Gobo (lighting)

For other uses, see Gobo (disambiguation).

A gobo in a gobo holder, which goes in a stage lighting instrument. The discolored portion is oxidation of the stainless steel caused by the high temperature of the lamp, but the gobo is still usable.

A gobo (or GOBO) derived from "Go Between" or "Goes Before Optics" is a physical template slotted inside, or placed in front of, a lighting source, used to control the shape of emitted light.

In the design of an artificial environment in which lighting instruments are used, it is sometimes desirable to manipulate the shape of the light which is cast over a space or object. To do so, a piece of material with patterned holes through which light passes is placed in the beam of light to allow only the desired "shape" or pattern through, while blocking the rest of the light, casting a specific shadow/light into the space.

Though the term "gobo" has come to generally refer to any device which produces patterns of light and shadow or various pieces of equipment that go before a light (such as a gobo arm or gobo head), the specific term itself also defines the device used in theatrical lighting applications because of the mandated placement of the device in 'the gate' or 'point of focus' between the light source and the lenses (or optics). This placement is important because it allows the focusing of the pattern or shape into a crisp, sharp edge (for logos, fine detail, architecture, etc.) and also the softening the edges (breakup patterns, etc.). Gobos placed in the beam of light post-optics do not have the option of such fine focus, and are more precisely called "flags" or "cookies."

Use

A glass gobo of the Earth, projected using an halogen projector.

Gobos may be used, in connection with projectors and simpler light sources, to create lighting scenes in a theatrical application. Simple gobos, incorporated into automated lighting systems, are popular at nightclubs and other musical venues to create moving shapes. Gobos may also be used for architectural lighting, as well as in interior design, as in projecting a company logo on a wall or other feature.

A theatrical gobo may be made from either sheet metal or borosilicate glass, depending upon the complexity of the design.

Glass gobos can include colored areas (much like stained glass windows), made of multiple layers of dichroic glass, one for each color glued on an aluminium or chrome coated black and white gobo. New technologies make it possible to turn a color photo into a glass gobo.

In low budget theatre, discarded soda cans or pie plates can be used and patterns cut out with any cutting tool. The latest commercial technology enables finely dithered patterns which give the illusion of shading. In the UK, printer's Lithoplate was widely used as an inexpensive gobo substitute. However, these gobos tend to wear quickly due to the heat produced by a stage lighting instrument and are not viable for most venues.

Plastic gobos—With the advent of LED ellipsoidal spotlights, gobo manufacturers are making "LED Only" plastic gobos that can be full color (like a glass gobo), but without the delicate nature. These plastic "LED Only" gobos are new to the market, as are the lights they go in, so there is much about the durability and effectiveness that will vary from brand to brand.

In the past plastic gobos had been generally custom made—for when a pattern is needed in color and glass does not suffice. However, in a "traditional" (tungston/halogen) light fixture, these thin plastic films generally need to be used with special cooling elements to prevent melting them. A lapse in the cooling apparatus, even for just a few seconds, can cause an expensive gobo to be ruined.

A number of simple and complex stock patterns are manufactured and sold by various theatrical and photographic supply companies, or custom gobos from customer-created images can be manufactured for an additional fee. Generally the lighting designer chooses a pattern from a catalogue or small swatch book provided by the manufacturer. Because of the large number of gobos available, they are generally referred to by number, not name. For example, most manufacturers offer a gobo of a window, but they are all slightly different. So instead of calling it window, it would be identified as gobo xxxxx

Gobos are often used in weddings and corporate events to add a personal touch to the look of an event. With company logos, the happy couple's names, or just about any artwork turned into a projected image the possibilities are endless. Some companies can turn a custom gobo out in as little as a week. Common locations that custom gobos are projected in corporate/wedding situations are: the wall behind the head table, the center of the dance floor, on the floor in front of the main entrance, and the most dominant wall. "Stock" gobo patterns are also widely used for these event, often stars or water projected onto the ceiling to set a mood in the whole room.

Mechanics/optics

A gobo with the design on the left, with a red gel would project a pattern like the one shown to the right.

The gobo is placed in the focal plane of the lantern (generally an ellipsoidal reflector spotlight). The gobo is inserted upside-down and back-to-front. The desired pattern is then projected by the lantern onto whatever surface it is pointed at such as a wall or dance floor.

Gobos can provide everything from abstract dappled light effects to complex night-time cityscapes. They are commonly used in stage lighting, television, and film production to create texture, mood, or set a scene. Specialized attachments are available to rotate multiple gobos in different directions and rates to create an illusion of motion, such as that of light reflected off of moving water.

This effect allows the lighting designer to produce effects to help portray the scene. For example, a gobo with a cloud pattern may be used to suggest a scene is outdoors.

Common Gobo Sizes

Letter Size	O.D. (mm)	I.A. (mm)	Notes
C size	150	120
A Size	100	75
B Size	86	64.5	Standard Size for Ellipsoidal/"traditional" lights
BG Size	79	64.5
M Size	66	48
G Size	65.5	48	For Clay Paky Goldenscans.
D Size	53.3	38
Cyberlight	44.25	38
E Size	37.5	28	size t
Studio Spot 575	36.3	31	For HES Studio Spot 575.
Mac 500/918	27.5	22
V Size	25.5	22
Mac 250	22.5	17
518 Size	20	13
O.D = Outside Diameter; I.A. = Image Area

Other meanings

The derivation "Go-between" is from motion picture production, where gobo is an antiquated term for a what is now called a "flag". Flags are manufactured in a variety of sizes and shapes, are most commonly made of opaque black fabric stretched over a steel frame, but flags can also be made of sheet steel or wood for specialised use. Shaped flags are placed in the beam of a light source in order to create shadows, this type of flag is commonly known as a Gobo.

A Gobo being projected with beams of smoke

The support system used to position and hold these flags in the light beam has, as its core component a fully rotatable, adjustable clamp called a gobo head. [1] Gobo heads are mounted at the top of C-Stands and on the ends of 30" long aluminum bars, called Gobo arms or Grip arms.

Gobos are sometimes, incorrectly, known as "Bogos."^{[citation needed]}

See also

• Cucoloris

References

• World Wide Words - Michael Quinion writes about international English from a British viewpoint.