Lighting Guide: Everything You Need To Know About Gobos
Have you ever attended an event and noticed geometric patterns of light dancing across a stage, logos projected onto dance floors, or leaf shadows dappling walls? The amazing device behind these awe-inspiring projects is the humble gobo.
If you’re planning an event or managing a theatrical production, then you’ve probably heard of gobos, but you might not know everything you need to. This lighting guide will teach you more about gobos and how to source the right ones for your event.
What Exactly Is a Gobo?
A gobo is a stencil or template placed inside a lighting fixture to create shaped patterns of light. Think of it as a cookie cutter for illumination. The light passes through the cutout areas of the gobo while the solid portions block it, projecting whatever design you’ve chosen onto surfaces in your venue. These tools range from simple geometric patterns to complex custom designs.
Common Applications Across Industries
You’ll find gobos in concerts, corporate events, weddings, theatrical productions, and architectural lighting installations. Their versatility makes them indispensable for anyone working with stage or event lighting.
Corporate Events
Project company logos onto walls, floors, or scrims during product launches, conferences, and galas. This branding opportunity transforms generic venues into branded experiences.
Weddings
Monogram gobos are popular for displaying the couple’s initials. Beyond monograms, you can create patterns that match the wedding theme, such as vintage lace, geometric modern designs, nature-inspired motifs, and so forth.
Theatre and Concerts
Directors use gobos to establish location, mood, and atmosphere. A window pattern suggests an interior scene. Branches and leaves create an outdoor setting. Abstract patterns build tension or energy.
Architectural Lighting
Restaurants, hotels, and retail spaces use gobos for permanent installations that add visual interest without physical decor. The lighting becomes the architecture.
Types of Gobos: Metal vs. Glass
There are two main types of gobos: metal and glass.
Metal Gobos
Metal gobos work best for simple, bold designs with clean edges. Made from stainless steel, they’re affordable, quick to manufacture, durable, and heat-resistant up to very high temperatures.
However, they’re limited to single-color projections. Therefore, steel gobos are best used for logos, patterns, and shapes without intricate detail. Despite these limitations, metal gobos are the more popular option for most applications.
Glass Gobos
Glass gobos open up a world of possibilities that metal simply can’t match. For instance, they can support full-color imagery and photographs, handle detail and gradients, and create soft-edge effects.
But because of this enhanced aesthetic potential, glass gobos cost more than metal options, and they also require fixtures with lower heat output or proper cooling. Glass gobos are most common in theatrical productions and high-end events that are willing to spend the time and money on such detail.
Sizing Details
Gobos come in standard sizes labeled by letters, the top ones being A, B, E, and M. These letters don’t correspond to measurements in a particularly logical way. An “A” gobo is 100mm in outer diameter and “B” is 86mm, but “E” is merely 37.5mm while “M” is 66mm. You can also get custom-sized gobos, and the size you end up getting should depend on your lighting fixture.
So double- and triple-check your fixture’s specifications before ordering. Ordering the wrong size means the gobo won’t fit, delaying your setup and potentially making you forgo the specialized lighting.
Projection Distance and Focus
The distance between your fixture and the surface affects a lot about your gobo’s appearance. Position the fixture too close, and you get a small, intense hot spot. But place it too far away, and the image becomes dim and loses definition.
Most fixtures include focusing mechanisms that sharpen or soften the gobo’s edges. Hard focus creates crisp, defined patterns perfect for logos and text. Soft focus produces subtle, atmospheric effects like clouds, water ripples, or foliage.
Also, keep in mind that rotating gobos add movement to static patterns. These motorized options make leaves appear to flutter, flames to flicker, or abstract patterns to swirl hypnotically. The rotation speed is usually adjustable, giving you control over the effect’s intensity.
Design Customization
Hundreds of thousands of predesigned gobos exist, and millions more are available thanks to customization. If you want a specific design, you can partner with a gobo manufacturer or renter that offers this service. And if you go this route, we suggest following these design tips to ensure your gobo functions as hoped:
Keep line weights thick. Thin lines can disappear or break.
Maintain bridges between isolated elements (letters need connecting points).
Avoid excessive detail that muddies the projection.
Use high contrast between light and dark areas.
Test your design at the actual projection distance before finalizing.
How To Get Gobos
When it comes to sourcing gobos, you’ve got a few solid options depending on your timeline, budget, and how detailed your design is. Many event lighting and projection vendors offer custom gobo fabrication, and specialty gobo manufacturers can produce metal or glass gobos for crisp logos, monograms, and intricate artwork. If you’re working with a venue or production team, we recommend asking what fixture you’ll be using (like an ellipsoidal/LED leko) so you order the correct size and type. Then, provide your final artwork early to allow time for proofing and production before the event.
When you’re ready to turn a gobo design into a show-stopping moment, T-REV Productions can bring the right fixtures and support to the table. With one of the largest selections of production lighting for rent in California and Las Vegas, we make event lighting rental simple. One of our specialties is gobos, and we can help you create a customized design. We’ll help you figure out how to size and plan your gobo for crisp imagery, and then we’ll review complementary lighting options so you can curate an impressive event atmosphere. From wireless LED uplights and LED lekos to stage wash packages, bistro lighting, moving lights, and custom lighting packages, we’ll help you dial in the exact look you’re after.
Final Thoughts
Gobos transform ordinary lighting into storytelling tools. They create atmosphere, reinforce branding, and add visual layers that elevate any production or event. Now that you have everything you need to know about gobos in your back pocket, you can confidently specify, design, and implement these versatile lighting tools in your next project.