Notes taken from Gillette’sDesigning with Light

An onstage working light source. Table lamp, wall sconce, oil lamp

A specialty device designed to give the appearance of being a light source Fire effect, candle, torch, lighting

Flicker bulb 3-4 Watt F-shaped lamp Metallic screen electrodes act

as igniters for neon glass in bulb which give off flickering yellow-orange light

Picture fromhttp://www.bettyschristmashouse.com/lights/images/flicker_bulb.jpg

Can be distracting for audience as flames dance

May not be safe or allowed by Fire Marshall

Either 120V (controllable by dimmer) or battery powered with a hidden switch

Purchased or shop made “C” (Christmas light) painted with

amber acetate ink or covered with yellow gel lightly sanded

Sterno (with salt) or pyro gel Away from scenery and costumes Stationary Only if permitted by Fire Marshall

Stationary Torches 120 Volt Bunch 3 flicker bulbs together If too many flickers substitute 3-4 Watt “C”

(Christmas tree) lamp for one of the flicker bulbs Paint with yellow or amber translucent paint

Hot glue flame colored/shaped gel outside/over lamps Or flame colored chiffon or lightweight silk with

fan

Hand-carried Battery-powered 3 Variable-rate lamp flashers set at variable

rates and intensities with one constant

Traditionally Orange and yellow lamps hidden behind logs

Variation Motor-driven, slowly rotating cylinder of

crumpled aluminum to reflect the light Add a random flicker with starters from

fluorescent light fixtures with “A” household lamps

Reinforcements 6 in. Fresnel, small fan, strips of variegated

gel Variegated gel – multicolored gel made in the

shop from strips of color media of different hues Fan blows gel which causes a flickering light Usually hidden in fireplace so actors do not walk

through effect

Moon Box Wooden box with silhouette of desired phase

of moon cut out Inner face covered with muslin or diffusion Cut out lined with 25-40 Watt lamps wired in

parrallel Inside of box painted to reflect light Rigged behind cyc Can be rigged to move

Moon Box

Moon Box

Gobos or projections

Rosco Steel Moon Gobo 77220 Rosco Glass Gobo 82700

Black curtain or black backdrop perforated with many little “star holes” hung in front of cyc or light reflective material

Grain-of-wheat lamp or white LED lamp sewn or hot-glued on black cyc or sky tab White “Christmas tree” lamps can also be

used to make larger “stars” Low-voltage lamp with transformer or

wired in series

Thin strands of fiber-optic material Act like a light tunnel Shine light in one end of strand and it comes

out the other side which faces the audience Attached to the back of a black backdrop Strand mounted in front of high-intensity light

source (MR-16 lamp with cold mirror and cooling fan)

Traditional Dangerous Striking and breaking the contacts of an arc Works best behind windows Not to be used

Single-flash heavy duty strobe light Also called a strobe cannon Oftentimes requires a reset time, before it can

be fired again May require several units to create a realistic

effect

Fast rise time lamps Time that it takes the filament to heat to full

incandescence Theatrical instruments = slow rise time 200W household lamp = Fast rise time and

high light output Several lamps mounted inside a reflector scoop

Momentary-on switch push button switch w/o a locking fixture Circuit stays on only as long as the button is

pushed

Moving lights Strobe effect done with a quick moving

mechanical douser

Rippling effect Shine ERS into a shallow container of water

with reflective bottom Make water move with fan or other jiggling

device

Moving light or Effects Head Dual Gobo rotator One moves clockwise, the other counter-

clockwise

Dual Gobo Rotator from Roscohttp://www.rosco.com/us/lightingequipment/dgr.asp

An offstage unseen load connected to the dimmer

Usually a 500-1000W fresnel two-fered with small onstage load to provide sufficient wattage for the dimmer to operate properly

Eliminates lights glowing or flickering of low wattage light source

Never use liquid fuel on stage Violates fire code

Don’t let wires and cables be a trip hazard Run under cables, platforms, or in corners Tape into place or cover with rugs

If using candles on stage, keep away from anything flammable, such as scenery drapes and costumes