In daily life, people form a way of naming the direction of light rays based on their own viewpoints when observing scenery. For example, the light from the opposite direction is called backlight; the light in the same direction as the viewing point is called front light, and so on.
Division and Explanation of Stage Lighting Areas (Proscenium Stage)
Face Light:
Installed on the top of the auditorium outside the stage curtain. The light rays are projected onto the performing area in front of the stage from the front, and the light position that illuminates the actors' faces is the face light (sequentially from the stage opening to the auditorium, they are the first face light, the second face light, and the third face light).
This kind of light is uniform, diffused light that illuminates the entire stage. It can achieve general brightness; eliminate the "dead angles" that are prone to occur in the picture. It can also adjust the light ratio, increasing or decreasing the contrast. With its balancing effect, it avoids local underexposure. However, if this light is not used in combination with the light from other positions, the tone will lack brightness levels and a three-dimensional sense, thus appearing dull.
Projection Orientation and Projection Methods:
Set up a face light projection trough on the ceiling in front of the stage. The axis of the first face light forms a 44° angle with the stage curtain line, and the axis of the second face light forms a 45° angle with the end point of the orchestra pit.
1.Point Vertical Projection: To obtain a uniform effect on the lower part of the stage performing area;
2.Cross Projection: To enhance the brightness of the central area and the depth of the stage;
3.Key Projection: To strengthen the illumination of local stage performing areas.
Side and Low-Level Front Light:
Some combined lighting fixtures are temporarily installed on both wings of the second-floor auditorium and on the second-floor balcony in the theater. The light rays are projected onto the stage performing area from the sides and the low front, serving as supplementary light for the front light.
The main function is to provide low-level cross-projection of the front light illumination required for special plays, aiming to strengthen the illumination and close-ups of local stage performing areas. The projection method is the same as that of the front light projection.
This kind of lighting will make the actors' faces appear almost completely flat, and the actors also tend to merge closely with the background and cannot stand out. In itself, this is an unimportant lighting angle. However, despite this, the front light is still useful. For example, if an actor has a face with deep-set eyes, lighting from a 45-degree angle may look uncomfortable. If a lower projection angle is carefully used to project the front light, it can compensate for overly strong shadows.
Side Light (Profiles):
Installed on the left and right sides near the stage opening outside the stage curtain, the light positions where the light rays are projected onto the stage performing area from the sides are respectively called left and right side lights (sequentially from the stage opening to the auditorium, they are the first side light, the second side light, and the third side light).
The position of this kind of light forms a 45° angle on the left or right front side of the illuminated object, serving as the modeling light in the front oblique side direction of the stage, used to enhance the three-dimensional sense of figures and scenery, forming the front side lighting effect.
Generally speaking, in terms of its function, it is easy to show the three-dimensional shape and texture of the photographed object. It produces a rather stiff modeling effect. If it is properly coordinated with the light ratio of the dark areas, it can achieve a rich and powerful modeling effect.
Selected Equipment: Telephoto, medium-focus imaging lights, telephoto, medium-focus plano-convex spotlights, color changers, gobos, etc.
Arrangement and Projection Methods of Lighting Fixtures:
Side lights are auxiliary lights for front lights, used for figure modeling;
They can render the color atmosphere of the stage from one side or both sides;
Cross projection of the outer and inner lights can obtain a larger projection range;
When two or more rows of side lights with the same color are projected simultaneously, the higher-positioned lights usually mainly project
onto the far-light area, while the lower-positioned lights usually mainly project onto the near-light area.
Top Light:
The spotlighting fixtures on the top behind the large curtain, usually installed on the liftable lighting bridges and special lighting booms. They are mainly projected onto the performing areas in the middle and rear of the stage. The lights installed on the booms in sequence from the stage opening curtain to the back of the stage are called the first top light, the second top light, the third top light, etc.
