Lighting primer

A lot of the attention given to lighting systems in houses of worship is currently being focused on more sophisticated moving light and LED solutions. While this series will cover these areas in due course, it is best to begin with the basics.

Moving lights and LED lights are undeniably cool technology, offering effects that range from subtle to spectacular – but for many churches these are prohibitively expensive. The good news is that manufacturers are continuing to develop lighting systems that are more cost-effective. While initially more expensive, LED and automated lights are an amazingly flexible solution to some of the lighting challenges found in houses of worship and can prove to be a better investment over a period of time.

Sophisticated systems aside, many churches are simply looking for a basic kind of lighting that allows the congregation to see the pastor and others in the pulpit area. And with IMAG, video venues and streaming the services becoming more commonplace, lighting for video is important as well. Unless there is an experienced lighting person on the technical staff, it’s always prudent to consult with a lighting professional, be it a lighting designer or systems integrator.

A lighting system can be broken into three main components – the lights themselves, dimmers and the control system. We will cover the other parts of the system in later issues, but first let’s take a look at some of the lighting fixtures that are applicable to a contemporary church environment. When I started in the performance technology business, lights were called ‘fixtures’ or ‘instruments’, now they are commonly referred to as ‘luminaires’.

One of the most common fixtures is the PAR (parabolic aluminised reflector). A PAR light is distinguished by the lens and reflector, both being an integral part of the lamp. PARs come in a variety of sizes from a PAR 16 up to a PAR 64 (the number indicates the diameter of the housing in eighths of an inch). Typical applications might use PAR 56s or 64s depending on the size of the area to be lit. PAR lamps come in a wide variety of coverage angles including: very narrow spot, narrow spot, medium flood, wide flood, and very wide flood. Various intensities are available as well.

The lamp produces an oval shaped pool of light that is soft focused at the edges. PAR lights are focused by rotating the lamp within the fixture, changing the orientation of the oval. PARs are good for ‘wash’ lighting, where a general area is covered with light. Gels can be easily be added to change the colour of the light.

Exceptions to the traditional PAR light are the Source Four PAR, which uses a halogen lamp and comes with interchangeable lenses to provide the same lighting effect as a regular PAR. Also LED PARs are becoming popular, due to their ability to provide colour changes without the need for gels, as well as their energy efficiency.

Ellipsoidal reflector spotlight is quite a mouthful to say, so this light is commonly called an ERS, ellipsoidal, ellipse, profile spotlight or leko, and is named after the ellipsoidal reflector that focuses the light through the lens. The term, ‘leko’ comes from a combination of the family names of Joseph Levy and Edward Kook, who developed the light in 1933. And while this is often used as a generic name for ERS lights, the name ‘Leko’ is owned by Strand Lighting and more accurately refers specifically to the company’s ellipsoidal lights.

There are more types and sizes of ERS lights than there are ways to describe them. Ellipsoidals are characterised by their well-defined light and the ability to focus light on a specific area. Other features of this flexible lighting fixture include an adjustable barrel that allows the focus of the light to be changed (the sharpness or softness of the edge of the light) and a slot for inserting a ‘gobo’ (GOes Before Optics), a template that allows the fixture to cast a light in the specific shape of the cut-out in the gobo. Shutters located near the base of the leko allow the beam of light from the fixture to be narrowed or shaped. Initially, ellipsoidals were described by the width of the lens times its focal length – for instance, a 6x9 ellipse. Typically, ellipsoidals are now referred to by the light’s beam spread (5° to 90°).

The Fresnel is so called due to the lens incorporated in the fixture. Augustin-Jean Fresnel (pronounced Fre-nell), a French physicist, developed the lens to be used in lighthouses. Fresnel lights are adjustable from spot to flood, typically about 15° to 70° and produce an area of light with a very soft edge. This makes Fresnels effective for washes for specific areas or scenic elements. Fresnels come in a variety of lens sizes (from 3-inch to 12-inch) and wattages (from 150W up to 5kW). Typical stage applications might see 6-inch 1kW and 8-inch 2kW fixtures used most frequently.

Floodlights are for covering a large area, such as a backdrop with even lighting. Typical floodlights are box floods and scoops – box floods are so named, as they are square or rectangular with an open front, while scoops are round with an open front.

Automated lights – also called moving lights or intelligent lights – have revolutionised the theatrical lighting industry. Introduced in the 1970s, automated lights feature functional characteristics that separate them from conventional fixtures. These include the ability to remotely program and control a light so that it can pan (move from side-to-side); tilt (move up and down); change colour; iris and/or zoom to change the beam spread; have multiple gobos available; change the intensity of the light output; and shutter the light for blackout or strobe effects. Depending on the application, an automated light can replace multiple conventional fixtures, by very quickly changing colour, focus and coverage area.

Operating and programming automated lights requires a controller, or console, designed to function with automated lighting. So if you plan to add automated lights to a conventional lighting system, make sure your lighting console has the ability to control the moving lights.

LED lights have become particularly popular in recent times, with the primary appeal being a relatively high light output combined with low power consumption. Due to their technology, LEDs also have the ability to change colour. Many manufacturers offer LED PARs, where multiple LEDs are used in place of the standard PAR lamp. Some also offer moving heads fitted with LEDs for increased flexibility. LED strip lights can be used to provide a wash on a backdrop or cyclorama. Like automated lights, the cost for entry may seem high, but the value of the system lies in the total cost of ownership as compared to conventional lighting fixtures. LEDs draw less power and do not generate as much heat, and they also have a longer life compared to incandescent bulbs. Depending on application and budget, LED fixtures could provide substantial savings in the long run.

There are other types of luminaries available, this is just an overview of some that are typically used in houses of worship. Armed with good basic information and working with a lighting designer can help you best apply appropriate lighting technologies to support your worship.