TERMS & DEFINITIONS

Fixture – A device or enclosure hold a bulb or lamp.

Throw – The distance a fixture is designed to concentrate light.

Beam – The size of the throw of the light.

Spot – A fixture and/or bulb designed to give a concentrated light beam sometimes with a very define edge.

Flood or fill – A fixture and/or bulb designed to give a soft and wide beam of light whose edges and defuse (not well defined).

Focus – The ability of a fixture to define the edges of a beam or to change from spot to flood (or fill).  

Barn doors – An accessory when installed on the front of a fixture can act like a set of blinders on a horse and prevent light from shining into an area.

Gel – A colored piece of high temperature cellophane which “colors” the light from a fixture.

Gel frame – A metal holder for Gels.

Gobo – A stencil that is inserted into certain types of lights and projects the images that are etched on the Gobo.

Safety – A cable that is required to keep a light from fall in case to becomes detached from it’s mounting.

Bar – A pipe either suspended or raised from a stand to hold lights and/or speakers.

Tree – A “T” shaped set of bars to hold light fixtures.

Truss – A grid like triangular or square structure that can be suspended or held up with vertical pieces of truss.  

Grid – A system of trusses either suspended or held up by vertical trusses that contain lighting and/or sound equipment.

Prerig – A truss that has lighting already installed.

Dimmer(s) – A device that adjusts the voltage in order to adjust the intensity of light(s).

Dimmer packs – A set or array of dimmers controlled by a light control board.

Light Control Board – A central control panel that can be manual or programmable

Control Cable – Any cable that is used to control either dimmer packs and/or intelligent light(s).  

DMX Cable – A style of control cable (also used in audio).

TYPES OF LIGHTS

Par or Par Can – A fill or spot type of light. The “can” holds the bulb. The style of light depends upon the lamp installed, either flood or spot.

Fresnel (Firnel) – A fixture with a lens. Some Fresnel are adjustable from flood to spot. The light even when set to spot and a defuse (soft) edge. Can use both gels and barn doors with this light.

Ellipsoidal (Lico) – A spot light with both a lens and well defined beam edge. This type of light comes with in many variations. Some have a fixed beam, others have interchangeable lens in order to adjust the size of the beam. These lights can use barn doors, gel and Gobos.  

Follow Spot – A manned light with features similar to ellipsoidal’s but controllable by the operator. This type of light normally has multiple gel, a shutter to close the light, an iris to shrink the size of the beam. These lights normally have a focus to sharpen or defuse the edges of the light beam.  

Intelligent Light – A general category for lights that have multiple functions and are controlled (or programmed) remotely.

SAFETY

Exit signs – A sign either directing or indicating an exit from a structure or tent. Sign are also required to have a battery backup in case of power outage.

Emergency Lighting – A set of lights which energize when their is a power outage. These lights work on a backup battery.

DISCUSSION ON ADEQUATE LIGHTING

Ellipsoidal – Gobo chart

Our hours for pickup/drop-off are
Monday – Friday:
7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Saturday:
7:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Elmsford Showroom:
Elmsford, NY:
(914) 592-2016
11 Vreeland Avenue Elmsford NY 10523.

Peekskill Showroom:
Peekskill, NY:
(914) 739-9000
1075 Washington Street Peekskill NY 10566.