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Understanding Conventional Lighting Fixtures

In this article, Duke DeJong shares about the four different types of conventional lighting fixtures and what they’re best used for.

Conventional fixtures, while they might seem boring, are very important. The term “conventional fixture” typically refers to a light fed via dimmable, DMX controllable power from a dimmer of some kind. There are four types of conventional fixtures you should know about: PAR, Ellipsoidal, Border/Strip, and Fresnel. Let’s dive in.

PAR Fixtures

Parabolic aluminized reflector fixtures, or PAR for short, have probably been the most widely used fixture in theatrical and concert lighting over the years. PAR fixtures, often referred to as PAR cans, are essentially metal hoods which hold sealed beam lamps, very much like old school car headlights. They produce circular or ovalular, soft edged pools of light, using various types of lamps that produce the different beam sizes and shapes. Newer, ETC Source 4 PAR fixtures are the exception to this as they have separated the lamp and lens to make your beam shaping interchangeable separate from the lamp.

PAR fixtures are one of the most cost efficient lighting fixtures in terms of functionality, with few features such as focus or shuttering. It is a pretty simple point and shoot fixture, providing a fairly even beam of light with softer edges. In conventional lighting settings, I highly recommend PAR fixtures anywhere a softer white or colored light wash is needed.

Ellipsoidal Fixtures

Ellipsoidal Fixtures are generally fixed beam sized spotlights that produce a round, focusable beam of light. The ellipsoidal shaped reflector establish the various focal lengths, with smaller barrels being used to provide a wider coverage and larger, longer barrels used to provide tighter coverage. In addition to being relatively focusable, this type of fixture incorporates the use of shutters that can shape the beam of light or cut off any overthrow onto unwanted surfaces.

Ellipsoidal fixtures can also be used for pattern or gobo projection. I am a big fan of using primarily ellipsoidal fixtures as front lighting on stages as I can control where I do and don’t want light better than I can with PAR fixtures, allowing me to light people strategically without washing out upstage walls and/or lighted sets.


Border/Strip Lighting Fixtures

Border/Strip lights have two main functions: to light large surfaces evenly and to provide discrete front light from below. A strip light is a multi-lamp fixture, normally wired in 3 or 4 circuits and freestanding on the floor. In venues with live video, especially HD video, strip/border lights can provide an effective uplight to help distinguish details on people. And because they are fairly low profile, they sit low to the ground. When used to light large surfaces with color, they’ll generally use glass color filters called roundels as opposed to gels.

Cyc lightsare the modern improvement of the strip light for lighting large surfaces such as a wall or cyclorama (cyc). The cyc light has a special shaped reflector, which produces a smooth field of light from top to bottom of the surface. Cyc lights are available in one, two, three, or four “cell” units designed to be installed overhead or freestanding on the stage floor.

Fresnel Fixtures

Fresnel fixtures provide a high power, soft edged beams of light. With a variable focus from “Spot” to “Flood”, Fresnel fixtures are often found in video studio environments because of the very bright, extremely smooth and even light they provide. You’ll also often see Fresnel fixtures on stages where video, maybe for TV production, has a high value. Fresnel fixtures can produce a nicer, more even light than PAR fixtures. But they tend to be less energy efficient.

Wrap Up

As we wrap up our discussion on the most commonly used conventional lighting fixtures, I want to again point out that all of these fixtures require dimmable power fed to them if you want to control their intensity. Now what fixtures are right for you? As with most things tech, the answer is, “It depends on what you are trying to accomplish.”

I can tell you in the majority of my lighting designs, I prefer ellipsoidal fixtures as front light as they give me good lighting coverage with a high degree of control. If a critical component of a ministry is video (such as multi-site churches), I may look at incorporating more PAR or fresnel fixtures in for front, side, and top light. As for top/back light, I’ll generally stick with PAR style fixtures, regardless of whether they are conventional or LED PAR style fixtures.


Duke is passionate about equipping the next generation of ministry leaders, especially those serving churches with technology. He serves as Church Relations Director for CCI Solutions, a design build technology solutions provider. Follow Duke on Twitter: @dukedejong

Signed Walls Dropped Slats

One response to “Understanding Conventional Lighting Fixtures”

  1. Angel D says:

    Thanks for the information. I’m relatively new to stage and lighting in my church. Actually I’m ushering in the advent of using lighting and set design, your information on the different types of lighting was very helpful.
    Thank you.

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