Light Industrial Job Description

The Industrial Revolution: From the United States to Europe

The water frame was patented in 1769 by Richard Arkwright and two partners. The water frame used for each of the four spindles was based on a spinning machine built for Thomas High by clockmaker John Kay. The roller spacing was longer than the fibre.

Coke was used in the production of glass in large quantities by the year 1755. Coal and coke made inferior iron to that made with charcoal because of the sulfur content of the coal. Low sulfur coals were known to have harmful amounts.

Coal is converted to coke to reduce sulfur content. Coal mining was dangerous because of the presence of firedamp. The safety lamp was invented in 1816 by Sir Humphry Davy and George Stephenson and it provided some degree of safety.

The lamps proved to be a false dawn because they became unsafe very quickly. Coal dust explosions often set off firedamp explosions, so casualties grew during the entire 19th century. The work conditions were poor and the casualty rate was high.

The Industrial Revolution improved Britain's transport infrastructure with a turnpike road network. The raw materials and finished products could be moved quickly and cheaply. New ideas were able to spread quickly.

The Lighting Department in Film Productions

The lighting department is very important in film crews. Artificial lights of different kinds and intensities are required when the sun sets. Daylight may be used in some productions, but for the most part artificial light is needed to achieve the visual image required.

The different members of the lighting crew are responsible for the look and feel of the images captured on the screen, with others such as the camera crew or designer. They set up a wide range of lighting equipment to achieve a variety of moods, atmospheres and effects, as well as helping to make the actors, performers and participants look right for their roles. The members of the lighting department are trained to work safely with electricity.

They choose the correct lights and equipment to meet the production brief, after interpreting the ideas of the Director, the Designer and other departments. Special effects have been created using a variety of lamps and accessories. Some lighting set-ups are simple, and only require minimal lighting and a minimal crew, but dramas and feature films may require several hundred lights, many of which are computer-controlled.

The variety of equipment means that Lighting Technicians can take up specialist roles within the lighting team. Gaffers are in charge of all the electrical work on a production, leading the team of technicians who install the lighting equipment and arrange the power supply in order to create the designed lighting effects. Gaffers work closely with the Director of Photography to see in a practical way.

It is possible for several years of experience to qualify for the role of Gaffer. They may work on a film studio set. There may be more than one Gaffer on larger productions, and there may be a separate rigging Gaffer who is solely in charge of the rigging team.

The Salary and Experience of a Production Lighting Technician

Lighting technicians work on all types of programmes and may cover productions inside or outside of a studio. The lighting team's work is important, as lighting creates the right atmosphere to set a scene and evoke an audience's response. You will usually work in a team, as technicians need to carry out heavy lifting and may need to work at heights to correctly position the lighting.

You must always be aware of health and safety requirements while setting up lights, changing them over, and running cables. Depending on the production and experience you have, salaries can vary a lot. The average salary for employed lighting technicians is around $36,600 per year, but you may need to start on a lower salary in order to secure work and gain experience.

Most new entrants are qualified electricians who have obtained skills through training courses such as those offered by City & Guilds. After their studies, they gain practical experience in production lighting. You can become an electrician through an apprenticeship.

The industry body ScreenSkills has more information qualifications. Pre-entry experience is essential. Look for experience with a specialist lighting company or lighting equipment hire company.

Try searching for film and TV companies using listings such as Pact - Find a Member or The Knowledge. Try to work on a student or community film project while at college. You can join a drama society to learn more about lighting and the technical aspects of the job.

Design and Assembly of a Light Pipe

There are other considerations when choosing a light pipe. The mounting type you use with your light pipe can be determined by your power source and overall design footprint. The light pipe can be attached to the PCB or surface if the board is attached to the light pipe.

The light pipe has an attached PCB. Light pipes are board mount and designed for assembly. The PCB board can be printed in one line and another in another, and then machine-assembled, saving time and costs.

Light pipes are used to illuminate corners. Understanding the critical angle of various materials is important to ensure that the light bounces at the critical angle and travels to the endpoint with maximum effectiveness. Light bleed occurs when some light from Point A to Point B escapes or shines elsewhere, so less light is available to shine at the exit point.