Leprecon LP-X24 Manual v3.2 - Manual (Page 87)

LP-X24 and LP-X48 Users Manual
Chapter Four:
Moving Light Programming
In this chapter we introduce the subject of moving light programming and provide the key
information you will need to use the LP-X as a moving light programmer.
You will find additional information on advanced or specialized moving light
programming techniques in subsequent chapters.
Moving Light Definitions
The basic premise has been accepted that only four properties of a beam of light can be
changed. These properties are called:
• Color—The color of the light, whether controlled by a single color wheel or a group of
color mixing wheels.
• Beam—The shape of the beam as modified by passing it through a variety of
modifiers (shutter, iris, gobo).
• Intensity—The brightness of the beam, usually controlled by a mechanical dimmer in
a moving light.
• Focus—The position of the beam and sharpness or definition of the beam edge.
All effects produced by moving lights are based on these four properties. The following
list details the elements that are present in most moving lights. It also describes some
terminology that is unique to the LP-X.
Color (Color Property)
Color effects in a moving light are generally produced by placing a color media in the
path of the beam. Dichroic filters are the media of choice. Usually a disc with several
filters is placed so that rotating the disc will move one of the filters into position. Some
fixtures have the ability to spin the color wheel continuously for an entertaining effect.
Color Mixing (Color Property)
Some advanced instruments use the combination of three-color media to produce a wide
range of colors. Usually referred to as CYM or color mixing, three channels are used to
set the relative saturation of the component colors. This also allows fading from one
color to another without the abrupt change that is characteristic of a rotating color wheel.
Gobo (Beam Property)
A gobo is a cut out pattern that is inserted into the beam so as to project a pattern on the
stage. Scholars have traced the term “gobo” to the Italian term for an idiot, translated as
“dim bulb”. We are unsure of the significance of this fact. Suffice to say that the gobo
has been around about as long as instruments with lenses.