Entertainment LED Lighting
Entertainment lighting has traditionally been the term used to describe the production lighting for theatres, films, television shows, concert tours, discotheques, exhibitions, awards ceremonies, cruise ships and holiday camps. In fact, anywhere professional lighting equipment is used for lighting entertainment productions, including educational establishments such as schools, colleges and universities, all feature entertainment lighting.
Recently, amateur productions have grown in technical expertise and quality, particularly in the US worship sector. The entertainment lighting used in worship productions is now cutting edge and rivals many high end professional shows.
Whilst LED lighting offers exciting possibilities, it is important to recognise that LED lighting is not currently a complete replacement for all other entertainment lighting sources. Traditional tungsten profile fixtures offer a consistent quality of light that is difficult to replicate with LED fixtures and discharge moving lights offer output and features yet to be achieved with an LED alternative. However, embrace LED technology for what it can do well and it will surely add a new dimension to almost any production lighting system.
Colour Mixing
Colour mixing LED lighting has some inherent features that make it suitable for entertainment lighting. A colour mixing LED fixture can achieve a wide range of colours by mixing different LED sources at various intensity levels. A basic palette of colours can be achieved by combining Red, Green and Blue. However, more mixed colours are required to achieve a fuller, more subtle palette. Adding a high output Amber LED can dramatically increase the quality of light (CRI) and range of colours available. The Chroma-Q™ Color Block 2™ LED fixture features a CRI of 90, has an enhanced colour range and offers a natural looking light output.
Control
LED fixtures offer instant on and off, making them ideal for applications where fast and precise control is required. LED sources are small and often individually controllable, allowing unprecedented finesse. Large arrays of LED fixtures can be used as "eye candy" to create a low resolution video wall: the Chroma-Q Color Web™ LED array is ideal for television and concert touring applications. Similarly, the Chroma-Q Color Block™ LED modular batten is often used as eye candy on concert touring and television events.
Although each LED device has a relatively low output, when placed closely together in large quantities, LEDs can offer substantial quantities of light. When advanced optical design is used, groups of LEDs can be used to light large theatrical or television cycloramas. The control achievable using many small sources offers a new range of cyclorama effects. The Chroma-Q Color Force™ LED batten is designed to light theatrical and television cycloramas.
Traditional, educational and amateur theatre lighting all utilise general purpose batten or border lighting. Often used in long rows above the stage to light large areas of cloth or scenery, the 40° batten or border light could be considered a theatrical lighting workhorse. A high power LED batten or LED border light can be used with great effect and can offer a more flexible and efficient alternative to traditional fixtures. The Chroma-Q Color Force range can be fitted with optional Border optics to offer a true LED theatrical batten or LED theatrical border light. Likewise for concert touring, cruise ships, award shows and exhibition lighting, wash lights offer a modular and flexible way to light areas with "soft" forgiving light.
Energy Efficient
Modern discharge wash lights use 100% energy when at any colour, including blackout. LEDs only use energy when they are emitting light and have substantial efficiencies in saturate colours when compared to filtered discharge wash lights. LED wash lights are an efficient and long life option for concert touring, award shows, exhibition and cruise ships. LED wash lights could be considered a viable alternative to traditional wash lights. The Chroma-Q Color Punch™, Color Force and Color Block 2 fixtures can all be used as LED wash lights.
Theatrical LED Lighting
The demands on theatrical lighting are as diverse as the productions. Large musical shows are often more similar in style to rock concerts, some strive to re-create true to life situations whilst others use lighting to suggest only. LED fixtures can have a place in all of these styles of theatrical production.
LED Film Lighting
The technical demands required for LED film lighting are substantial. The high quality of light required for close up shots must emulate full spectrum (CRI) lighting at various colour temperatures. Also, the specific nature of how the film cameras collect their images can cause LED fixtures to create visible pulsing and flickering unless addressed by the LED fixture manufacturer. The Chroma-Q Color Punch, Color Block 2 and Color Force are all flicker free and suitable for use as film lighting. The Chroma-Q Color Block 2 and Color Force are high CRI LED fixtures.
LED Television Lighting
The technical demands required for LED television lighting can be challenging. The specific nature of how the video cameras collect their images can cause LED fixtures to create visible pulsing and flickering unless addressed by the LED fixture manufacturer. The Chroma-Q Color Punch, Color Block 2 and Color Force fixtures are all flicker free and suitable for use as film lighting. The Chroma-Q Color Block 2 and Color Force are high CRI LED fixtures. The Chroma-Q Color Web is often used in television studios for controllable pixel mapped backgrounds. The Color Web is cost effective and is also used behind studio audiences.