Where to place the “wash” lights? (lighting trees)

M

Matt Vivlamore

Senior
Jan 11, 2011
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Southern MD, USA
www.meerkatsound.com
With my new lights, I ordered a pair with 45 degree lens to use as a wash light. Where should I place these?

My current set-up is 3 lights on a tree per side with 2 floating around the stage (usually going on the downstage corners). (see pic) The T-bar is balanced and the single light should be sitting at the front end of the speaker stack.


Previous set-up was 2 25 degree lights per side and hoped it was enough for the stage.
 

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Re: Where to place the “wash” lights? (lighting trees)

I'm also curious if there is a "right" answer to this. I do much the same as you, 2 panel lights per side mounted on truss that sits on top of my speaker stack. 1 sticks out front and is pointed across the front of the stage the other pointed towards the drums.

Here's a pic from when I was using a tree, couldn't find one with the truss:

Here
 
Re: Where to place the “wash” lights? (lighting trees)

I am curious to the answers as well. Being a sound guy and musician I may have a different approach than the lighting folks. My simple answer is wherever they will do the job and not shine directly in the musicians eyes. I have had fixtures on trees, trussing, the floor, the main stacks, and many combinations of the above. Wherever I put them I always look to see how they are covering and also stand in the musicians and singers positions to see how much glare there is there.
 
Re: Where to place the “wash” lights? (lighting trees)

It really depends on what you want them to wash and how you want them to do it. If they are for the faces, they have to be farther center. If they are for color washing, farther to the sides/above is usually better.

I'd honestly say that they should replace the downstage corners if they are for up light wash. The 45 degree pattern will give you better coverage for something that doesn't need as much luminous output anyway, and you can save the 25 degree ones for the t-bars or somewhere else out front/above for more options.

If they are for the beam effects when combined with haze, put the 45 on the bars, or consider back lights.
 
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