Designing and planning stage lighting is an essential element of any production. To effectively communicate the desired atmosphere and mood, lighting designers rely on a lighting plan. In the world of modern technology, various lighting design software solutions are available. However, it is important to understand the basics of creating a lighting plan and the purpose it serves.

What is a Lighting Plan?

A lighting plan is a crucial tool for lighting designers. It serves as a blueprint for positioning lighting equipment and communicates vital information to the entire production team. Traditionally drawn on paper, lighting plans have now transitioned to CAD software. But let's put aside the technicalities for now and focus on the core purpose of a lighting plan.

The plan provides a bird's eye view of the venue, showcasing the location of lighting positions and fixtures. During the design stage, the lighting designer uses the plan to experiment with angles and placements. Once the design is finalized, the lighting crew refers to the plan to rig, plug up, and focus the fixtures. The lighting plan becomes a reference point for the lighting designer to find dimmer channels and set the light levels.

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Types of Lighting Plans

Creating a lighting plan doesn't have to be overly complex. Its purpose should always guide its creation. For instance, if the plan's purpose is to guide the local crew on hanging equipment, a simple sketch on a packet of cigarettes will suffice. In the process of learning stage lighting, it's easy to get caught up in using every available tool to create a masterpiece. However, it's crucial to remember that creating a lighting plan is not the same as designing the lighting itself.

A compromise between a rough pencil sketch and a cluttered drawing is a tidy scale drawing of the venue. Incorporating standard lighting symbols and clear text within the drawing creates a functional lighting plan. Scale drawings, even if they are simple line representations of bars and fixtures, are vital. Without accurate representations, the lighting plan becomes ineffective in making design decisions.

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Fixture Symbols and Additional Information

An important aspect of creating a lighting plan is accurately representing lighting fixtures. Before the era of CAD software, lighting designers used plastic stencils to depict fixtures. This approach taught us that overly detailed lantern representations are unnecessary. The symbols should be clear, recognizable, and leave room for vital information such as gel colors.

The scale of the symbols should give an idea of the space a fixture might occupy on the lighting bar. When drawing lantern symbols, it is helpful to point them in the direction of focus rather than having them all face straight ahead. This technique helps identify potential problems with fixtures rigged too closely together.

A well-executed lighting plan should also include detailed information for the electricians and crew. This information might include the gel number, circuit hook up, dimmer channel, DMX address, and job/focus, as well as details of accessories like gobos or irises. It's important to maintain uniformity in the placement and format of this information throughout the plan.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I create a lighting plan using software like Sketchup?
A: Yes, you can create a simple computer drawing using software like Sketchup, or you can opt for the traditional pencil and paper approach.

Q: How should I represent fixture symbols in my lighting plan?
A: Use recognized generic lantern symbols that clearly distinguish between different types of fixtures. It's crucial for the lighting crew to easily differentiate between fixture types.

Q: What other information should I include in my lighting plan?
A: In addition to fixture details, the plan can include information about infrastructure, patch panels, multicore numbers, and power and dimming positions. Laying out technical details will help you and your electrician create an accurate equipment inventory.

Q: Are there any conventions or standards for lighting plan information?
A: The USITT Theatrical Lighting Design guide outlines industry standards and conventions for representing lighting plan information. This resource is worth exploring.

Conclusion

Drawing a lighting plan is a valuable skill for a lighting designer. It serves as a tool to effectively communicate ideas and guide the production team. Regardless of the tools used, understanding scale and technical drawing is essential. So, start by creating a simple scale layout of your venue and utilize symbols to represent your lighting equipment. And who knows? On a rainy day, you might want to explore the world of CAD software. Good luck on your lighting design journey!