Uplighting is a lighting technique in which lights are placed on the ground and directed upward to accentuate walls, columns, plants, and other focal points. It is commonly used in live events, architectural spaces, and immersive environments to create atmosphere, depth, and drama. While uplighting provides numerous advantages, it also presents some unique challenges. In this article, we explore how lighting designers used Rosco Cubes, OPTI-SCULPT lenses or both together to overcome four common uplighting challenges, ensuring seamless illumination across a variety of settings.
Uplighting is a key element of landscape lighting, often used to accentuate trees. Rosco OPTI-SCULPT lenses enable designers to precisely control the beam angle of a variety of fixtures—whether they are highlighting a tree’s trunk or fully illuminating its broad crown.
Rosco OPTI-SCULPT lenses create tight streaks of light that illuminate entire tree trunks.
On the Christmas at Bedgebury trail, designers used OPTI-SCULPT lenses to uplight narrow tree trunks, carefully controlling light to avoid spilling onto surrounding flora. This precise beam control made individual trees stand out, adding depth and dimension to the trail while creating a magical visual experience for visitors.
When the beam angle doesn’t match the size or shape of the column, it can result in dark edges, uneven lighting, or excessive spill onto surrounding scenery. A narrow beam may not fully cover the width of the column, while a wide beam may waste light or lose intensity where it is needed most. The Miro Cube 2 fixtures deliver powerful, focused illumination perfect for uplighting columns. Each unit also includes an OPTI-SCULPT Lens Kit, enabling designers to accurately match the beam to the column’s dimensions.
Rosco Miro Cubes 2 4C paired with OPTI-SCULPT lenses highlight columns on stage.
This approach was used to great effect in Stage Entertainment’s Hamburg production of MJ – Das Michael Jackson Musical. The lighting team installed Miro Cube® 2 4C fixtures at the base of each pillar on both sides of the stage. Their compact design allowed them to be seamlessly integrated beneath the stage floor, delivering powerful output while remaining completely out of sight.
Rosco Miro Cube 2 4C installed below the stage surface.
Paired with OPTI-SCULPT lenses, the Miro Cube 2 4C fixtures precisely illuminated the on-stage pillars with rich, saturated tones, adding depth, texture and drama to the overall lighting design.
Test images of Rosco Miro Cube 2 4C fixtures used in the production of MJ – Das
Michael Jackson Musical.
When a set or space includes a row of columns, small differences in aim, output, or beam quality can make each one look slightly different—especially from a distance or on camera. Using matching fixtures with consistent output levels and repeatable positioning effectively mitigates this issue.
Rosco Miro Cubes provide consistent illumination across columns inside the Justice League: Warworld Attacks attraction.
At the Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi indoor theme park, Miro Cubes WNC (now upgraded to Miro Cube® 2 WNC) were used to uplight columns in front of a large faux window. The fixtures’ narrow optics projected crisp shafts of white light from base to capital, accentuating the columns’ form with elegance. Intuitive onboard controls and easy DMX setup enabled designers to quickly dial in identical settings across all units, ensuring a uniform look from column to column.
Scenic elements, foot traffic, or architectural constraints often leave very little room to place uplight fixtures on the stage. The Braq Cube fixtures—compact, powerful and versatile—can be installed discreetly on the stage floor to illuminate performers.
PMC founder Billy Star uplit by Rosco Braq Cube WNC fixtures.
For the Pan-Mass Challenge (PMC)—one of the largest fundraising cycling events in the U.S.—designers placed the unobtrusive Braq Cube® WNC fixtures with built-in barn doors at the front of the stage, providing soft, even illumination on the talent.
Rosco Cubes and OPTI-SCULPT lenses offer designers unmatched creative control. Whether used separately or together, they deliver precise, directional illumination, perfect for highlighting vertical structures, architectural features or performers. For more information about the products designers use to solve uplighting challenges, please explore Rosco Cubes and OPTI-SCULPT lenses product pages on the Rosco website.
Tatiana Massano October 23, 2025 Questions?
Content Marketing Specialist: Based in the Madrid office, Tatiana is ideally positioned to share inspiring stories of how customers use Rosco products to accomplish their ideas in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.