Color & Light: Navigating Color Mixing in the Midst of an Led Revolution, a Handbook for Lighting Designers

I’ve been obsessed with colors and light since I remember myself. This book had so many answers to questions I’ve been asking for years around basic color theory, and the depth of explanation of LED color theory is explained in depth.The picture with this review is a wall piece I crafted using RGB (primary) and DACI (Secondary) LEDs enabling Tertiary color combinations like like Chartreuse, Rose and Lavender that are explained well in this book.The unique DACI/Vibrance strip is available at Visiolite .com if you want to try it yourself.

Clifton’s book is one of the best technical theatre books that I have ever read. I’ve always been a designer who has been drawn to bold color choices, but I’ve often found that I’ve lacked the vocabulary to really explain many of my choices in the best possible way. As an educator, I’ve worked hard over the years to try to develop activities, language, and experiences that will help students gain a further understanding of color and how we can use it in theatrical design.This book has given me so many excellent examples of unique lab activities and theoretical projects that not only will help me to become a better instructor, but also help my students develop their own understanding of color’s important place in our work.13 years ago I was fortunate enough to see some of the demos that Clifton talks about in person, when he and Beverly Emmonds taught color workshops at the Live Design Master Classes. At the time, they were all accomplished with incandescent sources and color scrollers. I was excited to see Clifton’s updates for these demos using LED sources, which are more and more prevalent now - even more so at the time of my writing (2021) than when this book was published (2019).It was honestly impossible for me to find anything in this book that I didn’t enjoy or find useful in some way. Clifton is a master at his craft, but I think what stood out to me was his constant reminder that his experiences and perceptions were just that - his. I’ve often ran into people, mostly in education, who forget that their way is not the only way (and probably not even the best way, but that’s another story…) It is always refreshing to see a lighting professional who reminds the readers/students that they are simply sharing their particular methods, not trying to claim superiority over other methods.In my own lighting work, I often have found myself drawing comparisons to music, instruments, and orchestras. I was delighted to see Clifton constantly use these same comparisons throughout the book, especially when he compared different sources of light to different parts of a piano. For example, the sun being a full size 88-key grand piano, each key representing part of the spectrum. A laser, on the other hand, represented by a single key. A smaller keyboard with only a few octaves being an arc source. I found these to be a really relatable and simple way to explain these complex and somewhat nebulous concepts, and I’m really looking forward to stealing borrowing his metaphors and other examples in my own educational practice.Finally, I found it really refreshing that Clifton fully embraces the new future of lighting sources (LEDs) and doesn’t spend any time harping about how everything was better back in the tungsten days (as I’ve heard so many people do…) I share the sentiment that he lays out in this quote from page 131:“So, instead of getting wrapped up in finding colors equivalent to those made with one kind of light, perhaps it would be interesting to explore what new colors are possible with various sources of light.”To me, this is the best way to look at the future of lighting sources in our industry. It’s time to start blazing a path forward, rather than staying obsessed with the idea of trying to match everything specifically to a piece of gel in front of a 575w HPL Source Four.This book will certainly remain a favorite, and I’m excited to look back on it one day in the future to see how far the technology continues to develop.

Clifton Taylor is a master of the art of illumination. He is broadly known in the entertainment lighting industry for his brilliant use of color, both nuanced and bold. He is equally passionate about state-of-the-art innovation (i.e., color-mixing LED luminaires) and older technology (gels and other filters over white lamps), which is actually quite a rarity among his peers. He's a great author, a gifted teacher, and a gracious human being, and all of this shows in his writing.

This is simply a fantastic book by renowned lighting designer Clifton Taylor. I cannot recommend it enough, both to students and to professionals. Drawing on his decades of vast experience lighting for dance, theatre, and opera, the author serves as our guide through the science of seeing color and how understanding these concepts can enhance our storytelling as artists.Professionals will be inspired to take a closer look at their own use of color, and think more deeply about the roots of their intuitive choices. Students will find the suggested practical exercises invaluable in their coursework. As a teacher, I have personally used sections of the book to help students identify and solve problems like "missing color," which can be challenging to put into words. And unlike any other book on the market, this one addresses this unique moment in time where we are "in the midst of an LED revolution," and encourages us all to think about how this new technology can expand and enhance our palettes.Many thanks, Clifton, for reminding us all that "the experience of color, like taste and touch, is one of the great joys of being alive."

Clifton is a genius. So glad to have him and this book as a guide to the revolution that is LED lighting!

Clifton Taylor is a very well known lighting designer who has a very creative way of using color. In his book he covers scientific, technical, and artistic information that provide the reader with a well rounded knowledge to apply when working with color and light. I found the information educational and informative, while also challenging me to find my own way. The provided links to short videos really helped to demonstrate many of the key points.Anyone interested in theatrical lighting design will benefit from the insights contained within this book. You will certainly look at color with much more appreciation and possibility once you finish the text. It will be interesting to see how color and lighting continue to develop as we move further into an LED world. Clifton Taylor has done a great job at starting the conversation.

This book is a beautiful, essential and inspiring close look at color in theatrical lighting design. Clifton Taylor has created an amazing tool for lighting designers of any age, level or creative background. This book is a must read for ALL artists working in live performance.

I would recommend this to any serious practitioner of stage or event lighting design and technology. A must read.

Interesting and actionable information on the topic, previously not covered at this depth from lighting design literatue.

Pefetto