LIGHTING

ACCT-BVP1-8. Students will identify lighting instruments and design a light plot for studio or field production following all safety procedures while utilizing proper television terminology. Career investigations will be included as part of instruction.

a. Describe types of lighting instruments and lamps. b. Identify parts of lighting instruments. c. Describe functions and operate a dimmer board. d. Analyze lighting needs for production. e. Create a lighting plot to scale for a production using proper terminology and

symbols. f. Demonstrate ability to perform basic geometrical calculations in the

positioning of lighting instruments. g. Set up appropriate lighting for a production. h. Perform special effects lighting. i. Demonstrate proper safety procedures in all lighting assignments.

LIGHTING TERMINOLOGYCommon Lighting Terminology• Ambient Light - The light already present in a scene, before any

additional lighting is added.• Incident Light - Light seen directly from a light source (lamp, sun, etc).• Reflected Light - Light seen after having bounced off a surface.• Color Temperature - A standard of measuring the characteristics of

light, measured in kelvins.

• Contrast Ratio - The difference in brightness between the brightest white and the darkest black within an image.

• Key Light - The main light on the subject, providing most of the illumination and contrast.

• Fill Light - A light placed to the side of the subject to fill out shadows and balance the key light.

• Back Light - A light placed at the rear of a subject to light from behind.

• Background Light – A lighting instrument that is pointed at the background of a set.

LIGHTING TERMINOLOGY• Hard Light - Light directly from a source such as the sun, traveling

undisturbed onto the subject being lit.

• Soft Light - Light which appears to "wrap around" the subject to some degree. Produces less shadows or softer shadows.

• Spot - A controlled, narrowly-focused beam of light.

• Flood - A broad beam of light, less directional and intense than a spot.

• Tungsten - Light from an ordinary light bulb containing a thin coiled tungsten wire that becomes incandescent (emits light) when an electric current is passed along it. Tungsten color temperature is around 2800K to 3400K. Also known as incandescent light.

• Halogen - Type of lamp in which a tungsten filament is sealed in a clear capsule filled with a halogen gas.

• Fresnel - A light which has a lens with raised circular ridges on its outer surface. The fresnel lens is used to focus the light beam.

• Incandescent - Incandescent lamps produce heat by heating a wire filament until it glows. The glow is caused by the filament's resistance to the current and is called incandescence.

LIGHTING TERMINOLOGY• Barndoors – Fully moveable black metal flaps attached to the front of a

lighting instrument used to block or reshape the light.• Bounce Lighting – A lighting technique where a lighting instrument is not

pointed directly at the subject of the shot, but the light is bounced off another object, such as a ceiling, wall or the ground.

• Cross-Key Lighting – A lighting technique the at combines aspects of both three-point and four-point lighting, with the added ability to cover more than one person or object in the lighting spread.

• Diffusion Device – A device that is placed in front of a lighting instrument to reduce and soften the intensity of light without altering the color temperature.

• Dimmer - A device attached to the power control of a lighting instrument that can reduce or increase the amount of electricity that flows to increase the amount of electricity that flows to the lamp.

• Flag – A flexible metal rod with a clip and a flat piece of metal attached to the end. A flag is positioned between a light source and a reflective surface on the set to eliminate light hits.

• Flood Light – A soft light instrument that provides general lighting in a large area.

• Floor Stand – A tripod or quadripod (4 legs) with a long vertical pole to which a lighting instrument is clamped.

LIGHTING TERMINOLOGY• Four Point Lighting – A lighting technique that uses four lighting instrument

for each person or object photographed: two key lights and tow fill lights. The two key lights are positioned diagonally opposite each other, and the tow fill lights are place in the remaining two corners.

• Lamp – The part of a lighting instrument that glows when electricity is applied.• Light Hit – A white spot or star shaped reflection of a lighting instrument or

sunlight off a highly reflective surface on the set.• Lighting Instrument – The device into which a lamp is installed to provide

illumination on the set.• Limbo Lighting – A lighting technique in which the background of the set is lit

to create the illusion of a solid-colored, indistinct background.• Raceway – The electrical cables and outlets that hang beside the grid pipes

or mounted to the ceiling above the grid to power lighting instruments on the grid.

• Scrim – A type of diffusion device that appears transparent or translucent when placed in front of a lighting instrument.

• White Balance – A function on cameras that forces the camera to see an object as white, without regard to the type of light hitting it or the actual color of the object.

TYPES OF LIGHTSThese are some common types of light you'll often hear about in film, video and

photography. Note that these definitions are not always rigid and some people may interpret them a little differently.

• Blonde - 1000-2000w, used as a key flood light for large areas.

• Redhead - 650-1000w, used as a key flood light for large areas.

