Theatrical Lighting Manufacturers

Manufacturer of standard and custom specialty lighting fixtures for merchandising displays, storefronts, indoor exhibits and theatrical applications. Products include light panels, LED modules and dimmer and controller systems.

CHAUVET Professional can help brands with all aspects of their theatrical lighting needs. Its team provides consultation, design and production services.

Stage Lighting

The most basic objective of stage lighting is to illuminate the performers and sets for the audience. Without this, you cannot see the actors’ facial expressions or the other details that make a performance or show engaging.

Lights also serve to enhance a production with special effects and can help create an ambiance or mood. This can be done by altering the color of a beam, focusing it or changing its direction. Lighting can also be used to suggest a time of day and location, for example, by using blues or oranges. Finally, lighting can be used to create texture on the stage by illuminating different areas of it.

Most theatrical lighting fixtures use a lens that is named after French physicist Augustin-Jean Fresnel and has a stepped appearance. These lenses allow you to wash an area of the stage with a wide beam, often used as back light, top light or side light.

Many theatrical lighting fixtures have a COLOR FRAME HOLDER at the front for a clear plastic colored filter or a metal pattern called a “gobo”. The filters are placed in the frame to change the color of the beam, which gives you a lot of flexibility. LED lights which started to become popular in 2007 allow you to instantly change the colour of the light and cut down the need for many lights that only have one specific color like red or blue.

Fresnel Lights

LED fresnel spotlights provide a wide range of lighting effects that can be used for theatrical productions. These lights can be adjusted with ease to create a narrow or broad beam of light, allowing lighting designers to precisely illuminate specific subjects and areas of the stage. They can also be dimmed to create different lighting levels and effects. Some models even come with colored LEDs that produce a wide variety of colors, perfect for creating unique and dramatic effects.

In addition to their versatility, LED fresnels are easier on the eyes than traditional tungsten lighting fixtures. They use energy-efficient LED bulbs that produce a soft, warm glow that mimics the color of natural sunlight and can be easily controlled with a dimmer switch or control board. These lights also use less power and stay cooler than tungsten fixtures, making them more environmentally friendly and cost-effective to operate.

Adjusting a Fresnel light from a spotlight to a beam expands its capabilities, making it ideal for projecting gobos or creating other patterns on the set. They are often used as key lights or fill lights in theatrical productions to help accentuate specific actors and objects on the set. They can also be used to highlight the background of a scene and draw the audience’s attention to a particular area of the stage.

Special Effects Lighting

There are theatrical lighting manufacturers a number of special effects lights used in theatre productions to create different ambiances and add drama. These include:

Using coloured gels on stage lights casts a varying colour of light over the stage. This is commonly done to emulate a certain time of day or to highlight specific actors and stage pieces.

Other types of special effect lighting include laser lights, which project intense beams of light and can be programmed to create intricate patterns and animations. Fog and haze machines produce mist and smoke that can be used to enhance other special effects lights, creating a soft, ethereal ambiance.

Lighting can also be used to evoke a particular mood, show lighting such as sadness or happiness. Changing the colour of a room’s lights can help a performer communicate these emotions to the audience.

There is also a range of interactive lighting effects that use sensors and software to react to motion or sound, transforming spaces into immersive works of art. These are becoming increasingly popular, and it is possible to incorporate many of them into existing AVL systems.

Whether you are hosting a video conference, broadcasting, filming or holding an all-hands meeting, theatrical lighting can make a significant difference to the quality of the experience for both workplace and remote participants. Choosing the right lights and knowing how to use them will ensure that everyone can see each other clearly, interact effectively and engage with the material being presented.

Realism Lighting

Realism lighting is a technique that mimics real light sources to create a realistic look in a theatre production. This style can be used for different purposes, including establishing time, location, and mood. It can also be used to highlight specific actors or props. It can be done using various tools, including spotlights and color changes. This type of lighting is typically used for dramas, comedies, and musicals.

When you want to use realism lighting, start by considering what the playwright is trying to communicate. Ask yourself what emotions the production wants to convey and what kind of atmosphere you want to create. Then, choose a light color and direction to match that theme.

A good way to start is by choosing a key light and a fill light. Then, use smaller, controllable lights for keys and larger, soft sources for fills. A good fill light should help the actor blend with the background and shouldn’t be too obvious. Keep the rim lighting simple, too: usually just a little wash on the shoulders or hair will do.

In addition to these standard lighting tools, you may also need special effects like follow spots and programmable head lights. They’re ideal for highlighting a lone actor or creating a unique effect. These lights are highly efficient and versatile, making them a great choice for theatre performances.