ESP Vision’s Early Christmas Present – Version 3.0 on Sale!

During LDI 2009 , I wrote about ESP Visions announcement of Version 3.0 release with the great news that the software will run nativily on a Mac. Well, I just received an email from Lighting and Sound America that ESP Vision has an early Christmas present for everyone!

ESP Vision is giving you an early Christmas present. We are proud to announce the release of the next generation in its lighting pre-visualization software with Vision 3.0.

Purchase Vision 3 Mac or Vision 2.3 PC by December 31, 2009, and get a great deal. First, FREE SHIPPING on all orders AND enjoy the following discounts:

• 1-3 Universes – get 10% off (Use code XMAS09A and save up to $225)
• 4-9 Universes – get ONE FREE UNIVERSE (Use code XMAS09B and save $750)
• UNLIMITED – get an extra year’s subscription (Use code XMAS09C and save $1,500)

But you must act before December 31, 2009. Go to www.espvision.com/buyit and enter the discount code. Or contact us at sales@espvision.com, or via phone at 702-740-1870. Existing customers can add to their current licenses, as well!

Talk about some great savings! Hurry and get your order in before the end of the year!

Thanks L&SA!

Avolites Introduces Tiger Touch Lighting Console

During LDI 2009, I got a chance to stop by and take a close look at Avolites latest lighting desk, the Tiger Touch.  The Tiger Touch is a “hybrid” of the of powerful Diamond 4 functionality coupled with the friendly Pearl interface. The desk features a wide screen touch interface that provides an ever evolving software skin which can be adapted to the programmers style and layout preferences.

The Tiger Touch Lighting Desk utilizes Avolites latest Operating System, the TITAN.  TITAN has been created as a “Clean Sheet”. It’s fresh, clear design is fast and elegant to use. Avolites will continue to develop the TITAN Operating System and these benefits are continuously offered to users ongoingly at no extra charge under Avolites policy of “Free Upgrades for the Life of the Console”.

Some of the features included in the Tiger Touch and the TITAN OS:

• Fixture Exchange
• Fixture Copy
• Attribute Timing on Cues
• Head Up Display with Visualizer
• iPhone/iPod Touch Remote Control

The Tiger Touch Lighting Desk offer 4 universes of DMX out directly o the board with the ability to speak Art-Net nativily over Ethernet and up to 12 universe of DMX. The Tiger Touch seems to be a great tour console with the 4universes of output giving us 2,048 addresss to play with plenty of conventionals and moving lights.  With it’s small form factor, just 29.5″ x 24″ x 12″ and weighing in at 66lbs in a flight case, the Tiger Touch Lighting Desk might be an option.  I am still waiting to hear on price as the desk has not begun to ship yet through TMB, the US distributor.

For more information on the Tiger Touch Lighting Desk from Avolites, visit their website at www.avolites.org.uk.

Lighting and Electronics Introduced the WorkLite LED

Lighting and Electronics out of Wappingers Falls New York introduced a new product the their WorkLite series of fixtures, the WorkLite LED at LDI this year.

The WorkLite LED uses 2.5 watt, high intensity white LEDs lamps at 150 lumens per LED.  With 18 LEDs, that equals 2,700 lumens of output. The WorkLite produces 6,500 kelvin color temperature with a 48 degree field angle and 33 degree beam angle.

Since the fixture uses LEDs, the WorkLite LED is ideal for spaces that are looking to replace their tungsten or HID worklights with energy efficient LEDs. The fixture is low profile and light weight measuring in at 10.25″h x 15.3″w x 3.25″d and made from light weight aluminum.

The L&E WorkLite LED has an on board power supply and requires no modifications to operate on either 120v or 240v. The LEDs have a lamp life of 70,000 hours.

Production of the WorkLite LED has begun and is expected to begin shipping during the first quarter of 2010. The WorkLite is expected to be in the price range of $1,200. USD.  For more information on the L&E WorkLite LED, visit L&E’s website at www.le-us.com.

The iSquint.net Podcast – Episode 2: The 2009 LDI Post Show Podcast

It took some time, but here it is, the 2nd episode of the iSquint Podcast. Jim from Jimonlight.com and I finally got a chance to sit down after a couple of weeks after the show to put our thoughts down into the 2009 LDI Post Show Podcast.

