3. Lighting can emphasize
important details or hide them. It
can flatter a subject by bringing
out positive attributes and it can
de-emphasize or hide less
attractive attributes. Lighting can
even impart a sinister and hostile
look.
4. Television is based on the
medium of light; in fact, without
light there could be no video. Just
as sound must be skillfully
controlled in audio production,
light must be expertly controlled
in television.
5. Functions of
Lighting
To provide the television camera with adequate
illumination for technically
acceptable pictures.
To establish the general mood of the event.
6. To show the viewers what the objects shown on
screen actually look like,
say, for instance, if there was no light in the
room, we would not have been
able to see how the chair, table or anything else for
that matter would look
like. Lights also help us know when the event is
taking place, in terms of the
season and the time of the day
7. Key Terms
barn doors metal flaps mounted in front of a
lighting instrument taht control the
speed of the light beam
baselight even, nondirectional (diffused) light
necessary for the camera to operate
optimally. normal baselight levels are
150-200 ft candles (1500-2000 lux) at
f/8 to f/16. also called base
color temperature the standard by which we measure the
relative reddishness or bluishness of
white light. it is measured on the
Delvin (K) scale. the standard color
temperature for indoor light is 3200K;
for outdoor it is 5600K. technically the
numbers express Kelvin degrees
8. dimmer a device that controls the intensity of light
by throttling the electric current flowing
to the lamp
ellipsoidal spotlight spotlight that produces a very defined
beam, which can be shaped further by
metal shutters
floodlight lighting instrument that produces diffused
light with a relatively undefined beam edge
foot-candle the amount of light that falls on an object.
one foot-candle is the amount of light
from a single candle that falls on a 1-
square-foot area located 1 foot away from
the light source
Fresnel spotlight one of the most common spotlights,
named after the inventor of its lens. its
lens has steplike concentric rings
LED light stand for light emitting diode light. its light
source is an array of semiconductors (a
solid-state electronic device) that emits
light when electricity passes through. Can
produce different-colored light
9. LED light stand for light emitting diode light. its light
source is an array of semiconductors (a
solid-state electronic device) that emits
light when electricity passes through. Can
produce different-colored light
lumen the light intensity power of one candle
(light source radiating isotropically, i.e., in
all directions)
luminaire technical term for a lighting instrument
luminant lamp that produces the light; the light
source
lux european standard unit for measuring
light intensity. 11.75 lux = 1fc; usually
roughly translated as 10 lux = 1 fc
quartz a high-intensity incandescent light whose
lamp consists of a quartz or silica housing
(instead of the customary glass) that
contains halogen gas and a tungsten
filament. produces a very bright light of
stable color temperature (3200K). also
called a TH (tungsten-halogen) lamp
10. softlight television floodlight that produces
extremely diffused light
spotlight a lighting instrument that produces
directional, relatively undiffused light with
a relatively well-defined beam edge
11. Qualities in lighting
The four main qualities or properties
of lighting are intensity, color and
focus.
12. Intensity is measured in lux, lumens and foot-
candles. The intensity of a luminaire (lighting
instrument or fixture) depends on a number
of factors including its lamp power, the design
of the instrument (and its efficiency), optical
obstructions such as color gels or mechanical
filters, the distance to the area to be lit and
the beam or field angle of the fixture, the color
and material to be lit, and the relative
contrasts to other regions of illumination.
13. Color temperature is measured in kelvins. A light's
apparent color is determined by its lamp color, the
color of any gels in the optical path, its power level, and
the color of the material it lights
Direction refers to the shape, quality and evenness of
a lamp's output.
Focus is a term usually used to describe where an
instrument is pointed.
16. "Quartz" Lamps
Almost all incandescent lamps used in TV production
are tungsten-halogen lamps (commonly called quartz
lamps). They normally range from 500 to 2,000 watts.
This type of lamp is more efficient than the common
light bulb type incandescent lamp, and it does not
darken with age.
Tungsten-halogen lamps are used in several
common types of lighting instruments including
the type that has been used for decades,
the Fresnel (pronounced fra-nell).
17. Special care must be taken when these
lamps are changed (in addition to
unplugging the lights and letting them cool
down) to make sure that oil from fingers is
not deposited on the outer glass (quartz)
envelope of the lamp. Because of the great
heat associated with these lamps, any
residue of this sort will create an area of
concentrated heat that will cause the lamp
to fail -- and they can be rather expensive
to replace.
18.
19. Fresnels
The Fresnel lens, invented by French physicist
Augustin-Jean Fresnel, consists of concentric circles
that both concentrate and slightly diffuse the light.
Note the photo on the left below. The coherence
(quality) of the resulting light represents an ideal
blend between hard and soft. In the studio these
lights are typically hung from a grid in the ceiling.
20.
21. LED Light
The LED offers the advantage of power efficiency by
producing more light per watt used. As a result, LED
instruments also operate at low temperatures like
fluorescent lights.
LED lights can be controlled to change colors on cue.
This feature is useful for matching indoor or outdoor
light conditions. LEDs can also be dimmed while
keeping their original color temperature.
LED instruments are expensive and can produce some
undesirable artifacts under certain camera conditions.
Fortunately, the technology is rapidly improving and
production costs are decreasing.
22.
23. Ellipsoidal
The ellipsoidal is a specific type of spotlight used in
studio applications as a key light for actors or to
enhance set details. The instrument reflects light off of
a surface shaped like an ellipsoid placed in the rear of
the unit. The light path can be focused by moving the
lamp closer to or farther away from the reflector. The
light is further focused using a lens attached at the
front of a narrow tube that directs the light path.
Internal frame shutters can also restrict the light
pattern. The result is a small to mid-sized circular light
pattern.
24.
25. Scoop
Scoops provide a broad, soft light pattern
used to boost overall light levels across an
entire scene. Scoops cannot be focused. They
include lamps that range from 500 to 2,000
watts and include a frame in the front that
allows insertion of colored gels.
26. Fluorescent
Fluorescent instruments provide extremely soft,
broad lighting. The high efficiency and cool
operating temperatures of this type of lighting
make them ideal choices for lighting actors up
close when other light sources may cause
perspiration or discomfort.