Rob Sayer

Rob Sayer HND PGDip FHEA is a Senior Lecturer in Technical Theatre Production, mentor, and consultant in stage lighting and education. As a professional lighting designer, Rob designed and programmed theatre performances, music festivals and large corporate events for blue chip companies while travelling all over Europe. With a background in theatre, he combines traditional stage lighting knowledge alongside fast moving lighting and video technology in the world of commercial events.

Moving Light Control – Palettes – Lighting Desk Basics 4

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Programming moving lights on a modern intelligent lighting console involves some new techniques for the novice console operator, not least the use of “Palettes”. Using palettes is an important method for efficiently programming intelligent fixtures and organising their attributes such as colours, gobos, pan, tilt etc into manageable chunks. On Stage Lighting explains the principles behind palettes, why they are used and how to get the best from your moving lighting control.

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DMX Fault – Finding and Fixing DMX Problems

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DMX512 is the most common stage lighting control system that can control both intelligent lighting and DMX dimmer systems. A DMX control system is pretty simple and robust and DMX faults are a less common problem in stage lighting, compared to blown lamps etc. If you do have a fault in your DMX chain, it can be tricky to find the source so On Stage Lighting has this guide to troubleshooting DMX, how to spot a DMX fault and how to trace and solve the problems – and without a DMX tester.

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Led Moving Light Review – Studio Due NanoLED

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The Studio Due NanoLED (.pdf) was shown as this years PLASA Show 2007 in London amongst a truckload of LED stage lighting fixtures that are coming on to the market. So what’s up with this tiny, manic waggly LED thing?

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Stage Lighting Stands – Easy Rigging Equipment

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A commonly used method of rigging stage lighting, the lighting stand is safe, flexible and can be cheap. Perhaps you looking to buy your first set of lighting stands for your own mobile rig. If so, read on at the On Stage Lighting guide to using and abusing stage lighting stands…

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Stage Lighting CAD – Theatre Lighting Symbols – DWG Blocks

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Stage and theatre lighting design uses your technical and artistic skills to specify equipment and create the look of a production. Planning lighting positions and communicating your ideas by drawing a lighting plan used to involve what was called technical drawing but pens and paper have given way to CAD – Computer Aided Design. So, where do you get some FREE stage lighting CAD symbols…?  Plus a new lighting symbol library for Open Office Draw.

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Moving Light Control – Groups – Lighting Desk Basics 3

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The third part of the Lighting Desk Basics series, On Stage Lighting looks at the elements of moving light control. Article 2 – Intelligent Lighting Control, looked at the first steps of controlling moving lights, fixture personalities and patching. Using Groups to control your “heads” is the next step in console programming like the professionals.

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