Black gauze to hide lights.

[RoyS]

Hi,

 

I am involved with a school production and want to produce the following effect: At the back of the stage are some metal framed rostra which will remain in place for the entire performance. Beneath the rostra will be positioned 8x PAR 56’s facing the audience that will be hidden by some black gauze or similar material.

The rostra will therefore appear solid and the PAR’s hidden. On cue the PAR’s will be illuminated and the effect will be seen.

 

Question: What kind of inexpensive gauze can be used for this effect (bearing in mind I don’t want to loose too much light from the lamps).

 

Many thanks.

 

Roy

[Andrew C]

Question: What kind of inexpensive gauze can be used for this effect (bearing in mind I don’t want to loose too much light from the lamps).

You'll really need to buy proper, flame proof theatrical gauze. It won't be too expensive for a small amount.

 

Russell & Chappel, Gerriots or any of the other usual suspects

[Just Some Bloke]

Bear in mind that you will need to keep ALL light away from under the decking (including reflected light) for the cans to remain a surprise. That might be harder than you think, but with some work should be possible. You might want to put hardboard over the sides of the deck to help with this.

[indyld]

Bear in mind that you will need to keep ALL light away from under the decking (including reflected light) for the cans to remain a surprise. That might be harder than you think, but with some work should be possible. You might want to put hardboard over the sides of the deck to help with this.

 

Agreed.

 

Think about the possibility of also using a black opaque cloth behind the gauze, to cover glinting reflections from PAR lamps if they are not gelled, until the last possible point in the show. A scence change or interval perhaps.

 

Most gauze effects use a hidden additional black drape to hide the evils of reflected light until the effect is needed.

[DaveBeattie]

It is also probably worth checking the pre-heat on the dimmers is not too high, as this can be quite visible on PARs.

 

Dave

[Wuddy]

As others have said, a black gauze on its own is not good for hidding a scene or objects behind.

 

The light passing through the gauze, reflecting off the objects behind and passing back out through the gauze is usually greater than the light reflected from the face of a balck gauze and so objects can be seen, some time very clearly if they are highly reflective.

 

As opposed to a white gauze, where the light reflected from the face of the gauze is usually greater the the light passing through and being reflected back, so objects behind a white gauze tend to remain well hidden until the lighting state is changed from front lit to back lit.