Stained Glass Windows

"As early as ancient Egypt the art of joining colored glass together has helped create majestic scenery.Ê Its full venture into becoming an art form developed in the Middle Ages of what we commonly call ÒStained GlassÓ.Ê Gothic style churches in the mid 1100Õs were really the first to use this feature in its main architecture.Ê In this Gothic architecture the windows were not only used aesthetically but also as educational features in telling biblical stories.Ê For the most part the pictures are almost fully out of glass but some paint is used in the finer details such as faces.Ê Stained Glass is one of the most moving pieces of architecture when combined with light.Ê It helps the visitor feel a sense of grandeur and importance when in the midst of this overwhelming beauty. Theatrical lighting is often paired up with stained glass in both providing the light source for the physical stained glass and also in projecting images of stained glass on walls that do not have windows. Here are some thoughts to consider when deciding to use stage lighting fixtures to backlight existing stained glass. 1 - The color temperature of the light source should enhance the color palette of the window.Ê The warmer the colors in the stained glass the warmer your kelvin temperature from the lamp should be.Ê The color the colors in the stained glass the cooler your kelvin temperature from the lamp should be.Ê This can be a perfect situation for a variable white LED fixture that lets you dial in just the right color temperature for your window. 2 - You need enough coverage.Ê Check the width of the beam spread and how much throw distance you have between the fixture and the window to make sure that you will be able to light all of the window. ÊIn some circumstances you will be better using linear fixtures if your windows are thin and long. 3 - Consider using ellipsoidals with shutters so that you can make sure that there is no unwanted spill.Ê Sometimes you may want to make sure you are only lighting the window itself.Ê You may also decide you want a softer edge of the light and then using a fresnel with a barn door would be appropriate. A thought to consider when projecting a stained glass window on a blank wall. You can project a stained glass window with stage lighting fixtures using ellipsoidals and gobos (templates).Ê If you want to use an individual fixture you will have to have a glass template with the individual colors in the gobo itself.Ê If you want to use standard metal templates (due to cost) you would have to use a multiple system of gobos with multiple lekos.Ê Each leko would have itÕs own color.Ê When focusing the units you would then ÒbuildÓ the stained glass window.Ê In the end run you will have a better outcome with the glass gobo but it does come at an expense."