The document provides information on various types of stage lighting instruments, including their accessories, typical uses, and comparisons between different instruments. It describes Pebble Convex Fresnels, CCT Fresnels, Selecon Fresnels, 1K Scena Fresnels, Parcans, LED Parcans, Birdies, Flood Lights, Pin Spots, and Source Four lights. Examples are given for when each type would be suitable to use for different lighting scenarios on stage.

1. By Kara Girvan

2. PC – Pebble Convex Fresnel
Accessories
• 500w bulb
• G clamp
• Safety chain
• Gel frame and gels
• Adjustable arm
• Adjustable focus knobs
• 15amp plug
• Barn doors
• Pebble glass lens
• Beam angle: 8-31 degrees
Explanation
A Pebble Convex can be used for general
cover or you could use it as a last resort
for a spotlight. It has a pebble effect lens
which effects the harshness of the light.
A PC has the same lens of that in a
spotlight but a spotlight has two lenses
and a PC has one lens.
Compared to a CCT Fresnel the light from
a PC is more direct whereas a CCT is a
more even spread of light.
Scenario
Profiles are broken but you need to isolate an actor on stage…
You would use a PC as it has the same lens as any of the Profile
lights and you can manipulate the light with the barn doors and
the focus knobs, this is in comparison to a CCT Fresnel and a
Selecon Fresnel which give a more diffused light which isn't
good for lighting specifics

3. CCT Fresnel
Accessories
• G clamp
• Barn doors
• Adjustable arm
• Safety chain
• Ridged lens
• Gel frame and gels
• Smallest Fresnel
• Beam angle: 35
degrees
Explanation
A CCT has a ridged circular glass
lens which gives the light that is
produced more of a diffused even
spread. In comparison to a Selecon
a CCT is smaller so it can be carried
around easier.
Scenario
Using side light for dance performers…
You would use a CCT Fresnel because you can manipulate the
light with the barn doors to help light all parts of the dancers
without giving too much of a cover, in comparison to a Profile
and a Pin Spot which both produce too much of a specific light.

4. Selecon Fresnel
Accessories
• Barn doors
• 500w bulb
• Adjustable arm
• Safety chain
• G clamp
• Gel frame and gels
• Ridged lens
• 2 adjustable knobs
• Beam angle: 6-60
degrees
Explanation
A Selecon is used for general cover or
washes. You should genuinely use the same
make of lighting for a general cover or wash
jus to avoid patchiness. I would use a Selecon
over a PC for a general wash as the light is
more diffused and has a less of a sharp edge.
Scenario
Creating a general wash for the Christmas show…
You would use a Selecon Fresnel over a Parcan and a PC
Fresnel as it produces an evenly diffused light. You
wouldn’t use a PC Fresnel because the light is a little too
defined and you wouldn’t use a Parcan because we only
use them to add depth if in desperate need.

5. 1K – Scena Fresnel
Accessories
• 1000w bulb
• Safety chain
• Barn doors
• Ridged glass lens
• Gel frame and gels
• G clamp
• Mesh over lens
• Brighter than the other
Fresnel's
• Beam angle: 74 degrees
Explanation
A 1K is mostly used for back lighting
to avoid the performers from
blending as it cuts them out more. It
can also be used for a general wash or
cover (generally using light coloured
gels like lilac and light blue)
Triangulation
Having two
smaller
Fresnel's to
every 1K
helping to
avoid the
creation of
shadows.
People often mistake a 1K for
the beam travelling further
however it is just a brighter
light.
1K
Scenario
Creating back light for a musical…
You would use a 1K over a Profile and a Birdie
because its mainly used for back light. A Profile is no
good as the light is too defined and they are used for
specifics and a Birdies light isn't powerful enough.

6. Parcan
Accessories
• Safety chain
• Encased light bulb
• Oval shape light
• Gel frame and gels
• G clamp
• Adjustable arm
• Beam angle: 50
degrees
Explanation
A Parcan is aesthetically pleasing and it is
used for things such a music gigs and
creating a chase. It adds depth too general
cover. I would use a 1K compared to a
Parcan as the light in a 1K is brighter.
You can hang Parcans off booms
to help highlight all parts of a
performer.
Scenario
Creating a chase at a music gig…
A Parcan would give a general cover in a
chase at a music gig and is aesthetically
pleasing, a Profiles light is too defined for
this and are uses for specific things and a
Birdie isn't powerful enough as it is
powered by a halogen bulb also beam angle
is too small.