It projects vertical light rays from above, which is not suitable for photographing figures. For this light position, if diffusing light fixtures with soft light paper or gauze are used to make soft light, it can provide general illumination for the scenery, serving as the base light. It can give uniform illumination to the scenery flats, props, and the ground, and can appropriately weaken or eliminate the messy shadows caused by the light from other positions.
Top lights are usually installed on special lighting booms at intervals of about 3m in the depth of the stage booms. The power supply hangs down from the stage ceiling, and there is a wire basket in the middle of the boom to accommodate cables. The lighting fixtures are hung on the lower side of the boom. Its function is to provide necessary illumination for the performing area space that extends in depth on the stage. The lighting fixtures can also be configured according to the needs of the performance. The number of lighting fixtures will increase the load weight of the boom, and the safety of the boom in terms of the weight and number of the hanging lighting fixtures should be considered.
Selected Equipment: Medium-focus, short-focus imaging zoom spotlights, floodlights, plano-convex spotlights, Fresnel spotlights, PAR64 downlights, film spotlights, film reflector lights, effect lights, color changers, gobos, etc.
Arrangement and Projection Methods of Lighting Fixtures: The first top light is connected with the front light to illuminate the main performing area. When connecting, pay attention to the height of the figures. Special effect lights can be placed and some lights can be selected to strengthen the illumination of the supporting points in the performing area at the first top light position; the second and third top lights can be projected straight back to the stage, or projected vertically downward, or projected forward as backlight; the position is usually about 2 - 3 meters behind the valance curtain behind the false proscenium; it can strengthen the figure modeling and scenery space illumination in the rear of the stage. The connection of the front and rear rows of lights makes the stage performing area obtain relatively uniform color and brightness.
Column Light:
On both sides inside the large curtain at the stage opening, the lighting fixtures are installed on the "telescopic movable proscenium" or on the "vertical iron pipes" or "fixed iron frames". There is a lighting bridge on the upper part of the false proscenium (upper piece), and the side piece has the side light position (column light). The light rays are projected from the inside of the stage opening onto the performing area, which is called column light.
It mainly compensates for the deficiencies of the front light and side light. Selected Equipment: Medium-focus, short-focus, imaging spotlights, soft lights, film spotlights, color changers, gobos, etc. The arrangement and projection methods of the lighting fixtures are basically the same as those of the side light.
Foot Light:
The strip lights installed on the apron outside the large curtain, where the light rays are projected upward from the stage floor onto the actors' faces or to illuminate the lower part of the large curtain after it is closed, is the foot light.
To compensate for the deficiencies of the front light, eliminate the shadows under the nose; it can also enhance the artistic modeling of the actors according to the needs of the plot, compensate for the deficiencies of the top light and side light. When the curtain is closed, it is projected onto the lower part of the large curtain, and the color of the large curtain can also be changed with colored light; it can illuminate the actors' faces and costumes to enhance the effect. It is a low-angle, close-range projected light for stage figures or as a supplement to other modeling lights, intentionally creating exaggerated image effects of stage figures, scenery, etc. that are not commonly seen. To compensate for the deficiencies of the front light, eliminate the shadows under the nose; it can also enhance the artistic modeling of the authors according to the needs of the plot, compensate for the deficiencies of the top light and side light. When the curtain is closed, it is projected onto the lower part of the large curtain, and the color of the large curtain can also be changed with colored light; it can illuminate the actors' faces and costumes to enhance the effect. It is a low-angle, close-range projected light for stage figures or as a supplement to other modeling lights, intentionally creating exaggerated image effects of stage figures, scenery, etc. that are not commonly seen.
Selected Lighting Fixtures: Strip-shaped floodlights or low-angle spotlights.