There were quite a few new things introduced, mentioned and hinted at while at the show.  Jim and I talked at great lengths about some of the hottest and award winning products out there from LDI and share our views and opinions.

I personally had an amazing time at LDI.  I got a chance to see a lot of new things, meet new friends, catch up with old friends and had just an all around great time in the sunshine state.

While down in Orlando, I pre-recorded a couple of interviews for future episodes of the iSquint Podcast as well as video taped some product demo, some of which are already posted on the iSquint YouTube channel. If you haven’t had a chance, visit my 2009 LDI Photo Set on Flickr.com to get an idea of what the show floor was like.

[podcast]http://isquint.net/wp-content/uploads/podcast/iSquint.net_Podcast-Episode_2.mp3[/podcast]

Friday Flickr Lighting Porn – SUNY Fredonia

This weeks randomly chosen Friday Flickr Lighting Porn comes from SUNY Fredonia Department of Theatre and Dance. the above images is from the 2007 production of Rocky Horror Show at the Rockefeller Arts Center on the Walter Gloor Mainstage.

The Department of Theatre Arts at SUNY Fredonia was officially created in 1972 by founding chairman Dr. Jack Cogdill upon the opening of the Rockefeller Arts Center. Each year, The department puts on 5 mainstage productions with a range of shows from classical plays to contemporary and modern musicals.

To learn more about the Department of Theatre and Dance at SUNT Fredonia, visit the departments website at www.fredonia.edu. What to see your lighting design work spotlighted on iSquint’s Friday Flickr Porn, add your images to the iSquint Flickr Pool. Each week, a Lighting Design photo is randomly chosen from the Pool and featured here on iSquint.

The 2010 iSquint and Jimonlight FAT-OFF Begins

Over the last couple of months you may have noticed that Jimonlight and iSquint have become close allies in bringing you reliable lighting information, coverage of trade shows and all around camaraderie.  Along the way Jim and I have become close friends and supporter of each others adventures.

With our first meeting at LDI 2009, we quickly relied on each other for support. The support now continues with a new contest between us.  Both Jim and I have come to the realization that we are over weight.  With the “gentle suggestions” from each of our wives, we have decided to take the wives suggestions and lose some weight.  To make it interesting, we have started a friendly competition, the 2010 FAT OFF.

The goal, LOSE WEIGHT!  The reward, LOSING WEIGHT and feeling better about each other. We have our starting weight and who ever loses the most weight based on percentage wins.  It’s that simple! Want to join us in our Fat Off? Jim and I will be using a free iPhone app called Lose It! What is nice about the app is, first, it is FREE, second we can easily track each others progress.  You can add Jim and I as friends through their website, www.loseit.com.  You can track me, Justin Lang by using my email address, info@isquint.net and Jim’s email at jim@jimonlight.com.

The FAT OFF begins today and ends on July 1, 2010. Join us in becoming our own Biggest Losers!

Long Reach Long Riders Saddle Up For 2010

With this past summers ride down and gone in the east, the Long Reach Long Riders are planning their 6th annual ride on the west coast.  I was sad to have to miss this years ride as it went straight through my back door.  Here is a little more info from the 2009 ride on the east coast:

The 2009 ride raised over $42,000.00 for the ESTA Foundation’s Behind the Scenes program and Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, making it the second largest amount raised to date. The combined LRLR total raised since the first ride in 2004 has now exceeded $200,000.00

The participants; 18 motorcycles and as many as three chase vehicles, enjoyed a weeklong ride that took them over mountains, past lush farmland and sweeping vistas and through a number of National and State Parks. The 2,500 mile ride, which began in Richmond, Virginia and ended in Dahlonega, Georgia, visited 5 states and rode on many scenic highways including the Skyline Drive, the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Cherohala Skyway. The group also tempted fate by riding some of the most famous twisting mountain roads in the USA including The Snake in Shady Valley, Tennessee and the Dragon’s Tail in Robbinsville, North Carolina.

This year’s riders and chase car drivers hail from 13 states, the District of Columbia, British Columbia, Canada and London, England.

