Field Notes
Six longer notes on light, from the stage to the front lawn.
Light Your House Like a Stage
Key light, fill and color washes: how a professional lighting designer would light your front porch, using gear you can buy at Home Depot this weekend.
No. 02The Best Halloween Animatronics, Ranked by a Show Designer
Twelve-foot skeletons, reapers and a whole hearse: which animated props actually perform on a front lawn, and how to stage them so they read from the street.
No. 03How to Choose a Holiday Light Projector
Pattern projectors, laser 'firefly' units and window-ghost video kits are three different tools. Here is what a projection designer looks at before buying one.
No. 04Warm White vs. Cool White vs. RGB
Color temperature is the first decision a lighting designer makes and the one most homeowners skip. How to choose, when to mix, and when to go full color.
No. 05Your First Music-Synced Light Show
You do not need a garage full of controllers to make your house dance. A beginner's path from app-synced lights to a real sequenced show, written like a cue sheet.
No. 06A Giant Outdoor Display on a Budget
Scale, silhouette and a single strong focal point: how to build a front yard that stops cars without spending like a theme park.