It consists of a shallow elliptical dish that is coated with a highly reflective material, such as aluminum. The ellipsoidal reflector of an ERS is responsible for shaping the light beam. Barrel which carries the four shutter blades.

There are three main components of a ellipsoidal light: the light source(lamp) which is in the back or called engine, the shutter blades in the barrel that shape the light, and the lens in the front. In addition, ellipsoidal lights are designed to be energy efficient and have a long lifespan, making them a cost-effective lighting option for stage and event production. The light beam is typically very bright and has a smooth, even intensity, which makes it ideal for illuminating people and objects on stage. This makes ellipsoidal lights a versatile tool for lighting designers, who can use them to create a wide range of looks and moods on stage.Įllipsoidal lights are also known for their high-quality light output. The beam can be shaped and focused using the interchangeable lenses and shutters, and the angle of the light can be adjusted using a system of mirrors. One of the main benefits of ellipsoidal lights is that they can be easily adjusted to achieve a variety of lighting effects. With this versatile fixture, you can control the shape, size, edge, color and intensity of the beam of light. The reflector and lens system of an ellipsoidal light allows the user to control the beam angle, focus, and intensity of the light, making it a useful tool for creating various lighting effects. The light source is placed at one of the foci of the ellipsoid, and the reflector is used to focus the light beam onto a specific area or object.Įllipsoidal lights are known for their versatility and precision, as they can produce a variety of different beam shapes and sizes.

This reflector is an ellipsoid, which is a geometric shape that is similar to a sphere but is flattened at the poles. It is named after the shape of the reflector that is used to focus the light beam. ERSes are usually described in one of two ways:īy the lens(es) used in the fixture (“6×9”, “6×12”, etc.), orīy their approximate field angle (40º, 19º, etc.Ellipsoidal light, also known as ellipsoidal reflector spotlight(ERS), leko light, profile spotlights(in Europe), is a type of stage lighting fixture, named for the ellipsoidal reflector used to collect and direct the light through a barrel that contains a lens. “Fixed focal length” means that you can not significantly change the size of the beam other than by moving the fixture nearer or farther, shuttering it, or using a gobo.

A fixture which can project a pattern, and/orĮRSes are typically available in fixed focal lengths, although zooms are available.

A fixture which can be shuttered off scenery.

Since the image is inverted, gobos must be inserted into the fixture upside down and backward.

A pattern inserted in the gate is called a “template” or “gobo”. Because the projected image is inverted, pushing in the left shutter will cut off the right side of the beam, pushing in the top shutter will cut off the bottom of the beam, etc. Because the optics invert the projected image, it will appear to be upside down and backwards.ĮRSes typically have four framing shutters, which are used to shape the beam of light. In the UK, they are referred to as “profile spots”.īecause the focal point of the lens system is just in front of the aperture (or gate), an image of anything placed in the gate will be projected by the lenses.

In America, these fixtures are often referred to as “Lekos”, but that is actually the trade name of those ERSes manufactured originally by Century and subsequently by Strand. The ellipsoidal reflector spotlight combines an ellipsoidal reflector usually with either one step lens or two plano-convex lenses “belly-to-belly”.

Ellipsoidal reflector spotlight ers