• Pepper Light - 100-1000w, small light used as a more focused key or fill light.

• HMI - A high-quality type of light which uses an arc lamp instead of filamentbulb.

• Halogen Work Lamp - 150-500w, used as a key flood light for lighting large areas. This is a low-budget lighting solution.

• Other Lights - Domestic light bulbs can be used at a pinch, ideally as a secondary light such as fill or backlight.Many video cameras have built-in lights or the ability to mount a light — these are useful in emergencies but provide poor quality lighting.

• Chinese Lanterns - A low-cost light, useful in some situations.

Instruments / Housing

Fresnel - A light which has a lens with raised circular ridges on its outer surface which are used to focus the light beam.

LIGHTING EQUIPMENTSome common types of equipment used in video and photography lighting.

• 18% Gray Card - A gray-colored card which reflects 18% of the light which falls upon it. Used as a reference to calibrate light meters and set exposure.

• Ballast - A device used to control the electrical current in a light.

• Consoles - Hardware and software systems which control lighting. Operated by the lighting technician, consoles coordinate lighting displays on stages, studios, etc.

• Light Meter - A tool used to measure light and indicate the ideal exposure setting. Also known as an exposure meter.

• Reflector Board - A specially-designed reflective surface used to act as a secondary light source. The board is lightweight and flexible, and is normally folded up for transport in a small carry-case.

• Gels - Materials which are placed in front of a light source to alter it's characteristics, e.g. color temperature or dispersion (see diffusion gels).

• Spectrometer - A professional-level instrument which measures the spectrum of light. Technically speaking, a spectrometer analyses the electromagnetic spectrum and measures the intensity of radiation as a function of wavelength.

• Stands & Clamps - Systems used to support lights and hold them in the correct position.

COLOR TEMPERATUREKelvin Color Temperature Scale

• Kelvin Color Temperature Scale is a standard method of describing colors for use in a range of situations and with different equipment. Color temperatures are normally expressed in units called kelvins (K). Note that the term degrees kelvinis often used but is not technically correct (see below).

COLOR TEMPERATURETechnically speaking...

• Color temperature means the temperature of an ideal black body radiator at which the color of the light source and the black body are identical. (A black body is a theoretical radiator and absorber of energy at all electromagnetic wavelengths.)

Color Temperature in Video

• For video operations the relevant temperatures range from around 2,000K to 8,000K — these are common lighting conditions. In practical terms this usually means selecting lights, gels and filters which are most appropriate to the prevailing light or to create a particular color effect. For example, a camera operator will select a "5600K filter" to use outside in the middle of a sunny day.

COLOR TEMPERATURETerminology

• When referring to the unit kelvin, it is not capitalized unless it is the first word of a sentence. The plural is kelvins (e.g. "The light source is approximately 3200 kelvins").

• The symbol is a capital K (e.g. "The light source is approximately 3200K").

• When referring to the Kelvin scale, it is capitalized (e.g. "The Kelvin scale is named after William Thomson (1824 – 1907), also known as Lord Kelvin".

Degrees kelvin

• According to The International System of Units (SI) , color temperatures are stated in kelvins, not in degrees Kelvin. The "degrees" part of the name was made obsolete in 1967. However, the "degrees" referencehas remained in common use in media industries.

• 3200° Kelvin (32000° K) is the temperature of white light in degrees Kelvin. Also noted as 32000° K or “32K” when spoken.

LIGHTINGContrast Ratio

• Contrast Ratio is a measurement of the difference in brightness between the whitest white and the darkest black within an image. A ratio of 300:1 means the brightest point in the image is 300 times as bright as the darkest point. A higher contrast ratio therefore means a larger difference in brightness.

• Contrast ratio is of interest in two situations:

1. Cameras: When recording an image (video, film, photography)

2. TVs, Monitors, etc. When choosing or setting up a playback device (TV, computer monitor, etc)

LIGHTINGThe Standard 3-Point Lighting Technique

The Three Point Lighting Technique is a standard method used in visual media such as video, film, still photography and computer-generated imagery. It is a simple but versatile system which forms the basis of most lighting. Once you understand three point lighting you are well on the way to understanding all lighting.

The technique uses three lights called the key light, fill light and back light. Naturally you will need three lights to utilize the technique fully, but the principles are still important even if you only use one or two lights. As a rule:

– If you only have one light, it becomes the key.

– If you have 2 lights, one is the key and the other is either the fill or the backlight. A backlight is the lighting instrument placed above and behind, at the twelve o’clock position, the talent or object in a shot to separate the talent or object from the background.

LIGHTINGKey Light

• This is the main light. It is usually the strongest and has the most influence on the look of the scene. It is placed to one side of the camera/subject so that this side is well lit and the other side has some shadow.

