In this article, Duke DeJong shares about the four different types of conventional lighting fixtures and what they’re best used for.
Conventional fixtures, while they might seem boring, are very important. The term “conventional fixture” typically refers to a light fed via dimmable, DMX controllable power from a dimmer of some kind. There are four types of conventional fixtures you should know about: PAR, Ellipsoidal, Border/Strip, and Fresnel. Let’s dive in.
PAR Fixtures
Parabolic aluminized reflector fixtures, or PAR for short, have probably been the most widely used fixture in theatrical and concert lighting over the years. PAR fixtures, often referred to as PAR cans, are essentially metal hoods which hold sealed beam lamps, very much like old school car headlights. They produce circular or ovalular, soft edged pools of light, using various types of lamps that produce the different beam sizes and shapes. Newer, ETC Source 4 PAR fixtures are the exception to this as they have separated the lamp and lens to make your beam shaping interchangeable separate from the lamp.
PAR fixtures are one of the most cost efficient lighting fixtures in terms of functionality, with few features such as focus or shuttering. It is a pretty simple point and shoot fixture, providing a fairly even beam of light with softer edges. In conventional lighting settings, I highly recommend PAR fixtures anywhere a softer white or colored light wash is needed.
Ellipsoidal Fixtures
Ellipsoidal Fixtures are generally fixed beam sized spotlights that produce a round, focusable beam of light. The ellipsoidal shaped reflector establish the various focal lengths, with smaller barrels being used to provide a wider coverage and larger, longer barrels used to provide tighter coverage. In addition to being relatively focusable, this type of fixture incorporates the use of shutters that can shape the beam of light or cut off any overthrow onto unwanted surfaces.
Ellipsoidal fixtures can also be used for pattern or gobo projection. I am a big fan of using primarily ellipsoidal fixtures as front lighting on stages as I can control where I do and don’t want light better than I can with PAR fixtures, allowing me to light people strategically without washing out upstage walls and/or lighted sets.