The Cyclorama (or Cyc) is the focal point for many theatrical lighting designs. As such, there is a huge variety in lighting fixtures available to provide color for this scenic element. These specially designed wash fixtures are also appropriate to light other types of soft goods, such as scrim, painted drops and translucent drops.
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LED Cyc Lights
Because of the importance of color on a cyc, the shift to LED sources has been an area that has seen massive growth in the number of new fixtures. One important factor when using LEDs for the cyc is how the LED colors are mixed. If an LED array is situated physically close to the cyc, you sometimes have the tendency to see the individual 'rainbow' of colored LEDs. Using fixtures that are specifically designed to color a cyc is beneficial, as the manufacturers have tried to minimize this downside of using LEDs on the cyc. Each manufacturer's fixture is unique, but here are a few examples that are out in the field.
Reflector-Based
These fixtures are very similar to the conventional, lamp-based cyc lights that have been used in theatres for years (and are outlined below). The multi-colored array of LEDs are enhanced by a physical reflector that helps to mix the colored sources more evenly across the backdrop. |
Diffusion-Based
Most LED Wash fixtures blend the individual colored LED sources through the use of a heavy diffuser. This translucent plastic lens scatters the light beams in such a way that by the time it reaches the subject (even if that subject is fairly close to the fixture as a cyc sometimes is) the color is mixed in such a way that the individual LEDs are not apparent. |
Accessory-Based
This is an example of a Cyc accessory that is attached to an existing LED engine. The LED engine is the most expensive part of the system, so manufacturers have created modular components so that your inventory can be deployed differently for each show according to its needs. It's a shame to have 20 cyc lights that stay in the storage closet for half of your season because the set designs don't have a big cyc. With the modular system, you're able to replace the front of those fixtures and use them in a different way if you don't need cyc lights. |
LED Strip Lights
Strip lights are also very common fixtures to use to light a cyc or a drop. These follow the tradition of conventional strip lights to a certain extent (see below for a description of these fixtures), with the advantage of creating millions of colors.
One advantage that many LED strip lights have over traditional strip lights is flexibility of control. Depending on how the designer specifies control, the whole strip light (which might be anywhere from 1' to 6' long) can either be controlled as a whole unit, or as individual cells, and sometimes right down to the individual pixel!
One advantage that many LED strip lights have over traditional strip lights is flexibility of control. Depending on how the designer specifies control, the whole strip light (which might be anywhere from 1' to 6' long) can either be controlled as a whole unit, or as individual cells, and sometimes right down to the individual pixel!
Conventional Cyc Lights
We will certainly continue to see conventional lamp-based cyc lights in the market for some time. Here are a few types that you'll likely come across:
Conventional Cyc Cells act more like individual instruments than do strip lights. Each is individually colored and controlled. Because the purpose is the same, (giving an even color wash across the cyc), they are usually set in arrays of two, three or four colors.
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Cyc cells also commonly come in pre-arranged groupings such as this 4-cell unit. Each light is individually controlled, but they hang on a specialized yoke that allows the electricians to hang four lights at once.
One of the disadvantages of using conventional cyc cells is the expense of color media. Depending on the fixture, you might only get 2 or 3 cuts out of a sheet of gel. |
There are still lots of conventional strip lights in the field as well. Also sometimes called 'border lights' (based on their history of hanging in between the borders above the stage), these fixtures are usually wired in groups: For example, a 4 x 4 cell strip light would have 16 total cells, but only 4 circuits. The designer might color the "A" Chanel red, the "B" Channel Green, the "C" Channel Blue, and leave the "D" Channel with no color, providing the ability to mix almost any color on a cyc through the use of these primary colors:
A-B-C-D-A-B-C-D-A-B-C-D-A-B-C-D R-G-B-N-R-G-B-N-R-G-B-N-R-G-B-N This fixture uses 4 dimmers, and all the reds come up together, all the greens, etc. |
Also not to be ignored is the fact that other wash lights can be used to light cycs. Scoops actually work great to light a painted drop, especially if the design does not require a large number of different colors. Wash fixtures do not control the spill of the light very well (or at all, depending on the fixture), but in many cases you can use barn doors or blackwrap to help to contain the spill.