Moving Lights
Perhaps no innovation has affected the lighting industry more in the last thirty years than the advent of the moving light. First invented for rock and roll tours by the company that became Varilite, moving lights can be found in many traditional theatres. These fixtures allow the designer to assign multiple attributes, including direction, color, shape as well as intensity. In addition, the element of movement obviously becomes a much more important one to think about.
The number and variety of different manufacturers, models and types of moving light is staggering. Depending on the production's budget, and the designer's preferences, the moving lights chosen for a production's lighting rig are almost limitless. While the inclusion of moving lights into the design opens up a world of possibilities in the design, it also increases exponentially the complexity of the design, and so the inclusion of moving lights during the design process should be carefully considered with all of the other limitations of time and budget. With great power comes great responsibility... |
Moving HeadThe moving head fixture is the most common moving light available in today's market. These are fully automated fixtures with multiple attributes controllable from the lighting console, including color, shape (edge and gobos), direction, intensity and movement. Movement includes the ability to actually move the beam of light around the stage, as well as to do things like spinning gobos, scrolling color wheels and other effects worthy of a discotheque.
Every moving light has its own special features: some have controllable shutters, others are able to zoom larger and smaller, some have prism effects. Some instruments only have a limited number of colors attached to a fixed color wheel, and others have CMY color mixing through which the designer has almost limitless possibilities in color choice. Some are more appropriate for small venues, and on the other end of the scale, there are outdoor Searchlight fixtures that require FAA approval before using. The number of manufacturers that market moving head fixtures is enormous. Some notables: Varilite (subsidiary of Philips Electronics), High End Systems, Martin, Elation and Chauvet. |
Moving MirrorAnother way of moving light around the stage is by using a moving mirror. In this type of unit, the instrument itself does not move, but a mirror placed in the path of the beam is attached to motors and bends the beam of light to its intended target. You've perhaps used your iPhone screen as a reflector to shine sunlight into the eyes of another person (if you're a jerk). The moving mirror units work in the same way.
These fixtures have a couple notable advantages over moving head fixtures. Because the fixture itself does not move, it is easier to pack fixtures closer together on a hanging position or truss. Additionally, because the mirror is so much physically smaller than the head of a moving head fixture, it can often move much more quickly, allowing designers to 'snap' the position in a way that is not physically possible with most moving heads. Inside the body of the fixture are effects wheels with gobos, colors, frost, etc. The designer can manipulate each of these elements in each cue. Moving Mirror fixtures had been quite popular during the advent of the popularity of moving lights. However, moving head fixtures proved to be more popular, and moving mirrors went through a period in which they were fairly uncommon. A few manufacturers have designed new LED-based Moving Mirror fixtures, and the form is starting to re-enter the marketplace. |
Types of Moving Lights
Moving lights are generally categorized into one of three general categories, and you'll see these terms used across manufacturers. I will outline the basic differences here, but be sure to look at Designing with Moving Lights for a more detailed description of the different parameters.
ProfileProfile automated fixtures, like their fixed-focus counterparts, usually have Shutters, Gobos, Zoom and the ability to sharpen or soften the Edge of the beam. These are typically the most flexible fixtures in the moving light rig.
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Spot/HybridThese fixtures are closely related to the Profile fixtures, but usually the space in the fixture that would otherwise be taken up by shutters and an iris, often goes to additional gobo wheels.
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These two fixtures are from the same family (both are Vari-Lite 2600), but one is outfitted as a Profile fixture (A) and the other as a Spot fixture (B). The Spot fixture offers three gobo wheels, while the Profile only has 2. On the other hand, the Profile fixture has shutters, but the Spot does not. Each fixture is useful in different ways. When you choose fixtures for your show, or for your inventory, it is important to pay attention to how they will be used, so that you can choose the most appropriate fixture.
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Wash
Wash fixtures are designed to efficiently throw large, bright fields of light or color. They usually have a wider field angle than do Profile or Spot fixtures, but do not have quite as many options for Shape elements. A few have shutters, but almost no wash fixtures have gobos.
Wash fixtures come in a couple different formats, with examples displayed to the right. The top fixture (A) comes in a body much like Profile and Spot fixtures, and is more likely to have a few extra bells and whistles: some have shutters, color wheels, etc.
The second fixture (B) is 'open-faced', and is also very common. These are wash fixtures that will usually be able to adjust from narrow to wide beams, but because the face of the fixture is exposed, they will sometimes lend better to 'eye-candy' scenic lights.
As a point of comparison to Profile and Spot fixtures, neither of these lights has gobos. The (A) fixture does have 4 shutters, but they are not quite as maneuverable as the shutters on the Profile fixture. Most wash fixtures do have a Zoom function.
Wash fixtures come in a couple different formats, with examples displayed to the right. The top fixture (A) comes in a body much like Profile and Spot fixtures, and is more likely to have a few extra bells and whistles: some have shutters, color wheels, etc.
The second fixture (B) is 'open-faced', and is also very common. These are wash fixtures that will usually be able to adjust from narrow to wide beams, but because the face of the fixture is exposed, they will sometimes lend better to 'eye-candy' scenic lights.
As a point of comparison to Profile and Spot fixtures, neither of these lights has gobos. The (A) fixture does have 4 shutters, but they are not quite as maneuverable as the shutters on the Profile fixture. Most wash fixtures do have a Zoom function.
These are all fun toys to explore, but when designing a show, they are just tools to help you accomplish your design idea. For some tips on how the process of designing with moving lights is different than with fixed-focus or conventional fixtures, see THIS PAGE.
Specialty fixtures
Moving lights are often as much a scenic element as they are a lighting fixture, especially in television, rock and roll concerts, and other examples of live entertainment. As such, there are lots of fixtures out there that become what I like to call 'eye-candy' fixtures. From lights that emit narrow pencil-like beams of light to cut through the haze-filled atmosphere, to fixtures that can pixel-map images on the faces of the instruments, the options are as wide as your imagination and your budget!
These fixtures are usually not the type of thing that a theatre has in its permanent inventory, because they are not nearly as flexible as the Profile, Wash, and Spot fixtures, but depending on your application, you might add them into a rental package for a design. Below, see a couple of promotional videos for some of these specialty fixtures. While these are sometimes called 'DJ lights' (and some manufacturers do specialize in equipment that is more appropriate for a club or wedding DJ setup), lights like these are used for everything from your cousin's Bar Mitzvah to the Super Bowl Halftime show.
These fixtures are usually not the type of thing that a theatre has in its permanent inventory, because they are not nearly as flexible as the Profile, Wash, and Spot fixtures, but depending on your application, you might add them into a rental package for a design. Below, see a couple of promotional videos for some of these specialty fixtures. While these are sometimes called 'DJ lights' (and some manufacturers do specialize in equipment that is more appropriate for a club or wedding DJ setup), lights like these are used for everything from your cousin's Bar Mitzvah to the Super Bowl Halftime show.
Ayrton Magic Panel
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ADJ Focus Flex L7
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Blizzard Loop
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