Fill Light

• This is the secondary light and is placed on the opposite side of the key light. It is used to fill the shadows created by the key. The fill will usually be softer and less bright than the key. To achieve this, you could move the light further away or use some spun. You might also want to set the fill light to more of a flood than the key.

LIGHTINGBack Light

• The back light is placed behind the subject and lights it from the rear. Rather than providing direct lighting (like the key and fill), its purpose is to provide definition and subtle highlights around the subject's outlines. This helps separate the subject from the background and provide a three-dimensional look.

• If you have a fourth light, you could use it to light the background of the entire scene.

The Lighting Director

• Responsible for arranging and adjusting the lights.

• Supervises the lighting crew which hangs and adjusts the various lighting instruments.

• Designs the lighting• Sets up the lights• Operates lighting board

TV Lighting -Equipment

Spotlights

• Spotlight - A hard light instrument.• Directional light• Lens• Focusable beam of light

Spotlights

Fresnel • Most common

spotlight in TV studios

• Named after the inventor of its lens

• Easily identified by the series of rings

Spotlights

Fresnel

• Versatile• Focusing device for

flood to spot • Several sizes and

wattages

Spotlights

Ellipsoidal

• Produces a sharp, defined beam of light

• Can shape light beam with shutters

• Cookie

Floodlights

• Diffused light

Floodlights

Scoop

• A common type of flood light with a half spheroid shape that produces a great deal of light.

• Named for its round shape

• Fixed or adjustable focus• No lens

Floodlights

Broad light

• Minimal beam control

• Diffused light, soft shadows

FloodlightsSoft light

• Soft light is a type of illumination used in a studio that creates indistinct shadows.

• Extremely diffused light • Diffusing material over

the front opening• Very few, soft shadows• Various sizes

Floodlights

Strip lights

• Even illumination• For cycloramas

and set areas

TV Studio Lighting Techniques

TV Studio Lighting

• Can completely control lighting• Need to light the talent and the

surrounding • Lighting instruments have additional

names in lighting set up • Indicates the instrument’s function &

placement in the lighting setup

Key light• Spotlight• Usually a Fresnel spotlight • Main light falling on subject or area• Purpose

– reveal the basic shape of the subject– meet minimum base light requirements

• Should cause the sparkle in the eyes

Fill light

• Floodlight or spotlight set to flood position• Light opposite the key • Illuminates the subject and softens

shadows

Back light

• Also called rim light • Spotlight, usually with barn doors • Separates the subject from the

background• Illuminates hair and shoulders

Background light

• Also called set light • Used to illuminate the background & set

Lighting placement

• Basic lighting setup• 3 point lighting • Also called formula lighting• Also called triangle lighting • Used in most studio situations

Lighting angle

• Most light strikes subjects from above• Mimics the natural world

Key light

• Placed at 45o angle to left or right of subject

• Placed on the talent’s “best” side • Lights ¾ of the face • Higher than the subject • Strikes subject from above at 45o angle

Fill light

• Placed on opposite side of the subject from the key

• Lower than the key

Back light

• Behind the subject• Opposite the camera

Background light

• Placed on same side as key light • Same angle as key light• Placed on same plane as the subject• Aimed at background and scenery• Not aimed at subject

Light plot

• A diagram developed by the lighting designer that indicates the placement of lighting instruments on the set of a program.

• Similar to a floor plan• Shows placement of all lighting instruments• Includes type & size (wattage) of each

instrument • Indicates the direction of the light beam

Planning the Set LightingBefore the set is built, the lighting designer meets with the program director. In this meeting, the director describes what the set looks like, provides a set diagram, and explains the movement of the talent. The director may also express his particular lighting preferences.

During set construction, the lighting designer (LD) studies the set diagram and determines the placement of lighting instruments, where they will be aimed, and their intensity levels. When the lighting decisions are final, the LD develops the light plot, or diagram for instrument placement.

Planning the Set LightingAfter the set is built and dressed, the LD begins to light the set. The instruments

are hung over the set and plugged into the raceway. The following is a general procedure used in lighting a set:

1. The LD turns out all the lights in the studio after giving the crew sufficient warning. The set must be completely dark so the LD can see the effect of the movement and placement of each instrument.

2. The LD turns on one of the instruments. Either the LD or a gaffer climbs a ladder, puts on heavy work gloves, and manually aims and focuses the instrument on a specific area of the set. Anyone adjusting a lighting instrument while it is turned on should always wear heavy gloves to prevent fingers from being burned. The instruments are moved very gently when hot. If jarred sharply, the lamp may burn out.

3. Once aimed, the instrument is turned off and the next one is turned on.4. Repeat this process as many times as necessary with each instrument.5. When the entire light plot has been aimed and is precisely focused, all of the

instruments are turned on at once. There will always be a few final adjustments before the job is complete.

