I'm sure this has been discussed before,but can't locate thread. Which lights give best results without fog. I am lighting a 30x30 dance floor (lights to be overhead on 20 ft. circular truss).
Thanks
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I think fog is going to give you the most dramatic results.
I have been on production teams that used a white, semi transparant material (schram) for a background. With that in place we could apply a variety of lighting effects.
Good luck and hope that helps.
I have been on production teams that used a white, semi transparant material (schram) for a background. With that in place we could apply a variety of lighting effects.
Good luck and hope that helps.
Well i would say your best bet maybe...this is just me though, i would go with moving heads all around and theres a company that sells white stretchy sheets that can be used as scrims or screens. i would cover the top of the trussing with that a big circle of white scrim with ur movers scanning across it....a physical moving fixture always grabs my attention but thats all depending on your budget.
Thanks for the advice. I am using stretch tension fabric stuctures around the room to bounce gobos off.
My circle truss does have a fabric center that is back/top lit with a led moonflower
My circle truss does have a fabric center that is back/top lit with a led moonflower
Unless your moving units are very bright(not like the older Electra, Reflec, Barrel Flex and Rover II), those aren't very effective.
You could go wiht "high tech effects" and find something you like. Those seem to do taht sort of job especially well.
Otherwise, perhaps haze? Thinner. Works good.
You could go wiht "high tech effects" and find something you like. Those seem to do taht sort of job especially well.
Otherwise, perhaps haze? Thinner. Works good.
hi im new 2 this site but wat ive seen is good any way i have found that the coverage on the red and green lazer is realy good and u dont need smoke
Don't forget about good old par cans. You can get nice coverage with the flood lamp, and even more so with the addition of a frost filter.
More power - yes, but higher wattage and greater output. This is a great way just to get light into the area easily, and they'll punch through without artificial atmosphere. Plus, they're highly visible.
At the end of the day, all lighting effects look better with a little atmosphere, but you can create similar moods by compensating on how the effects are presented. Given that there may be little to no atmosphere to accent the lighting, you may need to look for something with a bit more power.
Scrim covers are very nice as well - lots of options there. There are also fixtures like LED panels that create very visible effects as well.
It's just a different take on the situation instead of thinking along the lines of sweeping beams of scanners or moving heads.
Best,
-Tech
More power - yes, but higher wattage and greater output. This is a great way just to get light into the area easily, and they'll punch through without artificial atmosphere. Plus, they're highly visible.
At the end of the day, all lighting effects look better with a little atmosphere, but you can create similar moods by compensating on how the effects are presented. Given that there may be little to no atmosphere to accent the lighting, you may need to look for something with a bit more power.
Scrim covers are very nice as well - lots of options there. There are also fixtures like LED panels that create very visible effects as well.
It's just a different take on the situation instead of thinking along the lines of sweeping beams of scanners or moving heads.
Best,
-Tech
also i have found the wizards has a good effect with out smoke aswell
The bottom line is that most of this is really "personal opinion" type of stuff. There are some WRONG answers, but most aren't wrong. Dim high-tech FX lights work best, or pretty much require fog for any sort of good usable application.
If you want to see the beams, or there is a reason/need to see the beams, then you gotta use something, be it fog or haze. If the beams aren't important but rather where the light is hitting, then most lights are going to be fine.
The best part of this thread, and thanks to those keeping it alive, is that opinions are like, well, you know. And everyone has one. For newbies looking for lights that might make a better investment, this is a good thread to hit to sort of steer shopping. For veterans like me who have to do lighting, it helps me get some ideas as well.
I don't use my fog machines because I need the power to run other stuff, and I realize it's hurting my events, but not enough to NOT get me jobs. I understand how things work, and I'm not going to be some sound company with too small of gear trying to push it past clipping to cover an area that the PA is not large enough for. That leads to gear blowing up(literally).
As more fixtures go LED and I replace my stuff with LED fixtures, this whole discussion is going to take on new meaning. Now that LED is reducing current draws, fog is going to enter again, but I don't need a lot of fog all the time, so knowing which lights don't seem to need fog or haze still becomes a very important consideration.
If you want to see the beams, or there is a reason/need to see the beams, then you gotta use something, be it fog or haze. If the beams aren't important but rather where the light is hitting, then most lights are going to be fine.
The best part of this thread, and thanks to those keeping it alive, is that opinions are like, well, you know. And everyone has one. For newbies looking for lights that might make a better investment, this is a good thread to hit to sort of steer shopping. For veterans like me who have to do lighting, it helps me get some ideas as well.
I don't use my fog machines because I need the power to run other stuff, and I realize it's hurting my events, but not enough to NOT get me jobs. I understand how things work, and I'm not going to be some sound company with too small of gear trying to push it past clipping to cover an area that the PA is not large enough for. That leads to gear blowing up(literally).
As more fixtures go LED and I replace my stuff with LED fixtures, this whole discussion is going to take on new meaning. Now that LED is reducing current draws, fog is going to enter again, but I don't need a lot of fog all the time, so knowing which lights don't seem to need fog or haze still becomes a very important consideration.
Thanks to everyone who replied to my question.I am using LED lights and can't produce any atmosphere. The beams aren't important (yet),so I will just try to excite the dance floor with led pars,a centerpiece and a 20" disco ball.
