Theatre Design & Technology - Summer 2006 - 79

USITT RP-2, Recommended Practice for Theatrical Lighting Design Graphics - (2006)
* Definition of where the section is "cut"
* Stage floor, deck, or "vertical zero" location (indication
of which one is being used as reference zero)
* Proscenium, plaster line, smoke pocket, or the
"horizontal zero" location
* Back wall or upstage limitation of the performing space
* Vertical audience sight points and/or sightlines
* Downstage edge of stage floor and/or edge of playing
area
* Architectural details necessary to orient the lighting
design in non-proscenium spaces
* All hanging positions including side elevation of
booms, ladders, etc.
* Trim height for all hanging positions that can change
height
* Identification of all lighting positions
* Architectural and scenic obstructions
* Sectional view of scenery
* All masking
* Title block (See Section 4)
* Scaled representation of the luminaire that determines
batten height mounted in each position.
* Human figure (or "head height") in scale
Additional information may include:
* Vertical ruler in scale
* Horizontal ruler in scale
* Defined distance to other elements not shown on the
drawing (to follow spot booth, other sightlines, etc.)
* Liability disclaimer
* Union stamp
4.0 Title Block
Acceptable locations for the title block are:
* Lower right hand corner of the drawing
* Vertical banner on the right side of the drawing
4.1 Information contained in the title block
To be placed in the order deemed most important by the
lighting designer:
* Name of the producing organization
* Name of the production
* Name of the venue
* Drawing title
* Drawing number (i.e., "1 of 4")
* Predominant scale of the drawing
* Date the plate was drafted
* Designer of the production
* Draftsperson of the drawing
Additional information may include:
* Location of the venue
* Director of the production
* Other members of the production team
* Lighting assistant and/or Master Electrician
* Date and revision number
* Approval of the drawing

THEATRE

5.0 Legend or Instrument Key
Placement is acceptable in any location that does not conflict with other information.
5.1 Information contained in the legend or
instrument key:
* Pictorial representations (symbols) of all luminaires and
devices shown on the plot with identifying descriptions
of each.
* Beam spread (in degrees or focal length) for each
luminaire type if the numeric value is not part of the
luminaire's name
* Designation of all notations associated with each
luminaire.
* Color manufacturer designation (e.g., R = Rosco, L =
Lee, G = Gam, etc.)
* Template manufacturer designation (when applicable)
* Wattage (total luminaire load) and/or ANSI lamp code
* Symbols for any accessories - templates, irises, color
scrollers, top hats, barn doors, etc.
Additional information may include:
* Luminaire manufacturer * Representation of
"two-fers"
* Indication of voltage
6.0 Symbol Guidelines
These guidelines represent a selection of standard generic
symbols that approximate the size and shape of stage luminaires. Further differentiation or notation may be necessary
to distinguish between luminaires of approximately the same
size. This may include shading the symbol, making the
"front" of the symbol a heavier line, and other individual
techniques. As manufacturers introduce new luminaries and
accessories that are not specified by the current
Recommended Practice, a designer may either create new
symbols or make variations in existing symbols that approximate the silhouettes and optical qualities of the new equipment. In this case, a clear indication of the new symbol must
be included within the Instrument Key. Detailed luminaire
symbols specific to each manufacturers' products and supplied by computer drafting programs may be substituted,
provided they allow the specialized markings needed to
exactly specify the luminaire and provided they are properly
explained by the instrument key (see Section 5).
These symbols are presented as a guideline. Specific choices should be considered to differentiate between different
manufacturers of the same type of luminaire. It is USITT policy not to specify any manufacturers in the Symbol
Guidelines.
Because of the number and complexity of attributes in automated fixtures, each designer must determine a logical
notation system for the luminaire used.

© 2006

78

* Contact information (telephone and fax numbers,
e-mail addresses)

Page 3 of 9 Pages
USITT RP-2, (2006) 6/15/06

DESIGN

&

TECHNOLOGY
SUMMER

2006
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Theatre Design & Technology - Summer 2006
