The key illumination method of stage lights on the faces of characters on the stage

In stage performances, focusing on lighting characters' faces can highlight the actors' expressions, emotions and character characteristics, enhancing the artistic appeal of the stage. The following are several common methods of using stage lights to focus on illuminating characters' faces on the stage:

Spotlight fixed-point illumination

A spotlight is a type of lamp that can highly concentrate light onto a specific area. In stage lighting, using spotlights to provide targeted illumination on characters' faces is the most fundamental and commonly used method.

Operation method: Install the spotlight at an appropriate position above the stage, adjust the Angle and focal length of the lamps to ensure that the light is accurately focused on the actor's face. Through precise positioning, it can be ensured that the face receives sufficient and uniform light, highlighting the contours and details of the face. For instance, in a play, when the protagonist stands in the center of the stage and delivers an important monologue, a spotlight is used to project light from directly above or diagonally above, completely drawing the audience's attention to the protagonist's facial expressions, allowing the audience to more clearly feel the inner world of the character.

Effect features: Spotlight fixed-point illumination can create a distinct contrast of light and shadow, enhancing the three-dimensional effect of the face. Meanwhile, due to the concentrated light, the actor can be effectively distinguished from the surrounding environment, making the actor the focus of the stage.

Side lighting shapes the facial contours

Side light refers to the light projected from the side of the stage. Using side lighting to illuminate a person's face can create rich facial contours and a three-dimensional effect.

Operation method: Install lamps on the left and right sides of the stage respectively, adjust the Angle and intensity of the light to make the light shine on the actor's face from the side. The Angle of the side light can be adjusted according to the performance requirements. Generally speaking, the larger the Angle of the side light, the more obvious the shadow on the face and the stronger the three-dimensional effect. For instance, in a dance performance, when dancers make some powerful and dynamic movements, using side lighting to project light from the side can highlight the undulations and lines of the dancers' facial muscles and enhance the visual impact of the performance.

The effect features: Side lighting can highlight the skeletal structure and muscle lines of the face, making the face look more vivid and layered. Meanwhile, the shadows created by side lighting can also add a mysterious and profound atmosphere to the face.

Outline the edge of the face against the light

Backlighting refers to the light projected from behind an actor. Backlighting can outline the edge contours of a character's face, creating a silhouette effect for the actor on the stage and enhancing the artistic sense of the picture.

Operation method: Install lamps above or on both sides of the stage behind the actor, adjust the Angle and intensity of the light, and make the light shine from behind onto the actor's face and body. To make the facial contours clearer, the brightness of the backlight can be appropriately adjusted to create a certain contrast with the front lighting. For instance, at the end of a play, when the protagonist walks away with his back to the audience, using backlighting can outline the protagonist's figure and create an atmosphere of parting and melancholy.

Effect features: Backlighting can separate the actor from the background, highlighting the actor's dominant position. Meanwhile, the contour light produced by backlighting can also add a sense of sanctity and dreaminess to the face, enhancing the appeal of the performance.

The follow-up light provides illumination

A follow-up light is a type of lamp that can follow the actor's movement. It can always focus the light on the actor, ensuring that the actor can receive sufficient illumination at any position on the stage.

Operation method: Professional lighting operators control the spotlight, adjusting the Angle and position of the lamp in real time according to the actor's movement trajectory, ensuring that the light always follows the actor's face. The light intensity and color of the spotlight can also be adjusted according to the performance requirements to achieve the best lighting effect. For example, in a concert, when a singer walks around on the stage to perform, the spotlight can follow the singer's steps, highlighting the singer's facial expressions and singing postures, and enhancing the atmosphere on the spot.

Effect features: The follow-up lighting of the spotlight can keep the actor always the focus of the stage, enhancing the coherence and entertainment value of the performance. Meanwhile, the light of the spotlight can also be adjusted according to the rhythm and emotional changes of the performance to create different atmospheres and effects.

Combined lighting creates an atmosphere

In actual stage lighting, it is usually not the case that only one lighting method is used, but rather multiple lighting methods are combined to achieve a better lighting effect.

Operation method: According to the theme, plot and atmosphere requirements of the performance, different types of lamps such as spotlights, side lights, backlights and follow-up lights should be reasonably combined. For example, in a large-scale musical and dance drama, spotlights can be used to provide focused illumination on the faces of the main actors, highlighting their expressions and emotions. Use side lighting to shape the facial contours and three-dimensional effect of the actors; Use backlighting to outline the edge contours of the actors to enhance the artistic sense of the picture. Meanwhile, use a spotlight to follow the actor's movement to ensure that the actor is always at the center of the light.

Effect features: The combined lighting can flexibly adjust the intensity, color and Angle of the light according to different stages of the performance and changes in the plot, creating a rich and colorful stage atmosphere. Through the mutual coordination of various lighting methods, the lighting of characters' faces can be made more vivid and natural, enhancing the appeal and artistic expressiveness of the performance.