The light position of the foot light is the light rays projected upward from below the photographed object or person. This kind of light effect is a special modeling light. For example, it is used for figure modeling light in a spooky and terrifying atmosphere. It can create a terrifying and hideous feeling. The face will be fat and bloated. The artificial trace of this kind of light effect is strong, and sometimes it will produce a contrived feeling. Generally, it is not advisable to use it unless there are special circumstances and requirements. However, in some cases, the light effect of the scenery and the background is often used, for example, the lower part of the sky usually uses foot light.
Side Light (from the Sides):
The lights installed on the bridges on both sides of the stage, where the light rays are pushed from the high sides to the stage, are called "side light (from the sides)". The bridges are called the first bridge side light, the second bridge side light, the third bridge side light, etc. in the order from low to high. They are divided into left side light and right side light.
The position of the side light forms a 90° angle with the illuminated object from the perspective of the audience. This light position can highlight the surface structure of the object; cause the effect of the object or the face of the person to be half bright and half dark. The light energy projected by this kind of light gives a strong sense of three-dimensional form; and gives people a feeling of firmness and power.
The function of the side light is to create a sense of the direction of the light source from the side of the stage, which can be used as auxiliary illumination for illuminating the actors' faces, and can strengthen the layering of the scenery, and perform modeling and rendering on the figures and the stage space environment. Factors such as the projection angle, direction, distance, type of lighting fixtures, and power will cause various side light effects.
Selected Equipment: Medium-focus, short-focus imaging zoom spotlights, reflector lights, plano-convex spotlights, effect lights, color changers, gobos, etc.
The arrangement and projection methods of the lighting fixtures from the single side or both sides of the modeling light can emphasize and highlight the side contours, suitable for showing the effects with a sense of volume such as reliefs and portraits.
Projection from a single side may show a strong contrast between yin and yang.
Projection from both sides can show the sandwich light with personalized characteristics, but it is necessary to adjust the light ratio between the front auxiliary light and the side light to obtain a relatively perfect modeling effect. The arrangement and projection methods of the lighting fixtures from the single side or both sides of the modeling light can emphasize and highlight the side contours, suitable for showing the effects with a sense of volume such as reliefs and portraits. Projection from a single side may show a strong contrast between yin and yang. Projection from both sides can show the sandwich light with personalized
characteristics, but it is necessary to adjust the light ratio between the front auxiliary light and the side light to obtain a relatively perfect modeling effect.
Backlight, Side Backlight:
When the light is arranged above or behind the actors, it is backlight, and the light beams fall on the actors' heads and shoulders, which can create an effect like a halo that makes the actors stand out from their background.
Light projected from the high sides:
When trying to reduce the problem of actors casting shadows on each other, projecting light downward from a high position has a dramatic effect.
High Side Backlight:
This high side backlight has the characteristics of both backlight and side light. It is especially useful as the main auxiliary "key light" in a scene.
Flat Side Backlight:
Flat side backlight is only used for special effects.
The light opposite to the audience position is called backlight in full, at an angle of 180°. This kind of light is often used to show the silhouette effect of objects or people. The general use of backlight is to outline the contour lines, separating the photographed object or person from the background, creating a sense of spatial depth, making the picture effect not dull and giving a lively feeling.
Sky Wash:
The lighting fixtures installed on the upper part of the stage in front of the cyclorama, usually on the booms, which are specifically used to project downward onto the cyclorama, are called "sky wash". Mostly floodlight fixtures are used for projection.
The lighting fixtures can be installed in a row, two rows, etc., and can also be divided into upper and lower layers within the row. Its illumination requirement is to be balanced and uniform, and it is specifically used for illuminating the sky scenery.
Background Light:
The function name of this kind of light includes two contents. One is the sky panel light in the background: The sky panel in the film studio is a circle of white cloth hung around the walls of the film studio. Except at the corners, it is a plane, and the brightness distribution is easy to control. However, the changes of the celestial bodies are difficult to effectively control.
