Lights.com—Stage Lighting
Stage lighting uses light to create a sense of visibility, naturalism, composition, and mood. You can purchase stage lighting products, such as colored lights and spotlights from most lighting companies. Stage lighting designers should take into consideration the intensity of light, contrast, size, color and movement when purchasing lighting fixtures.
Direction of Stage Lighting
The direction of light is one of the most important attributes in stage lighting design. All light has direction. A spotlight, for example, radiates light in a very specific direction. In nature most light comes from the sky above and in theater lighting this is also generally true as most lighting positions are above the stage or audience.
The lighting designer must chose the direction of light very carefully. Low front lighting is often considered to be flat while very high lighting angles may cause shadows on the actor's faces. Lighting from more than one direction is ideal because it can add dimension to an actor.
The color and reflective qualities of a stage floor are also very important in stage lighting. In theater, the floor reflects some light from below, usually filling in shadows. With so many factors to consider, stage lighting should always be selected with assistance from a lighting designer.
