A method of applying realtime effects to at least one lighting channel (15) for a lighting fixture or luminaire (11) is disclosed. The method includes the steps of providing a common control means interface (12) which controls the different realtime effects (13/14) to be applied to the one or more lighting channels. The realtime effects include those selected from amongst the following effects: Intensity, Position, Color, Gobo (Pattern) Beam or other controllable attribute of an automated lighting fixture. The method of applying realtime effects making up the combined effect under realtime control is such that each included effects feature of all fixtures is coordinated by a corresponding effects master controller (13/145) for that effect.