1. Unit 65 Technical Stage Operations - Lighting
By Anna Smith

2. Parcan
Accessories: G Clamp, Safety Chain, Gels, Gel frames
Bulb: CP60/ CP61/ CR62
Used for: Music Gigs, Dance/Fashion Shows, General Cover, Chase
Effect, To Add Depth
Beam Angle: CP60 12 , CP61 14 , CP62 24
Parcan lights are used to illuminate theatrical productions, concerts
and Television studios. Parcan lights are also used with many
traveling shows and bands because of their durability and light
weight housing. A Parcan gives a broad, general beam of light and
covers a wide area of set. Parcans are possibly the easiest lights to
use/work with because they are easy to handle and easy to focus.
For the college Christmas show I would use Parcan lights over
Fresnel lights. Even though both types of lights can be fitted with
coloured gels (e.g. red and green for Christmas) I would want to use a
chase effect to make the set more interesting. A chase effect is a
series of steps which can be played back manually, automatically, or
in time to music and Parcans are the best at doing this. Fresnel are
brighter lights but cannot be used for chase.
• Parcans are aesthetically pleasing
lights
• They add depth to a set
• The light cannot be
controlled/manipulated
• Can point a Parcan in any
direction/fade using the lighting desk
• Different couloured gels can be fitted
depending on the intention you are
looking to portray
• Chase effect can be used so that the
lights can be set in a sequence

3. LED Parcan
Accessories: G Clamp, Safety Chain, Dip Switch, DMX cable
Used for: Music Gigs, General Cover
Bulb: Halogen or High Intensity Discharge
Beam Angle: N/A
An LED Parcan does the same job as a regular Parcan. The difference between
an LED Parcan and a Parcan light is that the LED Parcan uses energy saving
bulbs which stops the light from over heating/getting hot. LED Parcans are
used in Music Gig and for General Cover, they would not be used to isolate an
object. LED Parcans have a dip switch on the back and are controlled by a dmx
cable which communicates to the lighting desk.
I would use an LED Parcan over a regular Parcan to light artwork such as an
Ice Sculpture. Due to low heat output, LED instruments can be used in areas
where a high amount of heat compostion would not be ideal. LED Parcan
lights are not as bright as regular Parcan lights but LED lights can be seen
better in daylight which is why they are also often used for music festivals.
• LED Parcans are energy saving
• Colour of the Parcans light can be
changed at the lighting desk
• Controlled by a DMX cable
• An LED Parcan has dipswitches on the
back of the light
• Do not require additional dimmers
• Several lights can be daisy chained to
one power source (due to low power
consumption)

4. CCT (Fresnel)
Accessories: G Clamp, Safety Chain, Barn doors, Gels, Gel frame, 15
Amp Plug, Ridged Circular Lens,, Adjustable Knob, Adjustable Arm
Bulb: 650 Watt Halogen
Used For: General Cover, Musical Theatre Productions, Music
Gigs, Dance/Fashion Shows
Beam Angle: 10 - 59
Fresnel are the most common lights used in stage production. The
ridged Fresnel lens produces a diffused even light that is soft at the
edges and tends to project a soft shadow. Because the edge of the
light is soft., the beam angle of this light cone can be altered by a
focus knob on the left hand side of the light that changes the distance
between the lamp and the lens. As the lamp is moved towards the
lens the beam becomes wider, and as it moves away from the lens the
beam becomes narrower.
I would use a Fresnal light over a Parcan light to create a general
cover because even though they are both 650 watt lights, the Parcan
creates a more angular light beam which makes it harder to blend
itself and other Parcan lights together to create general cover, unlike
Fresnal lights where by the edges of the light beam are softer due to
the ridged lense, so it gives a smoother lighting effect on stage.
• Has an adjustable knob which
increases or decreases the beam
angle
• Light can be manipulated using
barn doors
• The ridged lens creates a defused
even spread light
• Different couloured gels can be
fitted depending on the intention
you are looking to portray

5. PC (Fresnel)
Accessories: G Clamp, Safety Chain, Barn Doors, Gels, Gel Frame, 15
Amp Plug, Pebble Convex Lens, Adjustable Knob, Adjustable Arm
Bulb: 650 Watt Halogen
Used For: General Cover, Musical Theatre Productions, Music
Gigs, Dance/Fashion Shows
Beam Angle: 10 - 59
A PC light is part of the Fresnel family. These types of Fresnel's are
more popular in Europe but are slowly gaining back popularity in the
United States. Unlike the ridged lens a CCT, the PC has a Pebble
Convex lens, the pebbled effect gives the beam its characteristic soft
edge. The edge of the beam is slightly harsher than a CCT, but is not hard
edged. Just like a CCT a PC has a focusing knob to change the beam
angle.
I would use a PC over a CCT Fresnel in theatre if I wanted to portray the
emotions of anger/fury. This is because the light of a PC is harsher than
that of a CCT because of the Pebble Convex lens a PC uses, therefore a
PC light would have more of a impact on the audience rather than a CCT.
Both lights allow you to change the colour gels therefore they are
suitable for this scenario.
• Has an adjustable knob which
increases or decreases the beam
angle
• Light can be manipulated using
barn doors
• The Pebble Convex lens creates a
more direct harsher light
• Different couloured gels can be
fitted depending on the intention
you are looking to portray

