PROFILE

1) Shaped piece of scenery added to the edge of a flat instead of a straight edge. Also known as a cutout. 2) A type of lantern with at least one plano-convex lens which projects the outline of any chosen shape placed in its gate, sometimes with a variable degree of hardness/softness. Profiles include four beam-shaping metal shutters, a gate to take an iris or gobo and an adjustment to make the beam smooth and even ("flat") or hot in the centre ("peaky"). See Bifocal Spot, Zoom Profile.