Book excerpt: Now in its seventh edition, Designing with Light introduces readers to the art, craft, and technology of stage lighting and media projection. The new edition is fully updated to include current information on the technology of stage lighting: lighting fixtures, lamps, cabling, dimmers, control boards, as well as electrical theory. Readers will learn how designed light is used to enhance the audience’s understanding and enjoyment of a production. The book includes specific information on drafting the light plot, explores the challenges of designing for different stage configurations, and provides examples of lighting designs for dramas, musicals, and dance. It also features comments and thoughts from active designers from both mainstream theatrical productions and related industries. Written for students of Lighting Design and Technology as well as professional technicians and designers, Designing with Light offers a comprehensive survey of the practical and aesthetic aspects of stage lighting design.