What is a Periaktoi? Periaktoi, also known as “triple-faced” or “three-sided” scenery, is a rotating scenic device used in theatrical productions for over 2,000 years. First invented in ancient Greece, periaktoi quickly changed the backdrop of...
Set Design for a Play or Musical From page to stage: The journey from the first reading to the drawing board and finally to the stage. This donut shop is by Lauren Mitchell in Merritt Island. Picture it. You’re the set designer. The script contains a scene where...
Light Plot detailWhile using paper and pencil was the preferred method of many designers 20 years ago, today, designers are expected to use computer-based programs to support their design work. Current lighting technology has also increased the need for a diverse body...
Theatrical Design and Production: 8th Edition J. Michael Gillette Theatrical Design and Production is a comprehensive and practical survey that examines the technical and design aspects of play production, including scene design and construction, lighting, sound,...
How to dimension a pipe of lights. I use this worksheet to assist my students in learning how to add dimensions between lighting units on a sample light plot. The act of adding dimensions while drafting a light plot can save an immense amount of time during lighting...
SoftPlot 3D is another Windows-only software program that allows you to create paperwork and see a virtual representation of what your lighting will do. http://www.stageresearch.com/
LXSeries lighting software has a lot of the same functions as the other packages but with less polish. The interface is a bit clunky, but with a price tag of less than $100 it may well be the go-to choice for many aspiring lighting designers....
GrandMA 3D visualization software. Similar to WYSIWYG, this program shows you what your lights will look like on your virtual stage using your Windows computer. This software is specifically designed to be an emulator for the GrandMA lighting control board. The...
Virtual Light Lab. VLL has demo versions for both Mac and Windows machines.The demo version does not allow you to save your work from session to session, but setting it up is so quick and easy that you’ll be working with the two lights and a sphere in no time. West...
QCAD 2D drafting software is one of the least expensive CAD programs out there. It’s currently selling for about $42. It doesn’t have any lighting tools built-in, but the resourcefukl user can construct their own lighting symbols from scratch....