There are two reasons: First, the celestial bodies change unpredictably. For example, the sky color in the plateau area is different from that in the plain area, the plain area is different from that near the city area, and the south is different from the north. This is the situation from nature. However, usually people's habitual impression is that no matter in which area one looks at the sky, it is always blue, and the high altitude is dark blue, and the horizon is light blue. So in the interior shooting of films, the treatment of the light and color of the sky panel is usually bright at the bottom and dark at the top. The color is light at the bottom and dark at the top.
How to represent it? Technically, there are two methods: One is to solve it by slide projection, and the other is to solve it by painting. Experience tells us that the effect of slide projection of clouds has rich and delicate layers. While painting is dull, without layers, or with few layers. Another point is that the lower part of the sky background is often painted with scenery and buildings. In this case, the treatment of the light is just to connect it with the background.
Ground Wash:
The lighting fixtures placed on the stage floor in front of the cyclorama or in the specially dug trenches, which are used to project upward onto the cyclorama, can be used to represent the horizon, horizontal lines, sunset, etc., and are usually used in combination with the sky wash to make the color changes more abundant.
Moving Light:
The lighting fixtures placed on the stage floor and installed on the brackets can be placed at the corresponding positions on the stage according to the needs of projection, aiming to strengthen the atmosphere. The angle can be changed at any time, and they are used to illuminate the actors from the side. Usually, they are placed behind the side curtains to conceal the lighting fixtures.
The position of the moving light forms a 90° angle with the actors from the perspective of the audience. This kind of light can highlight the surface structure of the object, making the effect of the object and the face of the person half bright and half dark, and the projected light has a strong three-dimensional form, giving people a feeling of firmness and power. The other aspects are the same as those of the side light.
Effect Light:
Generally, it refers to the firelight effect, lightning effect, flashlight effect, etc. in the scene. Or the effect of prop lights such as oil lamps, candles, electric lights, or the light effect of the specific strong light area in the picture. How to use the effect light will be studied in the article "Application of Effect Light".
Follow Spot:
The lighting fixtures designed according to the principles of optical imaging and zooming, which have the functions of changing the size of the aperture, color, brightness, and sharpness, etc. During the performance, they are installed on the specially made brackets to follow the movement of the actors while strengthening the illumination brightness, attracting the attention of the audience, and can be set in various positions in the performance theater space to achieve the local illumination effects of the actors' half body, whole body, long distance, and small range. Sometimes, the follow spot can also be used to represent abstract and illusory stage plots.
The follow spot can be set at the front and both sides of the second floor of the auditorium, and can also be placed on both sides and the rear of the stage performing area where modeling is needed. It is also specially installed at the first front light on the ceiling of the auditorium and in the closed special projection room set up at the rear of the auditorium.
Frequently Asked Questions
1.What is the main function of face light?
The face light provides uniform, diffused illumination for the entire stage, eliminates "dead angles", adjusts light ratio, and avoids local underexposure. It also serves as a base for overall brightness but lacks three-dimensional sense without other lights.
2.How does side light contribute to the stage effect?
Side light forms a 90° angle with the illuminated object. It highlights the surface structure, creates a half-bright and half-dark effect, gives a strong sense of three-dimensional form and a feeling of firmness and power. It also aids in figure and space modeling and rendering.
3.What are the projection methods of top light?
The first top light can be connected with the front light. It can be projected straight back, vertically downward or forward as backlight. Different projections help to illuminate the main performing area, strengthen figure modeling and scenery space illumination, and make the stage area have uniform color and brightness.
4.What is the role of foot light?
The foot light compensates for the deficiencies of the front light, eliminates nose shadows, enhances actors' artistic modeling, and can change the color of the large curtain when closed. It is a special modeling light, but its artificial trace is strong and is used according to specific needs.
5.How does backlight work on the stage?
Backlight, when arranged above or behind actors, creates a halo effect, making them stand out from the background. It outlines contour lines, separates objects or people from the background, creates a sense of spatial depth, and can show silhouette effects, adding vitality to the picture.