How Do You Use Gobos To Create Special Lighting Effects?
A gobo is a perforated metal or color-stained glass disc inserted into the gate of a spotlight between the lantern and the lens. The light is projected through the gobo to create highly detailed patterns or special effects. Gobos can also be used with special gobo projectors, in which the gobo is placed directly in front of the lens for the same effect.The term “gobo” is a shortened form of “goes between” or “goes before optics” and was minted in the theater, film and television industries. Since then, the term has expanded to include any form of light blocker. In photography, the term refers to flags and cookies (or “cuculoruses”), both of which are placed somewhere in the light’s path (but not inside or up against the light source). The term even has use in the recording industry, in which a “gobo” is a foam partition used to absorb reverb or placed between musicians so that each musician can be mic’ed separately.This article addresses the original (and still most common) sense of th
