Gobo
A gobo refers to the metal stencil that when placed over a light creates a logo, shape, image or design on a flat surface such as a wall. A gobo can also be called a template or a pattern and is essentially a thin circular plate with holes in it. It is not until light is projected through the holes of the gobo does it make a shape or an image on the wall. The light projected through the gobo doesn’t have to be colored but it becomes more noticeable to your guests when it is. In order to create a different color of light, a colored filter is placed in front of the stage lighting instrument or a colored light bulb is used. Any color light can be used with the gobo but it is usually based on:
- Color scheme of the event
- Company colors
- Primary lighting in the room
The size of the image on the wall is directly dependant on the size of the gobo itself and the size of the light. The gobo itself is inserted in the focal plane of the spotlight upside down so that when the spotlight is pointed towards a specific surface it is reflected right side up.
Gobos are a great thing to use especially for branding reasons. If you are throwing an after party for the Oscars for example, it would be wise to have gobos with the logos or names of your sponsors and contributors. This acknowledges their participation in the event’s success and helps in the branding process. If you are throwing a magazine opening it makes sense to emboss the name of the magazine on everything that will stand still. You want to make sure that your guests remember why they are at the event and gobos ensure that. If the lighting in an event is pretty dim then the gobo projections will look even brighter and attract more attention.
