Specifications

“Lighting Systems Made Easy” Page 25
FOGGER (a.k.a. HAZER)
A machine used to generate volumes of fog within a given environment. Enhances lighting
effects.
FOG JUICE
Liquid supplied for use with foggers. Often perfumed in many scents.
FOLLOW SPOT
A large and powerful spotlight that has its own operator. The spotlight’s beam follows a person
to keep him/her highlighted.
FOOTLIGHTS
Strips of lights provided at floor level at the front of the stage. Footlights are inclined upward at
an angle to illuminate the performers.
FRESNEL (Pron.: FRA-NEL)
A flat lens that, by a pattern of annular rings, achieves similar properties to that of a plan-
convex lens. Fresnels are normally used to produce softer-edged beams than plano-convex
equipped devices. The term fresnel is also used to refer to lighting instruments that use these
lenses.
GOBO (a.k.a. PATTERN)
A flat piece of patterned material placed in the front of a theatrical lantern/projector. The pat-
tern takes the form of holes punched through the metal, thereby forming a screen or stencil
type effect. The images formed are often very elaborate and are commonly of trees or other
outdoor scenes, as this can be an inexpensive and highly portable way of dealing with scenery.
GEL
A light filter. Gel originally got its name from the theatrical light filters that used to be made
from sheets of colored gelatin. Today’s gel is a very different material and is available in a host
of colors. Gel shade swatches are available via theatrical dealers (they give them away free).
I.C.
An Integrated Circuit or microchip.
INCANDESCENT
Any ordinary filament lamp. If not powered by a transformer (inductive component), it is a
resistive load.
INDUCTIVE LOAD
Contains a winding or coil (e.g. transformer, electric motor, etc.). Dimmer packs have to be
specially designed and manufactured to cope with inductive loads.
IRIS
A mechanical device that adjusts a beam of light to become a larger or smaller circle.