Boyd
Boyd
Well, let's look at your choices:
The mirror ball is a bit on the large size, but I expect you're talking a permanent thing, so in that case, size doens't matter. And if it is permanent, bigger is better. Point some LED Par36's at it and regardless, you've got a good thing right there. If you want to spice it up, aim different colors at the mirror ball. Also, use a properly rated motor, you're gonna want to spin that mirror ball.
Exciting the dance floor? Yeah, Par cans are nice to flood and wash. Not the greatest, but a tried and trie thing. You'll want to use something that is going to penetrate far enough, so definately Par38's are out. Par46's are a bit narrow. 56's and 64s would be the way to go. But, if you want a wider wash, perhaps an LED Punch Pro might be the ticket you are after?
Centerpieces is a matter of preference. I would get at least 3. The Sunray III is a nice color mirror-ball like fixture, rotating at 6rpm. but I know you're going LED. Mine is the older halogen. Been a great item for me. Another I recommend is the Mystic. It's has a really large throw area, super bright, so fog isn't a big deal. The Sunray III looks better with fog since it's a moonbeam fixture(whatever that means). A Vertigo is also nice, but is small, so you might want two of those for coverage. A copter-type fixture would be nifty, or those rotating ball/globe ones.
I mention multiple centerpieces because some have duty cycles. You can rotate between 3 or 4 lights every 10 minutes and ensure ample rotation. You could do it with 2, but if you have 3 or more, it's better variety for your guests.
If you plan it right, and it's pretty easy to, you'll have yourself a system that if it looks great without fog, it should look cooler with fog or haze. There are some lights that simply suck without fog though. What I'd do is really call up or fill out the form on the ADJ web site and order their latest product DVD and print catalog. Watch the DVD, follow with the print catalog. Take notes IN the print catalog of things you like and don't like. That will narrow it down as to things that you think are going to work for you.
Two things you need to take into consideration:
Mounting. Are you going to install it right to studs or at least some sort of structural framing? Or are you going to install trussing? I recommend trussing always, even if the trussing is mounted to the studs or joices. It's a more optimal mounting method and ensures adequate ventilaton.
Power. How much power you need up there? Are you going to have proper power installed?Dedicated circuits? Running power from dimmer or power packs? Think ahead and think safe.
Control. Crap, that's 3 things. Are you going to go DMX? Dimmer/power packs? How you gonna get signal up there? Use a DMX terminator, use DMX cabling. Heck, you might even install an XLR outlet for the cabling just to neaten things up and help facilitate upgrades later on.
Catalog and product DVD and some time to view and take notes. Good stuff!
The mirror ball is a bit on the large size, but I expect you're talking a permanent thing, so in that case, size doens't matter. And if it is permanent, bigger is better. Point some LED Par36's at it and regardless, you've got a good thing right there. If you want to spice it up, aim different colors at the mirror ball. Also, use a properly rated motor, you're gonna want to spin that mirror ball.
Exciting the dance floor? Yeah, Par cans are nice to flood and wash. Not the greatest, but a tried and trie thing. You'll want to use something that is going to penetrate far enough, so definately Par38's are out. Par46's are a bit narrow. 56's and 64s would be the way to go. But, if you want a wider wash, perhaps an LED Punch Pro might be the ticket you are after?
Centerpieces is a matter of preference. I would get at least 3. The Sunray III is a nice color mirror-ball like fixture, rotating at 6rpm. but I know you're going LED. Mine is the older halogen. Been a great item for me. Another I recommend is the Mystic. It's has a really large throw area, super bright, so fog isn't a big deal. The Sunray III looks better with fog since it's a moonbeam fixture(whatever that means). A Vertigo is also nice, but is small, so you might want two of those for coverage. A copter-type fixture would be nifty, or those rotating ball/globe ones.
I mention multiple centerpieces because some have duty cycles. You can rotate between 3 or 4 lights every 10 minutes and ensure ample rotation. You could do it with 2, but if you have 3 or more, it's better variety for your guests.
If you plan it right, and it's pretty easy to, you'll have yourself a system that if it looks great without fog, it should look cooler with fog or haze. There are some lights that simply suck without fog though. What I'd do is really call up or fill out the form on the ADJ web site and order their latest product DVD and print catalog. Watch the DVD, follow with the print catalog. Take notes IN the print catalog of things you like and don't like. That will narrow it down as to things that you think are going to work for you.
Two things you need to take into consideration:
Mounting. Are you going to install it right to studs or at least some sort of structural framing? Or are you going to install trussing? I recommend trussing always, even if the trussing is mounted to the studs or joices. It's a more optimal mounting method and ensures adequate ventilaton.
Power. How much power you need up there? Are you going to have proper power installed?Dedicated circuits? Running power from dimmer or power packs? Think ahead and think safe.
Control. Crap, that's 3 things. Are you going to go DMX? Dimmer/power packs? How you gonna get signal up there? Use a DMX terminator, use DMX cabling. Heck, you might even install an XLR outlet for the cabling just to neaten things up and help facilitate upgrades later on.
Catalog and product DVD and some time to view and take notes. Good stuff!