7. LED Parcan
Accessories
• 13/15 amp plug
• G clamp
• Adjustable arm
• DMX cable
• Beam angle: 25
degrees
Scenario
To provide multiple colour enabling the scene mood to change…
You would use an LED Parcan because you can change the colour
of the light instantly as it is controlled from the desk which is more
convenient then having more lights with different coloured gels in
which is what you would have to do if you was to use Parcans or
Flood lights. Also LED Parcans produce primary colours which
means you can mix them to ass you desire.
Explanation
An LED Parcan can be controlled from
the desk through a DMX cable, it has
separate little light bulbs to allow
different colours to be produced at the
same time, also it doesn’t get hot.

8. Birdie
Accessories
• Safety chain
• G clamp
• Barn doors
• Gel frame and gels
• Halogen bulb
• 13 or 15 amp plug
• Beam angle: 16 degrees
Explanation
A birdie is usually used for things like museums
and exhibitions to light art work etc. They can
also be used in trusts at shows and also to light
the audience.
You would use a birdie over a pin spot as it is
lighter and more compact to move around.
Scenario
Lighting the audience…
You would use a Birdie because they are aesthetically
pleasing for the audience to see and they aren't too bright, in
comparison to a Selecon Fresnel and a Parcan both of these
produce too much of a powerful general cover.

9. Flood light
Accessories
• Safety chain
• G clamp
• Gel frame and gels
• 500/600w bulb
• 15 amp plug
• Gradient % control
• Beam angle: 40-50
degrees
Explanation
Flood lights can be used to add depth to a
general wash/ cover and also can be used for
lighting the audience at things like music gigs.
In comparison to a birdie you can light the
audience with both lights but with a flood
light you can control the gradient of the light
produced.
Scenario
Lighting a cyclorama…
You would use a flood light for lighting a cyclorama over a Profile
and a Birdie because a Profiles light is too defined and a Birdie is
too small too light a cyclorama. A flood light has a wider beam
angle than the other two so its good for a general cover.

10. Pin Spot
Accessories
• Safety chain
• G clamp
• 13/15 amp plug
• Beam angle: 6-12
degrees
Explanation
Pin Spot lights can be used for lighting
disco/glitter balls for shows or parties. You can
change the colour of the bulb as you can’t use
gels with a Pin Spot.
They can also be used in things like museums
and exhibitions. A negative of using a Pin Spot for
something like a exhibition is that you can’t
direct the light.
You could use a Birdie instead of a Pin Spot as
you can use gels instead of having to change the
bulb, it’s more convenient.
Scenario
You would use a Pin Spot because you can direct the light easily, you
wouldn’t use a Flood light because the beam angle is too wide so it
would light all the surroundings and an LED Parcan again has a wider
beam angle.

11. Source Four
Accessories
• G clamp
• Safety chain
• 15 amp plugs
• Shutters (manipulate light)
• Gel frame and gels
• Gobo holder and gobos
• Iris (makes light really
small)
• Adjustable nobs (one for
focusing the light and the
other for the size of the
light)
• Built in shutters
• Energy saving bulb (whiter
light)
• Beam angle: 19 degrees
• Removable shutters
• Normal bulb (brownie white
light)
• Beam angle: 21-36 degrees
vs Minuette Profile
Explanation
They are both used for lighting specific things and they both have
the ability to make the circle of light bigger, smaller, softer edged
or a harder edge.
I would personally opt for the Source four light as it has built in
shutters for convenience and an energy saving light which is also
a whiter colour.
Scenario
Isolating an actor on
stage…
You would use a
source four over a
Flood and a Selecon
Fresnel because a
source four is used for
lighting specific
things. Selecon
Fresnels you don’t get
a defined edge of light
and a Flood is just an
on or off light you
have no control over
where it goes.
Scenario
Creating a window
effect for a set
design…
You would use a
Minuette Profile as
you can use a
gobo, in
comparison to a
CCT because a CCT
you wont be able
to use a gobo and
a Parcan as you
cant control the
light coming out as
the beam angle is
bigger.