Light plot
Encyclopedia
A light plot, lighting plot or just plot is a document similar to an architectural blueprint
used specifically by theatrical lighting designers to illustrate and communicate the lighting design to the director, other designers and finally the Master Electrician
and electrics crew. The light plot specifies how each lighting instrument
should be hung, focused, colored, and connected. Typically the light plot is supplemented by other paperwork such as the channel hookup or instrument schedule.
Up until the development of Computer Aided Drafting (CAD) programs, light plots were hand drawn or drafted
on special drafting paper. Though CAD programs and hand drafting require different techniques and methods, the information is presented and used in the same way. In order to be effective a light plot must:
boxes. The plan must also include information on the electrical systems of the theater--the location of outlets connected to the theater's dimmers and the available lighting positions--rails, booms, side arms, and catwalks
. The plan view may also contain scenic information, such as a drawing of the set
.
In the past when plots were completely hand drafted, a lighting designer would sometimes plot the lighting instruments on a transparent overlay which could be placed over the plan, section and/or elevation views, therefore allowing the "blank" views (containing only architectural information) to be re-used for other lighting configurations. The advent of CAD-based lighting design has made this practice obsolete, though occasionally useful.
The information contained in the lighting instruments section should follow consistent, easy to understand rules which are explained in the key, expediting the electric crew's job of hanging and focusing the fixtures.
, and Magic Sheet) in a complete lighting design. As each part of the lighting design is relevant only to a specific group of technicians, the entire design is generally provided only to the director and master electrician.
Blueprint
A blueprint is a type of paper-based reproduction usually of a technical drawing, documenting an architecture or an engineering design. More generally, the term "blueprint" has come to be used to refer to any detailed plan....
used specifically by theatrical lighting designers to illustrate and communicate the lighting design to the director, other designers and finally the Master Electrician
Electrician (theater)
In theatre, the term Electrician is generally applied to those that work with the various aspects of lighting. Some of the positions among Electricians include the Lighting Supervisor, Master Electrician, Deck Electrician, Light Board Operator, Moving Light Programmer, Followspot Operator, as well...
and electrics crew. The light plot specifies how each lighting instrument
Stage lighting instrument
Stage lighting instruments are used in stage lighting to illuminate theatrical productions, concerts, and other performances taking place in live performance venues. They are also used to light television studios and sound stages.Many stagecraft terms vary between the United States and the United...
should be hung, focused, colored, and connected. Typically the light plot is supplemented by other paperwork such as the channel hookup or instrument schedule.
Up until the development of Computer Aided Drafting (CAD) programs, light plots were hand drawn or drafted
Technical drawing
Technical drawing, also known as drafting or draughting, is the act and discipline of composing plans that visually communicate how something functions or has to be constructed.Drafting is the language of industry....
on special drafting paper. Though CAD programs and hand drafting require different techniques and methods, the information is presented and used in the same way. In order to be effective a light plot must:
- Have some uniform scaleArchitect's scaleAn architect's scale is a specialized ruler designed to facilitate the drafting and measuring of architectural drawings, such as floor plans and orthographic projections...
(typically 1/4"=1'-0" or 1/2"=1'-0"). - Define lighting instrument information such as focus, position, color and circuiting.
- Have a title block and legend containing show information and information on how to identify the symbols on the plot.
- Show the relationship of the lighting instruments to the architecture of the space, scenic elements, and the lighting positions.
Plan View
The plan view is the primary view of the light plot and contains the most information on the lighting instruments and their locations. As per the design definition, the plan view illustrates how the venue space would appear to someone above it. It contains the relevant architectural information of the venue space including locations of walls, the floor level, the location of seats and balconies, and occasionally sight lines, as well as the location of each lighting instrument and other relevant hardware, like modular dimmerDimmer
Dimmers are devices used to vary the brightness of a light. By decreasing or increasing the RMS voltage and, hence, the mean power to the lamp, it is possible to vary the intensity of the light output...
boxes. The plan must also include information on the electrical systems of the theater--the location of outlets connected to the theater's dimmers and the available lighting positions--rails, booms, side arms, and catwalks
Catwalk (theater)
A catwalk is an elevated service platform from which many of the technical functions of a theater, such as lighting and sound, may be manipulated.- Function :...
. The plan view may also contain scenic information, such as a drawing of the set
Set construction
Set construction is the process by which a set designer works in collaboration with the director of a production to create the set for a theatrical, film or television production...
.
Section and Elevation View
The supplementary (and generally optional) section (side) and elevation (front) views contain much of the same information as the plan view. The section is a cutaway view of the house and stage from either the left or the right. The section line is typically the venue's center line. The elevation is a plot oriented as if viewing the stage from the audience. These supplementary views serve primarily to further illustrate relevant architectural and scenic features, including sight lines. Most commonly the section and elevation plots feature limited electrical information and are used mainly as a reference for the lighting designer or electrician to identify the purpose of each lighting fixture, especially as to how it interacts with any relevant scenic elements. The elevation and section views might also be provided to the electrics crew as a secondary reference for the positions of lighting instruments.Lighting Instruments
The instrument layer contains all the information relating to the lighting instruments. This includes:- The specific location of each lighting instrument represented by a unique symbol.
- Information on each instrument including dimmer/channel number, lens size, color gelColor gelA color gel or color filter , also known as lighting gel or simply gel, is a transparent colored material that is used in theatre, event production, photography, videography and cinematography to color light and for color correction...
, and any special augmentations (including color wheels and gobosGobo (lighting)A gobo derived from "Go Between" or Goes Before Optics -originally used on film sets, is a physical template slotted inside, or placed in front of, a lighting source, used to control the shape of emitted light....
). - Special notes for the electrics crew, including specific information on how instruments are hung and fastened.
- Auxiliary Lighting units such as followspotFollowspotA followspot, sometimes known as a spot light, is a powerful stage lighting instrument which projects a bright beam of light onto a performance space. Followspots are controlled by a spotlight operator who follows actors around the stage...
s or a "practicals" (lights which are part of the set, like house lamps, which are used visibly in the performance).
In the past when plots were completely hand drafted, a lighting designer would sometimes plot the lighting instruments on a transparent overlay which could be placed over the plan, section and/or elevation views, therefore allowing the "blank" views (containing only architectural information) to be re-used for other lighting configurations. The advent of CAD-based lighting design has made this practice obsolete, though occasionally useful.
The information contained in the lighting instruments section should follow consistent, easy to understand rules which are explained in the key, expediting the electric crew's job of hanging and focusing the fixtures.
Title Block
The title block contains several pieces of key information on the production including the show title, date, and venue name, as well as the names of the performance's lighting designer and director. The title block also contains the legend, which identifies all of the drafting symbols used in the plot, as well as any special notes required by the production's electric crew.Other important lighting paperwork
In addition to the light plot there are a number of other important pieces of paperwork (i.e. Dimmer hookup, Instrument ScheduleInstrument Schedule
In theatrical productions, an instrument schedule is a listing of all the lighting instruments and information about them used in a show. The instruments are organized by their position on-stage, and is the distinguishing characteristic between an instrument schedule and a channel hookup or...
, and Magic Sheet) in a complete lighting design. As each part of the lighting design is relevant only to a specific group of technicians, the entire design is generally provided only to the director and master electrician.