The Parabolic Aluminoid Reflector
The Parabolic Aluminoid Reflector, or Par, is of the simplest lighting instrument in use today. Made only out of two parts (the lamp/lens and the case or "can"), the par is mainly used as a narrow to wide floodlight, depending on the lens, which is easy to change. Used in groups pars can create massive floods and color washes that other instruments cannot. The par's simplicity and versatility is vital to many theatres with low budgets, such as high school theatres. Even with an extremely low budget, an electrician can easily and inexpensively build a parcan out of a coffee can and a lamp, which can be purchased or ordered from a lighting company. Efficiency is not the most prevalent feature of a par, most professional and Broadway theatres do not use them, but a par does give the best "Bang for the buck."

Pars come in a number of different sizes between 16 and 64. A par's size is usually placed after the name, for instance the one pictured above is an Altman PAR64. The 64 stands for 64 one-eighths of an inch wide barrel, or eight inches.

Pars do not have shutters, so on a smaller stage, or when less light from a par is needed, a "barn door" (see Accessories) is used. Barn doors are the signature of popular lighting, they consist of two to four slabs of metal on hinges, arranged into a square, and fitted to the front of the instrument. The barn doors can be adjusted in and out to cut the light to the necessary size.

The lighting instrument pictured on the title graphic of the instrument section is ETC's Source 4 edition of the par. The Source 4 par is not only heat absorbent, but it is even easier to adjust than a regular par. With a more complicated design than that the conventional par, the Source 4 par's lens is separate from the source and therefore can be rotated independently of the rest of the lamp.

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