ABSTRACT
Light fixtures: The basic tungsten arsenal 3 In this chapter, we’ll discuss most common types of tungsten fixtures: Fresnels, soft lights, open
face, parabolic aluminized reflectors (PARs), ellipsoidal spotlights (Lekos), beam projectors, area
lights, cyclorama lights, and small specialty lights.1 Each type of fixture has specific advantages
for particular applications, determined primarily by its beam characteristics: brightness, focusability,
evenness, punch, softness, size, shape, and color. The optical train of a light-the design of the lamp,
reflector, and lens-determines the nature of the beam. This, combined with the special accessories
each light employs, provides unique ways to manipulate and control the beam. We’ll discuss differ-
ent tricks to using each kind of light. In later chapters we’ll see these optical methods applied to
other kinds of light sources such as HMI and xenon.
