ABSTRACT
This chapter provides some guidelines for developing lighting systems that create the basic illumination or visibility for an environment. It presents several methods for developing general illumination and discusses the work with resources like sections and floorplans. The majority of lighting designers would agree that the most essential task of any lighting design is to provide general visibility for an environment. Key and fill lighting had its beginnings in the film and television industries but is now often used as a design formula and general reference throughout the entire lighting industry. Even though area lighting provides the basic source of illumination through most of a stage, there are also specialized needs that must go beyond the provisions of general lighting. A lighting designer's decisions can have an immense impact on how costumes are revealed to an audience. Special visibility refers to providing luminaires for a specific function of illumination.