6. Selecon
(Fresnel)
Accessories: G Clamp, Safety Chain, Barn Doors, Gels, Gel Frame, 15
Amp Plug, Ridged Circular Lens, Adjustable Frame, Adjustable Arm
Bulb: 650 Watt Halogen
Used For: General Cover, Musical Theatre Productions, Music
Gigs, Dance/Fashion Shows
Beam Angle: 6 - 60 (for Selecon acclaim)
A Selecon light is also part of the Fresnel family. Just like the CCT the
Selecon also as a ridged lens, the difference between the two lights is
in fact the beam angle. The Selecon Fresnel gives off an even spread
light across a set which is why it is often used for general coverage
whether that be in Musical Theatre performances or Music Gigs etc.
I would use a Selecon Fresnel over a over a CCT to create general
coverage for a dance performance. I would do this because although
the brightness of the bulbs are the same, the Selecon has a greater
beam angle than the CCT making it better for creating general wash. I
would also use it over a PC Fresnel because it has a ridged lens rather
than a pebble convex lens, the Selecon beams will diffuse better into
one another creating a more even spread for the dance performance.
• Has an adjustable knob which
increases or decreases the beam
angle
• Light can be manipulated using
barn doors
• The ridged lens creates a defused
even spread light
• Different couloured gels can be
fitted depending on the intention
you are looking to portray

7. 1K (Fresnel)
Accessories: G Clamp, Safety Chain, Barn Doors, Gels, Gel
Frame, Barn Doors, 15 Amp Plug, Ridged Circular Lens, Adjustable
Frame, Adjustable Arm
Bulb: 1000 Watt Halogen
Used For: General Cover, Musical Theatre Productions, Music
Gigs, Dance/Fashion Shows, Back Lighting
Beam Angle: 10 - 64
• Has an adjustable knob which
increases or decreases the beam
angle
• Light can be manipulated using
barn doors
• The ridged lens creates a defused
even spread light
• Different couloured gels can be
fitted depending on the intention
you are looking to portray
The 1K along with the CCT,PC and Selecon is yet again another
member of the Fresnel family. The ridged1K lens produces a diffused
even light that is soft at the edges and tends to project a soft shadow.
The thing that makes the 1K different from other Fresnel's is the beam
angle but mainly the 1000 watt halogen bulb. This means the beam is
much brighter coming from this light but the misconception is that
people think the light travels further because of this when in fact it
doesn't’t.
I would use a 1K over a Parcan light to create back light for an actors
monologue because the 1K has a brighter bulb (1000 watt halogen)
unlike the bulbs used in a Parcan (CP60/ CP61/ CR62) which are not
as strong. The back light is used to avoid shadows/silhouettes being
cast, a 1K is particularly good for this as it does have a powerful bulb
and light can be manipulate using barn doors to isolate the actor
centre stage unlike the Parcan where you cannot control where the
light will hit.

8. Flood Light
Accessories: G Clamp, Safety Chain, Barn Doors, Gels, Gel Frame, 15
Amp Plug
Bulb: 500 Watt Halogen
Used For: Lighting Cyclorama, Lighting the Audience, General Cover
(If Desperate)
Beam Angles: N/A
A floodlight provides an even illumination across a wide area of set.
Flood lights are used in many everyday scenarios such as to light
monuments, stadiums, Airports, Advertisement boards etc. But in
theatre they tend to be used to illuminate a Cyclorama or to light an
audience. This is because they have a large beam angle which make
them ideal because there will be no gaps as you would only use the
one light,
I would use a Flood light over a 1K Fresnel to highlight a Cyclorama. I
would do this because even though the 1K is 500 watts brighter than
the Flood light, the beam angle is not as wide. This means you would
need more than one 1K to light up a Cyclorama using up more heat
composition/power and there would most probably be gaps where
light wont reach to despite the defused effect they give off, unlike the
flood light where by you would only use one.
• Cannot increase/decrease beam
angle
• Light cannot be manipulated
• Different couloured gels can be
fitted depending on the intention
you are looking to portray
• Illuminates a large area of
set/audience due to large beam
angle

