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They are only designed to be used facing one way in the spotlight so when you buy one, tell the vendor the make of light so that the image is projected correctly. Glass gobos are fitted in special gobo holders and are extremely fragile. This means that even more complex images, with no metal tags, can be projected. Glass Gobo – These gobos are made from glass with the gobo pattern etched using aluminium or other coating to mask out the light. Metal gobos are the cheapest way of producing patterns in stage lighting and, when used well, still look great. Gobo manufacturers are able to cut very intricate designs out of the metal although some areas of a pattern design have to be connected by a small tag. The metal gobo masks out areas of the spotlights beam and are held in place in the spotlight using a gobo holder.
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Metal Gobo – The traditional stage lighting gobo is made from sheet metal that is cut out to produce the gobo pattern. This guide to the gobo looks at the types of gobo currently available and gives you some tips on their use. The design of the pattern can be anything, from abstract shapes to a sign or logo, and is inserted into a spotlight at the focal centre (known as the “ gate“) between the lamp (bulb) and the lenses. A gobo is traditionally a piece of metal, with shaped holes cut into it, that produces a pattern of light. The gobo, one of the oldest stage lighting effects, is still one of the best, cheapest and most versatile even today.
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