Designing with Light

J. Michael Gillette is a Professor Emeritus from the School of Theatre, Film and Television at the University of Arizona. In addition to being the author of the eight editions of Theatrical Design and Production, Gillette has authored seven editions of Designing With Light and co-authored the third edition of Stage Scenery: Its Construction and Rigging. He authored numerous articles and technical presentations on theatrical design and production for a variety of professional organizations and journals. During his career he taught technical production, stage lighting, sound for the theatre, scene design, cinematography, media lighting. He also designed sets, lights, sound and projections for numerous academics and professional productions. He also authored a published novel and screenplay.

• PREFACE IVCHAPTER 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 VisibilitySelective Focus ModelingMoodPsychological Effects of Light CHAPTER 2LIGHTING PRODUCTION TEAM:Organization and ResponsibilitiesLighting Designer Assistant Lighting Designer Programmer Master Electrician Electricians Production Design Team CHAPTER 3ELECTRICAL 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 4LENSES, LAMPS, REFLECTORS, AND LIGHTING INSTRUMENTS Lenses Double Plano-Convex Lens TrainStep LensFresnel LensLamps and Light SourcesIncandescent Lamp Tungsten-Halogen Lamp Arc Sources Light Emitting DiodesLight Emitting PlasmaLamp Structure Color TemperatureLight Output of LampsReflectors Lighting Instruments Ellipsoidal Reflector Spotlight Fresnel SpotlightStriplightCyc Light Ellipsoidal Reflector Floodlight PAR Can FollowspotSpecialty Equipment Low-Voltage SystemsBooms and Ladders CHAPTER 5CABLES AND CONNECTORS Electrical Cable for Stage Use Wire Gauge Connecting Devices Extension CablesCircuiting Permanent Wiring SpideringConnecting Strips and Patch Panels Dimmer per Circuit CHAPTER 6INTENSITY CONTROL Dimmers Dimmer Control TechniquesAutotransformer DimmerSilicon Controlled Rectifier DimmerSine Wave Dimmer Digital Control Systems for Electronic DimmersControl Consoles Group Master PresetCombinationWireless Dimmer Control Computer MemoryComputer Board Control CapabilitiesLighting System Electrical Flow CHAPTER 7PRACTICALS AND EFFECTS Lighting Fixtures Gas Lamps Candles Lanterns Torches Fire Effects Moon Effects Star Effects Lightning Explosions and Flashes Water Effects CHAPTER 8COLOR Defining Color Color Terminology Seeing ColorColor Mixing Primary Colors Secondary ColorsComplementary Colors Filtered Light Integrated Color Wheel The Practical Application of Colored Light in the TheatreMeaning of Color Practical Color Use Warm and Cool Colors Color Direction Complementary Tint Theory Complementary Color Shadowing Color MediaCHAPTER 9PROJECTIONS AND MEDIA Film-Based MediaDigital ProjectorsDigital Projector CharacteristicsProjection SurfacesKeystoningProjection MappingFocus Grid3D ModelingPlaybackSlide-Based Digital SystemsCue-Based SystemsTimeline SystemsMedia ServersDisplay TechniquesThe FutureCHAPTER 10ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY INSTRUMENTS Moving Light Fixtures ControlLampsColor Changing24-VDC Power SuppliesDimmingGobosBeam Shape Effects ProjectionMovementDirectional Control Examples of Moving Light Fixtures LED-Sourced FixturesFog and Haze Stage Scaffolding Previsualization Software CHAPTER 11THE DESIGN PROCESS Commitment Analysis The Questioning ProcessResearch Background Research Conceptual Research Incubation Selection Implementation Evaluation CHAPTER 12THE IMAGE OF LIGHT Script Analysis First ReadingSecond ReadingThird ReadingAnalysis of the Image of Light Analysis for Distribution and Intensity Analysis for MovementAnalysis for ColorCHAPTER 13THE LIGHTING KEY Modeling with Light Creating the Lighting Key CHAPTER 14USING THE LIGHTING KEY TO DRAW THE LIGHT PLOT Acting and Lighting AreasUsing the Lighting Key to Draw the Light PlotDetermining the Sectional Angle Selecting Instrument Size Duplicating the Lighting KeyLayering Designing Lighting Keys for Thrust and Arena StagesCHAPTER 15DRAFTING THE LIGHTING DESIGN Graphic Standards for Lighting DesignThe Light Plot The Lighting SectionThe Instrument Schedules and Channel Hookup Sheets Standards for Drafting in Lighting Design Drafting the Plot Computer GraphicsCHAPTER 16DESIGN EXAMPLES Designing for Theatre Type Proscenium StageThrust StageArena StageDesigning for Theatrical Form Drama: The Glass MenagerieMusicals: CabaretDance: The Nutcracker CHAPTER 17REHEARSAL AND PERFORMANCE PROCEDURES Organizational ToolsElectrician’s Cue Sheet Recording Dimmer Intensity LevelsComputer Board Cueing Techniques Designer’s Cue Sheet Magic SheetRehearsals Lighting RehearsalTechnical and Dress RehearsalsInstrument and Dimmer CheckCHAPTER 18AN INTRODUCTION TO LIGHTING FOR FILM AND VIDEO Technical InformationColor Temperature Light Sources and Their Effects on Film and VideoF-Stops Shutter Speed Gray ScaleFilm Latitude Light MetersFiltersFilm SpeedExposure Control Take a Base Reading Visually Analyze the SceneMeter the Highlight/Shadow AreasMedia Lighting Instruments LampsMedia Lighting Fixtures Fixtures Used on Small-Budget ProductionsDesign Examples Example 1: Dunston’s Discovery Example 2: Julio and Kate APPENDIX AUSITT RP-2, Recommended Practice for Theatrical lighting Design Graphics – (2006)GLOSSARY INDEX