Lighting Safety

TV LIGHTING SAFETY

1. Wear protective gloves when handling lights and accessories

TV LIGHTING SAFETY

2. Have another student hold the ladder while you are hanging, adjusting, or taking down a light

3. Never attempt to move the ladder while someone is on the ladder

TV LIGHTING SAFETY4. Be certain the light is secured to

the grid by a firmly tightened c-clamp and safety chain. A C-clamp is a clamp in t he shape of a C, used to attach lighting instruments to the grid. A grid is a pipe system that hangs from the studio ceiling and supports the lighting instruments.

5. When hanging or adjusting a light, stand behind the light, not in front of or next to the light

TV LIGHTING SAFETY6. When connecting a light to electrical

power:– stand behind the light– keep the barn doors closed until the light

is secured to the grid, or attached to a stand

– make sure the power to the outlet is OFF before you plug in the light

– open the barn doors before turning on the light

– do not look into the light when illuminated

TV LIGHTING SAFETY

7. Always take your time– Sudden jolts can cause

the lamp to malfunction8. Do not rush when

working with lights and lamps

– Rushing may cause you to slip or fall off the ladder

TV LIGHTING SAFETY

9. Avoid using Extension cords

– If necessary, use heavy gauge extension cords

– Keep extension cords out of traffic areas

TV LIGHTING SAFETY

10.Never look directly into a light as it is illuminated

11.Never handle any lamps with your bare hands

– The oil from your hands can cause the lamp to malfunction

12.Always report burned out lamps, so a new lamp can be installed

TV LIGHTING SAFETY

13.In case of malfunction, remove the light from the studio or case, and place the light in the office

– Be sure to label the light as malfunctioning

14.If an accident occurs, report the accident immediately

Preserving the life of Incandescent Lamps.

Exercise extreme care to ensure that lamps last as long as possible, avoiding costly replacement. Some precautions to take with incandescent lamps include:

•Never turn them on and off in rapid succession. To get a strobe light effect, buy a strobe light. Regular studio lamps burn out in a very short time if they are flashed on and off.•Never move incandescent instruments while the lamp is hot, whether they are on or have been recently turned off.•Never completely close the barndoors and then turn on the lamp. The lack of ventilation can cause the lamp to burn out prematurely.•Never touch an incandescent lamp with your fingers. Handle it by the foam it is packed in, an paper towel, or a tissue paper, but never handle it with your hands.

STUDY QUESTIONSDirections: On your own paper WRITE the following questions and their answers.1. Name the lighting instruments commonly used on a production studio set.2. What items can be used to redirect or change the shape of light?3. How is power supplied to the lighting instruments that hang from the studio

ceiling?4. How do different frequencies (colors) of light affect a recorded video image?5. Explain three methods to reduce the intensity of production lighting.6. What precautions can be taken to preserve the life of incandescent lamps?7. List each of the instruments used in three-point lighting and explain the function of

each.8. What is limbo lighting?9. Look around your home and identify the light created by the following instruments

as either hard light or soft light:1. The tabletop lighting instruments (lamps) in your living room.2. The instrument that illuminates your desk.3. The lighting fixture in your bathroom.4. The lighting instrument over your kitchen table.5. The lighting instrument over the stove in your kitchen6. The instrument that generally lights your bedroom.

10. Research the experiments and discoveries of Lord Kelvin. Choose one of his accomplishments (other than the Kelvin Color Temperature Scale) and write a brief paragraph on it.

VOCABULARY/TERMINOLOGY

1. 3200° Kelvin (32000° K)2. Back Light3. Background Light4. Barndoors5. Bounce Lighting6. C-clamp7. Cross-Key Lighting8. Diffusion Device9. Dimmer10. Fill Light11. Flag12. Flood Light13. Floor Stand14. Four Point Lighting15. Fresnel16. Gel17. Grid

11. Hard Light12. Kelvin Color (Temperature Scale)13. Key Light14. Lamp15. Light Hit16. Light Plot17. Lighting Instrument18. Limbo Lighting19. Raceway20. Scoop21. Scrim22. Soft Light23. Spotlight24. Three Point Lighting25. White Balance

Directions: On your own paper WRITE the Terms and their definitions.

PROJECTSLighting

1) Experiment with the Virtual Light lab software on the computers. 241034022) Define each of the lighting techniques listed. Draw and label the lighting

instruments in the appropriate places for the corresponding layouts below.1) Three-Point Lighting ________________________________________

2) Cross Key Lighting: ________________________________________

PROJECTSLighting

3) Four-Point Lighting ________________________________________

3) Complete a Lighting Plot based on the set design for the living room you designed in the last section we covered discussing set design.