9. Birdie
Accessories: G Clamp, Safety Chain, Gels, Gel Frame, 13/15 Amp
Plug
Bulb: 50 Watt Halogen Spot Bulb
Used For: Museums/Exhibitions, Light the Audience, Edge of Staging
Beam Angle: N/A
A birdie is a miniature lantern that's ideal for hiding in small parts of
a set or along the downstage edge of the stage. It provides a
surprisingly bright soft-edged pool of light. Although the beam is
unevenly spread and the light cannot be manipulated, the benefits of
having a light where no normal light can go are massive. In theatre
the Birdie light tends to be used to light the audience as they are
Aesthetically pleasing and not to bright.
I would use a Birdie over a Parcan light to illuminate the audience in
a theatre production as they are more aesthetically pleasing than the
Parcan (a prettier light) but also the Parcan would be to big and to
bright and may distract the audience from what is actually happening
on set.
• Cannot increase/decrease beam
angle
• Light cannot be manipulated
• Different couloured gels can be
fitted depending on the intention
you are looking to portray
• An aesthetically pleasing light (only
really used to make things look
pretty)

10. Pinspot
Accessories: G Clamp, Safety Chain,, 13/15 Amp Plug
Bulb: Par36 30 Watts
Used For: Museums/Exhibitions, Glitter Ball Effect
Beam Angle: N/A
Pinspots are low-voltage high intensity beam lights which are often
used to illuminate museums/art exhibitions. They are also used to
light glitter balls (although you need more than one Pinspot to do
this) This is so you get an even amount of coverage across a set. You
should always use 2 or 4 Pinspots to light the glitter ball an focus
them so that there opposing one another.
Diagram:
I would use a Pin Spot to light a glitter ball over a Parcan because the
beam angle of a Pinspot is perfect for hitting the diameter of the
glitter ball, unlike the Parcan which is to wide. You can change the
gels of a Parcan which is more time efficient but you can still change
the colour of a Pinspot by changing the light.
• Cannot increase/decrease beam
angle
• Light cannot be manipulated and
cannot control where the light
will hit
• In order to change the colour of
the light you must change the bulb
• Coloured gels are not compatible
with this light

11. Source 4
Accessories: G Clamp, Safety Chain, Gels, Gel Frame, 15 Amp
Plug,, Shutters (Not Barn Doors), Gobo, Gobo Holder, Iris
Bulb: HPL 575 Watt
Used For: Illuminating people or Specific Objects, Theatre
Productions
Beam Angle: 25 - 50
The more common name for a Source 4 is a Spot Light. Spotlights
are ellipsoidal and very strong lights, because they are stronger
they are more frequently used in theatres. The light on a Source
Four can be manipulated to create a circle of light on stage using a
iris. The size of the circle of light can be adjusted to make it bigger
or smaller, which is why it is perfect for highlighting actors or
specific objects.
I would use a Source 4 over a CCT in a music gig to create a single
spotlight for a singer. I would do this because the Source 4 uses an
energy saving bulb therefore it produces a brighter white light
than a CCT would. Both lights can be manipulated as a Source 4
uses an iris and a CCT Barn doors but the Source 4 gives a defined
circle on stage where as light tends to spill using a CCT with barn
doors.
• Light cant be manipulated due to shutters and a
iris
• Light is manipulate into a circle of light (size
can be adjusted)
• Different couloured gels can be fitted
depending on the intention you are looking to
portray
• Gobos can also fitted so patterns can be
perceived

12. Minuette Profile
Accessories: G Clamp, Safety Chain, Gels, Gel Frame, 15 Amp
Plug,, Shutters (Not Barn Doors), Gobo, Gobo Holder, Iris
Bulb: 650 Watt Halogen
Used For: Special Effects, Theatre Productions
Beam Angle: 6 - 48
Minuette Profiles are very similar to Source 4 lights. Profile
lanterns produce clearly defined spots of light and are the most
focusable and versatile of all lights. They have a lens (some have
two lenses), a lamp and a reflector, and they also have shutters
and a gate. Minuette Profiles are known for being used for
special effects and would not be used for general cover.
I would use a Minuette Profile over a CCT to create stage lighting
for a forest design. I would do this because even though both
lights can be used with couloured gels so that colour is altered
e.g. green, Minuette Profiles are best known for their special
effects. By inserting a gobo into the gobo holder you could have a
pattern projected to represent the forest as well as using a
colour. A CCT cannot be used with gobos therefore the effect
would not be the same.
• Light cant be manipulated due to
shutters and a iris
• Light is manipulate into a circle of light
(size can be adjusted)
• Different couloured gels can be fitted
depending on the intention you are
looking to portray
• Gobos can also fitted so patterns can be
perceived