Summary: This week on Episode 27 we dive in on how to program Moving Lights. So much has changed since I started working with moving lights and I want to share with you what I learned from the pros as well as some personal trial and error!<br> If you’re new here, I have a Quiz that will help me send you a customized Guide on getting started with Lighting: FREE Guide @ <a href="http://LearnStageLighting.com/quiz">LearnStageLighting.com/quiz</a>.<br> Lighting News! (0:27)<br> This week in Lighting News, I ran across a Press Release for a new app, ShadowMagic, in the trade magazine <a href="http://www.lightingandsoundamerica.com/">Lighting and Sound America.</a><br> ShadowMagic is available on iOS only and is a visualizer for the Theater. It’s only $15 and it helps you see how the lights look, shadows, etc. To check it out <a href="http://gelstrings.com/iOS-Apps/ShadowMagic.html">Read More Here</a>.<br> Main Segment (3:08)<br> Back when I began with lighting, moving Lights were not the “norm” they were the exception. But today because of LED it has changed so much in the Lighting Industry.<br> The first thing I learned about moving lights is that they are very challenging to program and set up. With great power comes great responsibility. This week I want to share what I’ve learned over the years.<br> What is Striking and Dousing?<br> If you are working with arc Lamps (discharge lamp) Moving Lights there is something called striking and dousing. As LED’s will eventually take over there are some that still use the non-LED moving lights.<br> Striking and Dousing is simply turning on and off the lamp. This is common for the older and bigger moving lights. I always recommend doing this manually.<br> Always, Tilt First!<br> When you’re moving the light, the first thing that you want to do is turn it on so that you can see where it is pointing. Then, you want to grab Tilt (Pan/Tilt) first. This is important because if you Tilt first so you can point the light exactly where you want it to.<br> Most (Sensible) Consoles Default the Fixture to 50/50<br> Most consoles default to 50% Pan and 50% Tilt. If you’re looking to light a show you can change where the fixtures default too. This is good to use if you wipe out position or release everything you can have your lights focus on the stage or wherever you want them to default too.<br> Focus them from the center of the room or stage!<br> When using the moving lights you want to make sure you focus it on the center of the room or stage. This way everything will line up and be symmetrical. Use Touch OSC or a console remote on a PC if you have to!<br> Use your console’s groups and fan function to keep things symmetrical.<br> If you try to set up the lights individually you may get every one of them to line up symmetrically. But this is going to take you a long time to get your lights set up that way.<br> This is why I highly recommend using the Group and Fan function to save you time and keep it symmetrical. Use symmetrical looks unless you don’t want to! Remember, there are no rules in lighting, except “Be Safe”.<br> Programming Positions<br> Keep in mind the “path” between different positions – there are often 2 ways to get the same position with pan/tilt combinations!<br> Other Parameters – how will you change gobos and fixed colors?<br> You always want to have a smooth transition when using gobos or fixed colors. The easiest way to do this is to turn off the light, make the change, and turn the light back on.<br> Gobo morph!<br> With Gobos, you may have multiple wheels. There is a more advanced method called Gobo Morph. Let’s say you have a Gobo Wheel 1 and a Gobo Wheel 2. What happens is if you have Gobo Wheel 1 in focus and you can change the Gobo Wheel 2 and shift the focus.<br> I would test and play with this Gobo Morph method to see if how it looks on stage. Now,
