AQA GCSE Drama - Lighting Design
Intensity
The strength or amount of sound or light. E.g. Bright or dim.
Lantern
General term for unit of lighting equipment including spotlight and flood light.
Profile
A type of spotlight (qv), with an optical system rather like a projector which produces a
narrow, hard-edged beam of light.
Fresnel
A type of lantern which produces an even, soft-edged beam of light.
Flood
A lantern without a lens that produces a broad non-variable spread of light.
Strobe
Device giving a fast series of very short intense light flashes which can have the effect of
making action appear intermittent. Because strobe lighting can trigger an epileptic attack
in sufferers, the use of a strobe must be communicated to the audience before the
performance begins.
Gobo
Thin metal place cut out in a pattern and placed in a lantern to project pattern or shape
onto the acting space.
Shadow
Artistic lighting design can (sometimes) be about what isn't lit, just as much as what is
lit. Along with any shadows that are created.
Gel
Film placed in front of a lantern to change the colour of the beam.
Intensity
The strength or amount of sound or light. E.g. Bright or dim.
Lantern
General term for unit of lighting equipment including spotlight and flood light.
Profile
A type of spotlight (qv), with an optical system rather like a projector which produces a
narrow, hard-edged beam of light.
Fresnel
A type of lantern which produces an even, soft-edged beam of light.
Flood
A lantern without a lens that produces a broad non-variable spread of light.
Strobe
Device giving a fast series of very short intense light flashes which can have the effect of
making action appear intermittent. Because strobe lighting can trigger an epileptic attack
in sufferers, the use of a strobe must be communicated to the audience before the
performance begins.
Gobo
Thin metal place cut out in a pattern and placed in a lantern to project pattern or shape
onto the acting space.
Shadow
Artistic lighting design can (sometimes) be about what isn't lit, just as much as what is
lit. Along with any shadows that are created.
Gel
Film placed in front of a lantern to change the colour of the beam.
