTING KEY

Modeling with Light

Creating the Lighting Key

CHAPTER 14

USING THE LIGHTING KEY TO DRAW THE LIGHT PLOT

Acting and Lighting Areas

Using the Lighting Key to Draw the Light Plot

Determining the Sectional Angle

Selecting Instrument Size

Duplicating the Lighting Key

Layering

Designing Lighting Keys for Thrust and Arena Stages

CHAPTER 15

DRAFTING THE LIGHTING DESIGN

Graphic Standards for Lighting Design

The Light Plot

The Lighting Section

The Instrument Schedules and Channel Hookup Sheets

Standards for Drafting in Lighting Design

Drafting the Plot

Computer Graphics

CHAPTER 16

DESIGN EXAMPLES

Designing for Theatre Type

Proscenium Stage

Thrust Stage

Arena Stage

Designing for Theatrical Form

Drama: The Glass Menagerie

Musicals: Cabaret

Dance: The Nutcracker

CHAPTER 17

REHEARSAL AND PERFORMANCE PROCEDURES

Organizational Tools

Electrician’s Cue Sheet

Recording Dimmer Intensity Levels

Computer Board Cueing Techniques

Designer’s Cue Sheet

Magic Sheet

Rehearsals

Lighting Rehearsal

Technical and Dress Rehearsals

Instrument and Dimmer Check

CHAPTER 18

AN INTRODUCTION TO LIGHTING FOR FILM AND VIDEO

Technical Information

Color Temperature

Light Sources and Their Effects on Film and Video

F-Stops

Shutter Speed

Gray Scale

Film Latitude

Light Meters

Filters

Film Speed

Exposure Control

Take a Base Reading

Visually Analyze the Scene

Meter the Highlight/Shadow Areas

Media Lighting Instruments

Lamps

Media Lighting Fixtures

Fixtures Used on Small-Budget Productions

Design Examples

Example 1: Dunston’s Discovery

Example 2: Julio and Kate

APPENDIX A

USITT RP-2, Recommended Practice for Theatrical lighting Design Graphics – (2006)

GLOSSARY

INDEX