WJEC/Eduqas GCSE Drama: Designing Drama

Front-lit, from straight ahead. Back-lit. Lit by one light from the front at one side. All three lights used equally. Three-point lighting Three-point lighting is widely accepted as an ideal starting point for naturalistic lighting. Light coming form only one angle would produce unwanted shadows. So, a second lantern is placed at a 45-degree angle to balance this. In addition, if you only light from the front, the effect is rather flat. To solve this, back light would give a naturalistic, 3D effect. One of your three lights is the key light. This is likely to be a light that comes from the front, as is the fill light , which reduces shadow. Back light Key light Fill light Stage area Colour Colour is one of the most important keys to adding mood and atmosphere to stage lighting. You can see this above, in the explanation of how different colours are used to imitate sunlight and moonlight. Technical points White light is produced when a lantern does not have a coloured gel (filter) in front of the lens. In LED lights, white light is produced when all four colours are equally balanced. White light is the brightest light. Introducing colour is a crucial part of any lighting design. With LED lanterns, you can programme each lighting cue to a specific colour by altering the balance between primary colours (red, green and blue). This versatility means each lantern can project a different colour for every cue if necessary. Traditional (often older) lanterns use filters or gels to add colour to the beam. Unlike LEDs, each lantern can only be used to project one colour within a single performance. Gels are specially made sheets of thin, transparent, heat-resistant plastic. They are available in a wide range of colours, and can often be bought as a set. Sheets can be cut to fit gel holders that slide into or onto the front of  the lantern. Chapter 1 Practical Guide to Lighting Design 24