How to Operate LED Follow Spot Lights

A skilled follow spot operator can really make a difference in the show. Hitting the mark, making the shot or just picking up that cue all come down to the operator’s ability to operate the followspot.

Chauvet DJ LED Followspot 75ST provides a powerful daylight white beam with DMX control options. It’s compact, quiet and includes a Gobo holder.

Dimming

Follow spot lights are used in the theater to follow actors or props and can add dimension to a show. They are usually mounted on a stand or tripod and can be controlled by the stage director from a position backstage or ground level. Many come with a number of special features to help the operator control the intensity and shape of the beam. These features can include a mechanical iris, shutters for manual framing and a boomerang color changer.

Most large modern followspots use an intense type of lamp known as a discharge lamp and are not dimmable. They have a special feature called a chopper that closes a gate of opposite shutters on the top and bottom of the lamp which allows the operator to cut off some of the light from the fixture. This is like a stylized version of the old theatre style ERS fixture dowser and is often utilized to keep the beam from overlapping too much during a cue.

LED Follow Spot lights provide a more compact, energy efficient alternative to traditional followspots. They are available in short or long throw versions and in a variety of wattages to suit all types of applications. They are also equipped with condenser optics to ensure a flat, even beam and variable zoom optics to maintain focus at every angle. They are easy to set up and tear down and can be used on stage or in the studio.

Color Temperature

When selecting a new LED light source, color temperature is one of the most important factors to stage light manufacturer consider. The color temperature of a light affects the appearance of objects in a space. Different spaces have specific needs in terms of color rendering. For example, a bedroom may require a warm white light to help people sleep and relax. A kitchen, on the other hand, should have a cool white light to promote alertness and improve work efficiency.

Choosing the right color temperature for an office is also important. A cool white light helps people stay focused and productive, which can enhance business productivity. A neutral white light is used in supermarkets to highlight the colors of products. This ensures that customers can easily identify products and make informed decisions.

Chauvet’s follow spot 75ST is a full-sized fixture that delivers a wide variety of effects onstage. With mechanical iris and focus controls, rear panel buttons for selecting colors and settings, and a gobo holder on the front, the followspot is easy to use. Plus, it’s DMX-capable and stays cool for continuous operation. The 75ST is ideal for theatrical, athletic, professional, and religious applications.

Color Rendering Index (CRI)

The CRI of a light source shows how accurate the colors of objects look when illuminated by the bulb. The higher the CRI, the better. The spectral composition of the bulb is the basis for its CRI rating, so it is important to consider before selecting one.

In general, high CRI LED bulbs are preferred for lighting applications where the accuracy of color reproduction is important. These include retail, merchandising, and commercial applications. However, it is also possible to achieve good results with lower CRIs if you pay attention to other factors such as lumens, wattage, and color temperature.

It is recommended that photographic lighting has a high CRI, especially when the light is used for filming or photographing people or things. The camera records all the colours accurately with this type of lighting. Ideally, the lighting should be colour temperature adjustable as well.

Retail projects that involve displaying items or products require excellent quality of illumination to impress potential customers. For example, car showrooms need to Led Follow spot lights have great CRI to help buyers choose the right vehicle. The same goes for cosmetic stores, where customers need to be able to see the different shades and textures of products.

Cooling

Traditionally followspots have used limelight, a jet of oxygen and hydrogen impinging on a cylinder of solidified lime to produce an intense beam of light. Now LED follow spot lights use a more energy efficient light source to keep the same powerful results, but without the heat and maintenance of traditional limelight.

The Ovation SP-300CW is a quiet, medium throw LED powered follow spot that project a crisp cool white beam. It features on board manual dimming, and a built in CTO filter for color correction. It has mechanical lens controls for focus and iris, and a 6-slot manual boomerang for adding your favorite gel colors to the unit for a variety of effects.

Chauvet built this LED follow spot to fit any situation. With a range of mechanical iris and focus controls, as well as full electronic dimming, getting the right size and hardness of the beam is simple. It also has a single gobo holder and built in strobe mode, making it perfect for creating a variety of fun and exciting effects onstage.

DMX integration is another important feature of this followspot. This means you can connect it to a central DMX control system and let your spotlight operators focus exclusively on tracking the performers, and handle all of the lighting changes from the main board — tightening up cues and pulling off flawless transitions.