Projection Lighting Tips

A Few Takeaways and Tips about Lighting for Projections and Digital Scenery

Dim the Lights: You might think you need to crank your lights up to 100%, but your audience's eyes are pretty adaptable. By simply lowering your lighting to 80%, you can significantly improve the quality of your projected images without sacrificing visibility. Your projections will pop, and your audience won't notice the slight dim.

Consider Angles and Bounce: Light reflecting off the stage can wash out your projections. Experiment with lighting angles that reduce bounce. High side lighting, slightly angled towards the front, can minimize light spilling onto your projection surfaces. This technique directs unwanted light away from the projection surface.

Dark Stage Color: A dark-colored stage floor helps in reducing light reflection that can interfere with your projections. If your stage or backdrop is a lighter color, it may reflect light onto your projection surface—diluting the projected images' quality. Opting for darker stage color can really help create bright, clear projections.

Selective Lighting: Not every scene requires the entire stage to be fully lit. Being mindful of which lights are necessary for a scene can prevent washing out projections and create a more focused and dramatic effect. This approach also aligns with thinking like a cinematographer, where lighting is used to shape and define actors, props and other stage elements.