The floodlight is the simplest light, providing soft and wide-ranging stage lighting. This lighting tends to be used as a general light when focusing on a scene as it cannot be specifically focused.
The Fresnel also provides soft and wide-ranging stage lighting. It offers more control over the area lit as the beam of light can be adjusted with barn doors (shutters that open and close to control the amount and direction of light leaving the equipment).
The profile light offers higher intensity and more versatility. It can focus on a specific area or object on the stage, or project an unlimited number of images onto the stage through the use of gobos (slides placed in front of a light). This light is the most often-used theater light.
Parcan lights are a cheap and simple theatrical light. They are especially useful when applying special effects or colors.
Spotlights, typically located in, above or around the booth, are operated manually by stage technicians. They focus on an individual during a scene, providing a distinct spot, a soft focus or a middle ground.