Event Lighting Tips:
GOBOs
Worcester | 2023
What are GOBOs?
GOBOs, or “Go Between Optics” refers to a piece of lighting equipment, essentially a small, stenciled disk, inserted into a fixture between the lamp and the lens, to control the shape of the emitted beam. They’re commonly used with ellipsoidals and moving lights to project patterns or designs onto walls, stages, and floors for added interest. The term “GOBO” is often used to refer to the resulting effect created by the light.
Examples of GOBOs
In these examples, you can see one of the most beneficial uses of a GOBO is to project a branded logo at an event. Logos may be projected onto walls of any texture, floors, or even moving around the outside of a building!
In the last example of the smiley face, the GOBOs were used with moving, yellow lights so that the faces danced around the building, creating a show-stopping, fun atmosphere for the gala happening inside!
For the techies…
GOBOs come in a range of materials and sizes. They may be made of steel, glass, or plastic. They’re made to withstand the heat given off by the luminaries they’re working with. The gobo is inserted upside-down and back-to-front. The lighting instrument inverts the projected image. Some lights come with a selection of GOBOs pre-installed with open space to add additional units. The pre-installed GOBOs are often used as breakup patterns to add texture to a space. Different fixtures may have different requirements for GOBOs, so they are available in multiple sizes, including:
A size – 100mm outside diameter / 75mm image diameter
B size – 86mm / 64.5mm
D size – 53mm outside diameter
M size – 66mm / 48mm
E size – 37.5mm / 28mm
To sum it up… GOBO patterns are an easy way to create branding for an event. For an immersive light experience, be sure to request a GOBO pattern from your AV production team!