User guide

Glossary of Terms & Abbreviations
Attribute
See Lamp.
Beam
The term used to describe all of the qualities of a beam
of light produced by obstructing the light path. This can
include Gobo , Iris , Focus and Prism but does not
include Colour . A light path with no obstructions is said
to have an ‘Open Beam’
Blackout Cue
A special Cue provided by VENTURA which allows all
Channels to be instantly turned off (or set to any specific
value) by pressing the dbo button.
Channel
The name given to a lighting control path. VENTURA
has 1000 ‘console channels’ —the level of each being
set by the console (e.g. a channel fader or cue, etc .).
These are linked or ‘patched’ to ‘output channels’ (also
known as dimmer channels or DMX channels). The
output channel provides a control route to a particular
lamp or device.
Channel levels can be varied between 0 (off) and 100%
(full on) and are configured as either HTP (highest takes
precedence) or LTP (latest takes precedence).
Colour
The colour of a beam of light. This can either be applied
by placing a transparent coloured filter (or ‘gel’) in front
of a light beam or by adjusting the mix of three primary
coloured lights ( i. e . Red, Green and Blue). See also
Colour Wheel and Scroller .
Colour Wheel
A disc comprising different coloured filters (or ‘gels’)
which can be rotated (under the control of an LTP
Channel) in order to change the colour of a light beam.
See also Scroller .
DMX
An acronym for ‘Digital Multiplex’ —a lighting control
standard first developed by the U. S. Institute of Theater
Technology (USITT) in 1986. The original specification
was referred to as ‘DMX512’. VENTURA uses an
updated version called ‘DMX512( 1990).
Entity
A used to describe a collection of closely related
parameters which define one specific aspect of
VENTURA’s set- up and operation. Each of the following
is an Entity:
Page Dimmer Channel
Lamp Cue Sequence
Focus
A database held in VENTURA’s memory which contains
pre- programmed Palette options and configuration
details for up to 256 different types of lamp.
Stack Lamp Group
Focus Colour Beam
Effect Output Limit
Each Entity comprises a number of separate ‘Objects’
(e.g. Lamp 1, Lamp 2, Colour 5, Beam 9, etc. ).
1. The sharpness or softness of a light beam,
particularly in relation to the use of a Gobo.
2. Another name for Position.
Gobo
A plate (usually metal) with patterns or images cut out of
it which allow light to pass through. A gobo can be either
fixed (stationery) or rotating.
HTP
An abbreviation of ‘Highest Takes Precedence’. This
defines how a Channel responds to multiple control
levels, e.g. if a cue and a manual fader are both
attempting to control one channel. HTP causes the
highest requested level to be used.
Iris
A mechanical device which by increasing or reducing
the size of a hole (or aperture) lets more or less light
through.
Lamp
A term used by VENTURA to define all of the Channels
that control the Attributes of one lamp unit (e.g. to
control Intensity , Colour , Gobo selection and
movement, and Position control, etc. ). VENTURA can
control up to 100 ‘Lamps’.
Lamp Library
LED
Abbreviation of ‘Light Emitting Diode’.
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