LLighting Terminology

  1. Amperage-The strength of an electric current flowing through a wire.
  2. Backlighting-The use of light and instruments above and behind performers to accent them and set them apart from the background.
  3. Barn doors-A metal frame with 4 flaps for shaping the light pattern that fits into a gel holder.
  4. Borderlight (striplights)-A type of striplight hung from pipe battens above the stage (Colors-yellow, blue, green, red)
  5. Breaker-An electrical device that cuts off the electric current when a circuit is overloaded. It may be reset once the problem is corrected.
  6. First electric (bridge)-The first electrical pipe just upstage of the proscenium from which spotlights may be hung.
  7. Bump up-A quick increase in light intensity
  8. Cable-Heavily insulated wire for joining instruments to electrical outlets or to a dimmerboard.
  9. Circuit-The complete path of an electrical current.
  10. Gel frames-Metal holders that fit into a lighting instrument to keep a color filter in place.
  11. Cross fade-The dimming of one set of instruments as another set comes up.
  12. Dimmer-An electrical device that controls the amount of current flowing into a lighting instrument, thus increasing or decreasing the intensity of the light.
  13. Ellipsoidal reflector spotlight (leko)-A highly efficient lighting instrument with a reflector shaped like an ellipsoid.
  14. Fill light-The light that fills shadows aimed opposite a key light.
  15. Floodlight or flood-A high wattage (500-1500 watts) lighting instrument with a metal shell open at one end, the inner surface of which is painted white, is polished metal, or has a mirror to reflect the non-focused light (scoop)
  16. Floor pocket-A receptacle for stage plugs mounted in the floor.
  17. Follow Spot-A long range high wattage lighting instrument capable of picking up or following a person moving on the stage, with a beam strong enough to stand out against normal stage lighting.
  18. Footlights-Striplights along the front of the apron that throw light up and back toward the acting area. Basically, obsolete now except for effect.
  19. Fresnel-A spotlight featuring a fresnel or stepped lens, which projects a clear, strong light with a soft edge.
  20. Funnel (top hat, high hat, snoot)-A metal cylinder that can be placed in a gel holder to control the spread of light.
  21. Fuse-A protective device set in an electric current and destroyed by the passage of excessive current.
  22. Gels-Transparent color media placed on lighting instruments to produce different colors.
  23. Gobo-A cut out placed in front of the lamp in special locations to project a pattern.
  24. Intensity-The brightness of light.
  25. Iris-A shutter device used to change the diameter of a beam of light.
  26. Key light-The strong source of light aimed at an acting area.
  27. Kill-Command to turn a light off.
  28. Light cue sheet-The lighting technicians’ guide for all dimmer readings and settings at acts or scene openings and all lighting changes.
  29. Light plot-Diagram showing the placing of the instruments and plugging system and where the beams from all the instruments fall.
  30. Load-The wattage of lights and electrical pieces of equipment supplied by one circuit; an overload will burn out a fuse or trip a breaker.
  31. Pin connector-A special stage connector used for joining cable or instruments.
  32. Point of focus-Making the audience look where you want them to look.
  33. Pre-set dimmer-A type of dimmer board that allows two or more lighting patterns to be set in advance.
  34. Proportional dimming-A feature of lightboards that allows several instruments to dim simultaneously at different intensities.
  35. Sidelighting –The placing of instruments behind the tormentor position for facial modeling and costume accent.
  36. Spill-Light that strikes outside the intended areas-as on the grand drape, proscenium, or upper walls.
  37. Stage pocket-Area located in the stage floor that houses numbered sockets for lights that can be controlled by the dimmer board.
  38. Throw-The distance from a lighting instrument to the area to be lit.
  39. Tree-A pole-like stand having horizontal arms (pipes) for hanging lighting instruments.
  40. Twist-lock connector-A type of stage connector that will not pull apart when inserted and twisted.
  41. Wash-A low level fill light usually aimed from the balcony rails.
  42. Wash out-The drain of color by light, leaving the actor, costume, or scenery lifeless.
  43. Wattage-The measurement of electric power. All lighting instruments, lamps, dimmers, and fuses are given wattage ratings to denote their electrical capacities.