Light the stage so that the audience can see the action. This sounds like a simple enough task, but it is a bit more complicated than one would think. It is not about lighting the stage so that everything is seen; it is about lighting the stage so that the important action is seen, while everything else is given a chance to shine as well. This is difficult but achievable. Those who have the important dialogue, or the important movement in that particular moment, should be illuminated, while the rest are dimly lit, if not completely blacked out. Learning the right intensity for a given artistic moment is a task best learned with experience
Choose the correct color for the stage. Color is nearly as important as intensity of the light. Learning what colors create a certain mood can make you a great designer. Not only can color create a mood, it also creates the atmosphere for an entire show, and can help progress the concept, or the unifying idea, that has been put forward by the director and the other design team members. Experiment with different gels, or colored piece of plastic, over the lights that you choose for a show before you decide on a final color. The more saturated the color, the more intense the effect. Combining colors from a general wash, or a color that covers the entire stage, and a color presented by a few lights, can completely change the look of a show. Choose wisely.
Choosing the correct color of light can also create a certain mood during a show. Lighting from the top will brighten any sharp points on an actor's body, but is usually effective when paired with a side or front light. A light from behind creates an aura around the performer that is very striking, highlighting the hair and shoulders, making the performer look big and powerful. Lighting from below can make a performer look ominous and scary. Again, all these lighting techniques will become natural with practice.