Backlighting can an event look great or leave the lighting something to be desired. Find out how to choose the right backlight fixtures for your stage, here:

When it comes to choosing backlight for your stage there are a couple of things to really take time to think about so that you can make the best decision for your needs.

Looking for the perfect backlight for your stage?  After you watch this video, check out our GEAR GUIDE for our best, up-to-date recommendations!

Choosing Your Backlighting

Although you may find plenty of advice out there claiming that they have THE perfect backlight for every situation and need it is important to note that not every show or display has exactly the same needs.  If only it was that simple!

You will likely find that it is best to take a little time to consider your specific needs and go from there. So how do you know which is best for you?

First Things First

The first thing to decide is what kind of backlight you will need for your stage. The most common type of backlight is a wash light.  Wash lights work well whether you have haze or not in the air.

There are several different sizes of wash lights in a few common types - for example Pars, moving wash lights, and fresnels.

PARS and moving wash lights work well for backlights because they give off a nice, soft light. This awesome, even wash is perfect for creating an even tone to your stage as your presenter moves from side to side and prevents the audience from becoming distracted by the lighting.

Differences

When comparing different wash lights, there are a lot of options to choose from! Both price and type can play a part. There are some lights that range from less expensive to higher priced, but the biggest difference you will see is in angles.

Cheaper pars tend to have really tight beam angles, which while they look bright, aren't great at covering a whole stage.  More expensive pars tend to be less "hot-spotted" and more even across the beam.

Silent lights without fans can be great in a lot of contexts, but if you are lighting a band or a DJ you may not care as much about that feature.  Lastly, the build quality/case material can make a difference if you set up and tear down your lights often.  Metal fixtures tend to be fan-free or have quiet fans, and tend to be more durable.

When it comes to moving heads, almost any moving head wash will have fans, but many of them feature very quiet fans.  Smaller, cheaper fixtures tend to be louder.

While wash lights are great for diffusing light across your stage, they are not so great for creating a defined beam of light to a specific location on stage, especially when lighting through the air when you may have haze.

Zoom Lenses

Lights with a zoom lens can be a really great addition to your show or display when you need to focus that light on a more specific location. The zoom lens will move up and down and closer and further from the LEDs to give you a variety of beam angles.

Narrow angles look amazing at haze, and in some instances, you can even see the beam without any haze.  Middle to wide angles cover more space and fill the area with color.  Having lights with motorized zoom means that you can vary the look on stage during different part of your events - having narrow, punchy beams of lights during music, for example, and wide, even coverage during spoken word or preaching.

Spot and Beam Fixtures

If you are lighting for for atmosphere, then spot and beam fixtures can give you that texture in the air (if you have haze).  They won't be your best pick to evenly backlight your people on stage, but they will offer texture and a better look in haze than the typical wash fixture.

Generally, we recommend starting with a backlight wash of all wash-type fixtures, and then adding spot fixtures for additional texture and movement.  Many lower-priced spot fixtures also have color wheels, which don't transition smoothly between colors - more on that here!

Conclusion

The reality of it is, when choosing your backlights, there are a lot of different options and solutions out there for all kinds of needs! It’s all about taking the time to think about your individual needs and doing a little research into your options to decide what suits you best. Having the perfect light for what you need will help to make your show or display look the absolute best every time.  

Looking for the perfect backlight for your stage?  After you watch this video, check out our GEAR GUIDE for our best, up-to-date recommendations!...and don't be afraid to Contact us for a quote if you're in the US!