| LIGHTING |
Software
Claude Heintz Design has developed software tools for lighting design that are very accessible to students and are cross-platform. The free version, LXFree, provides all of the basic tools needed for students to create digital light plots. LXBeams is a more advanced version of the software with additional capabilities built-in for a moderate price. One great feature of the LXBeams version is the ability to import SketchUp files which we use extensively for scenic design. Additionally they have an iPad app called LXBeams2Go which allows viewing and editing of plots on an iPad, which is handy when working out of the office with the rig!
Figure53's show control software QLab is a tool that we hardly do any event without. It is extremely powerful and features many tools for controlling your show, playing back media, and more. We use the show control MSC and MIDI triggering functionalities to trigger lighting cues on our lighting consoles in order to keep everything in sync! The timeline feature of grouped cues is indispensible for dance or musical theatre using backing tracks as lighting cues can easily moved along the audio track in a timeline. Of course the companion iPad app is indispensable for being able to step through the show cues when in the house or onstage with the director!
Virtual Light Labs - from Matt Kizer
The following virtual light lab online applications are excellent resources for experimenting with and learning about lighting color theory, textural lighting, lighting direction, and combining lights from various directions and the effect that they will produce on an object. Without needing to set up physical equipment, these tools help you to visualize, understand and explain the relationship between artistic intention and technical tools. These tools were created by Matt Kizer at Plymouth State University.
Color Lab is an online virtual light lab for experimenting with colored light on a human body standing on a white floor.
Gobo Lab is an online virtual light lab for experimenting with gobos and textures and lighting direction on a human body standing on a white floor.
Light Lab is an online virtual light lab for experimenting with lighting and lighting direction on a digital proscenium stage.