Five things required to draft a light plot:

1. Accurate ground plan of venue including hanging positions and circuit locations
2. Accurate vertical section of venue
3. Accurate ground plan and section of scenic design
4. Lighting inventory
5. Size and number of dimmers available

Divide acting space into lighting areas 6'-0"- 8'-0"

• Decide on lighting systems needed for design (front light, back light, side light, etc.)

• Count the number of lighting areas required

Number of light fixtures per area times the number of lighting areas
Add fixtures used for washes: scenic or acting area
Add fixtures used for specials

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Create color key by assigning color to each lighting system.

Color Key Example

Lighting Specials Involving Scenic Pieces

Commit Lighting Inventory

MPAC Lighting Inventory

• Refer to vertical section and plan view of the theatre
• Determine distance to area being lit
• Use MF (Multiplication Factor) to determine size of pool of light
• Distance x MF = Size of pool of light
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Using the MF Factor

Draft the light plot including relevant information for hanging crew.

Lighting Template

Instrument Information

Front: color and/or focus information
Inside: instrument number
Behind: circuit or channel number

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Title Block

Performance space
Title of production
Plate title
Scale
Date
Designer/Draftsperson
Plate number

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Legend

Silhouette of each instrument type
Written description

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Final Draft of a Light Plot

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Allocate Dimmers

• List all instruments used for each system for each area
  
• Group into number of dimmers available either by system or by area
• Repatching can make dimmers available for more than one use, but must be planned very carefully

• Database of all information concerning each light used in the design
• If sorted by location, it's an Instrument Schedule
• If sorted by dimmer, it's a Dimmer Schedule
• If sorted by gel color, it's a Cut List