A stencil inserted at the gate of an ellipsoidal or the gobo wheel of a moving light, at the focal plane, so the lens projects its image. Steel gobos give silhouettes such as leaves, windows or breakup textures; glass gobos carry fine detail and color. North American theaters often say template, and corporate events use custom gobos to throw logos on walls and floors.
Drop a breakup gobo in the top lights for the forest scene, and soften the focus so it reads as leaves, not polka dots.
Also heard as
- template
- pattern
Related terms
Leko
Theater slang for an ellipsoidal reflector spotlight, the hard-edged fixture with shutters and a gobo slot.
Mover
An automated moving-head light that pans, tilts and changes color, beam and gobo under remote control.
Gel
A sheet of colored or diffusing plastic film placed in front of a lighting fixture to change its color or quality.
Haze
A fine, even mist pumped into the air so that light beams become visible on stage or on set.