Jerome Posted December 13, 2008 Share Posted December 13, 2008 Hardly a brain numbing question yet it will settle a discussion I had the other day with someone, do you focus or point a par can? Is rotating the bulb actualy classed as focusing? I've worked on a few gigs where I've been told off for saying I was focusing a par can and then when I've said elsewhere that I have pointed them they've said it's focusing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick LX Posted December 13, 2008 Share Posted December 13, 2008 You can't focus a par can as that would involve moving a lens to change the beam properties. As the par can is just a light bulb in a "bucket" you just point it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gerry Posted December 13, 2008 Share Posted December 13, 2008 A par can produces an oval beam pattern. You rotate the lamp to align the oval beam pattern to how you want it.This is neither focussing or pointing.It is aligning the beam pattern for the effect you want. :( :D CheersGerry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Gaffa Posted December 13, 2008 Share Posted December 13, 2008 Interesting question, technically it's focusing, but as Gerry says all your doing is aliging the bulb. :( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nat_Keiller Posted December 13, 2008 Share Posted December 13, 2008 A par can produces an oval beam pattern. You rotate the lamp to align the oval beam pattern to how you want it.This is neither focussing or pointing.It is aligning the beam pattern for the effect you want. :( :D CheersGerry ...however, of course, not all par bulbs produce an oval pattern. A CP60 produces an almost perfectly round beam, as does a CP95 for instance... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gerry Posted December 13, 2008 Share Posted December 13, 2008 ...however, of course, not all par bulbs produce an oval pattern. A CP60 produces an almost perfectly round beam, as does a CP95 for instance... I am fully aware of that.I was just trying to keep my reply simple. :( :D :D CheersGerry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew C Posted December 13, 2008 Share Posted December 13, 2008 It REALLY doesn't matter! As long as what is intended is understood. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete LD Posted December 13, 2008 Share Posted December 13, 2008 The job is called Focusing, even if the rig has parcans in. You cant "focus" a fresnel but its still called focusing!.LX crew have a late lunch so they can focus, Its never "do you mind having a late lunch so we can focus the profiles point the pars flood or mabe spot down the fresnels and line up the cyc floods"!Its just focusing!simple!Pete. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nateflips Posted December 13, 2008 Share Posted December 13, 2008 I agree with what Pete says.... people are just getting too pernickety if the are saying you cant focus a par can... who cares.. just focus or point, what ever you want to call it, do the gig, get paid and go home.. Some people... :( :D :D :P Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
indyld Posted December 13, 2008 Share Posted December 13, 2008 focus the profiles point the pars flood or mabe spot down the fresnels and line up the cyc floods"! Don't forget the "boshing", "blatting", "squirting", "tidging" plus "dooring", "hacking", "tweaking" and "the other side of sharp-ing". (Perhaps this should turn into a "Best of Focus Slang" thread). As Pete says, the entire activity is still a "focus". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete LD Posted December 13, 2008 Share Posted December 13, 2008 Don't forget the "boshing", "blatting", "squirting", "tidging" plus "dooring", "hacking", "tweaking" and "the other side of sharp-ing". (Perhaps this should turn into a "Best of Focus Slang" thread). "up stage a tadge, no back a bit, split the diffrence!" "more blue", "Focus it on the brown side" "cut to the edge of the show floor!". Its also worth noting that the act of positioning moving lights is also called focusing (focus groups) and some desks call the position pallet "focus" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidLee Posted December 13, 2008 Share Posted December 13, 2008 You cant "focus" a fresnel ...Maybe you have difficulty focussing Fresnels - but I have no problems adjusting the focus by moving the lamp tray relative to the lens! :( David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ynot Posted December 13, 2008 Share Posted December 13, 2008 pedant Actually, I'd say that you CAN focus a fresnel...Just because you can't focus into a sharp edged spot doesn't make it not so.Moving the lamp in relation to the lens, as David says, IS adjusting the focus... /pedant. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gherriott Posted December 13, 2008 Share Posted December 13, 2008 ...but is focussing by definition the aquisition of either a sharp or soft image of light, which can only be achieved by moving a lense relative to another lense? Thus a fresnel cannot in this technical sense 'be focused' as it is the SIZE of the beam rather than the clarity that is manipulated? From Google dictionary: Focus = maximum clarity or distinctness of an image rendered by an optical system; "in focus"; "out of focus" Not looking for a shooting down here should I be wrong...am just voicing my understanding of term.... Greg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gareth Posted December 13, 2008 Share Posted December 13, 2008 So, Greg, when a show you're working on has a session in the production schedule dedicated to "focussing", you tell the lighting designer that you're only able to adjust the edge of the profiles in the rig and not make any other position or size adjustments because that's not "focussing"?! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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