Best Way to Light a Cyc

[gafftaper]

I am using Vivid R from ETC and I am very pleased with them.... Yes they are pricey but you asked the best way. IMHO

How large is your cyc and how many Vivids does it take to light it?

 

[sk8rsdad]

My cyc is 42'x24' and lit with 16 Desire D40 Vivids. It is possible to achieve a mid cyc horizon line depending on lens choice. Note that there is also the classic Vivid striplight that is available single or multiple cell configuration.

 

[Lou9x9]

but ground rows usually only end up close to the cyc then though. pushed back by blocking constraints from the actors so how do you avoid getting saw toothing while still being space efficient? and also i havn't met a director yet who'd allow having lights on their stage.

 

[techieman33]

In my school we have a color wash on some gelled foot lights about 5 feet away from the cyc. we get some saw toothing but it's no big deal. no one notices. we angle it downward and if you're standing all the back to the cyc you'll barelly get top light from it. it gives nice background work for any production. but can get old fast if you don't know what you're doing (obviously).

but ground rows usually only end up close to the cyc then though. pushed back by blocking constraints from the actors so how do you avoid getting saw toothing while still being space efficient? and also i havn't met a director yet who'd allow having lights on their stage.

Using cyc silk, either by buying your gel with the silk embedded in the sheet of color (only a few color options available) or by adding n/c silk on top of your color will help to eliminate the "saw toothing", aka scalloping.
.

 

[shiben]

but ground rows usually only end up close to the cyc then though. pushed back by blocking constraints from the actors so how do you avoid getting saw toothing while still being space efficient? .

You use frost like techieman33 said, and you use them on strip lights pushed as close together as you can, and sometimes you use multiple rows of strip lights.

and also i havn't met a director yet who'd allow having lights on their stage

That is truly unfortunate. Footlights and groundrows are only the start of the various things you can mount on the stage deck. Also you can put lights in the stage. Its pretty boss.

 

[JDurnford2011]

Agreed. Cyc lights are the best method to light cyc curtains as they have a nice wash and throw. Now if you want to go with LEDs Id reccomend ColorForce 72's as they have an amazing look.

You can see a show I did with them here.

If you have any questions on how they operate let me know. These in my opinion are the best LED bars on the market and they are made by Chroma Q. They come in all different sizes.

-
Justin Durnford
Lighting Specialist

 

[Lou9x9]

i'm using strip lights so will it become defused enough to eliminate scalloping? like it doesn't in practice on my stage but speaking hypothetically is it the delusion that eliminates the effect?

 

[derekleffew]

...is it the delusion that eliminates the effect?

Yes, one should always use delusion media in psyche lights.

 

[gafftaper]

Yes, one should always use delusion media in psyche lights.

LOL. What an AWESOME typo.

Yes "silk" diffusion media will help to eliminate scalloping. You will see that it has parallel lines going through it that attempt spread the light in one dimension but not the other. Be careful which way you put the gel in.

 

[Grog12]

You can add "The cyc is on the last lineset and there is no other place to hang fixtures." to the list of reasons to light the cyc from DS.

Nope, sounds like a reason to move the cyc DS of the fixtures to me.

 

[danTt]

The problem with that, Grog, is that you lose playing space (sometimes a lot, depending on how the theater was laid out. Having lights DS doesn't cut into the space, but moving your cyc 4-6' downstage can be a huge commitment, given the size of so many theaters.

 

[lwinters630]

How large is your cyc and how many Vivids does it take to light it?

It is 50' wide and 20' tall I have 6 of the vivid R 42". A total of 24 cells.

Lighting solutions for Theatre, Film & Television Studios and Architectural spaces : ETC

Here are some pictures from Dracula in 2011 and a talent show 2012.

 

[lwinters630]

Sorry, I am not sure on how to get the pictures posted correctly.

 

[wetbehindtheears]

I've been reading many of the posts here regarding cyc lighting. I'm excited to pursue this in our small elementary school's space. Would anyone know of a place in Ontario, Canada that is selling used cyc lights? By chance, any one here have cyc lights for sale? I've checked ebay and other used selling sites, but with no luck.

Thanks for your time,
Ivan

 

[lwinters630]

wetbehindtheears (Ivan)
Welcome to CB!

If you have local suppliers and rental houses often sell off their used stock. If it is a small space I would look for LED fixtures as they are more flexible.

Do some more searching on CB to find and learn more about CYC lights.

 

[Tex]

How large is your cyc and how many Vivids does it take to light it?

You didn't ask me, but I'm also using Vivids to light my 20 x 60 cyc. I'm using 7, 63" Vivid R's with 80 degree horizontal lenses and it looks amazing!

 

[sk8rsdad]

I have 4 3-cell Altman EC-1's that are looking for a new home. Contact me by PM and we can discuss if they are suitable for your venue.

 

[lwinters630]

using 7, 63" Vivid R's with 80 degree horizontal lenses and it looks amazing!

Yeah, Blazin amazin . . . . you probably have to throttle those puppies back to prevent the actors from disappearing into relative darkness.

 

[TechGeek]

I perfer to use LED strip lights on my cyc. Its easier to mix color and cheaper in the long run. I like the Color Blaze 72 by Phillips. They are really good for cyc light and Im trying to talk my TD into getting some.

 

[Tex]

Yeah, Blazin amazin . . . . you probably have to throttle those puppies back to prevent the actors from disappearing into relative darkness.

Well, I would have to throttle them back but I have 7 more plus 12 D40's doing color wash duty.