So are you pumped up about joining the ride?  Here is more information on the 7th annual Long Reach Long Ride.

The Long Reach Long Riders announce their seventh annual charity motorcycle ride.  The ride, which benefits the ESTA Foundation’s Behind The Scenes program and Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, begins in San Francisco on July 24, 2010.

The ride, which began as one time event back in 2004, has raised more than $200,000.00 over the past six years.  “We were just a bunch of technicians looking for a fun way to attend a conference”, commented Bill Sapsis, one of the original ride organizers. “Who knew it would turn out like this?” Greg Williams, another founding member added, “The group was so much fun to ride with we just had to do it again.  We’ve seen a lot of really beautiful country in the past six years and this years ride will offer a lot more as well as some of the best riding roads in the west.”

The riders will assemble at the Presidio in San Francisco on the morning of July 24th and head north into the Napa Valley.  Over the next seven days the group will head through Eureka and then west to Truckee and Lake Tahoe.  They’ll ride through Yosemite and down to Hollister, CA, the birthplace of the outlaw biker legend in the US.  Then it’s over to the coast and back up to San Francisco via the legendary Pacific Coast Highway, arriving on July 31st.

As in previous years, anyone who wants to ride with us is more than welcome, either as  a ‘day tripper’ or for the entire ride.  For more information on the route, joining the ride or making a donation, please visit www.lrlr.org.

JR Clancy Introduces iRigging iPhone App

I was blown away this afternoon when I received an email from JR Clancy announceing their latest product, iRigging.  It is an iPhone app for figuring out rigging calculations and information.  Here is more from the press release:

It’s never been easier to get the equipment data you need for proper installation and operation of manual and motorized rigging.  J. R. Clancy has turned its popular rigging slide rule tool into a free iPhone app, specifically for installers and users of theatre stage rigging.

The new app is called iRigging, and it delivers instant information about wire rope, batten loading, arbors, stage ropes, motors, fabrics, fleet angles, and more in English and metric units.  It’s easy to install and use from an iPhone or iPod Touch.

iRigging provides wire rope data, including:

• Minimum sheave pitch diameter
• Quantity of cable clips
• Wire turnback for cable clips
• Proper torque for cable clip bolts
• Cable breaking strength
• Nicopress® sleeve crimp quantity and manual tool

Other data includes:

• Allowable fleet angles
• Uniform and midpoint batten loading
• Arbor capacity
• Weight of counterweights
• Recommended working loads for equipment
• Motor current
• Stage ropes
• Weight of stage fabrics

To learn more about the iRigging iPhone app from JR Clancy, visit their website at www.jrclancy.com.  You can download the iRigging App for FREE from the iTunes app store. It is available separately for both imperial and metric.

Tuesday Twitter Trivia – Lamp Life

Welcome to another Tuesday Twitter Trivia Question.  This week I am back on lamps.  Their is a lot of buzz in the industry right now about energy efficiency with LEDs.  Ad to that the economical situation that the United States is in, everyone is looking ways to save money. Purchasing almost any type of LED fixture right now is a huge investment up front, but can pay off over time.  Since most of us have trouble with that initial investment, how can we extend out budgets with our current lights.

So this weeks Tuesday Twitter Trivia question is about tungsten lamps and how to extend them past the lamp hour rating set forth by the manufacture.

Name a way to extend the lamp hour rating of a tungsten lamp.

This week I am going to change it up and ask that you provide your answer in the comment section of this article rather then direct message through twitter.  I will accept both methods, but leaving a comment here, everyone will benefit from your response.

Mole Richardson Introduces MoleLED

Mole Richardson, one of the oldest lighting company’s has stepped into the LED world this year at LDi with the announcement of their latest fixture, the MoleLED.  Mole Richardson is a trusted name in the Film and Video world with the distinguishing pink lights. But don’t let the color throw you off, their fixtures are trusted by industry professionals around the world for their durability, design and of course output.

Mole worked with OSRAM Sylvania to develop the MoleLED using the OSRAM Sylvania proprietary Phosphor Dome Technology to offer a Tungsten and Daylight LED fixture. The MoleLED fixture consists of 12 OSRAM KREIOS LED circuit board, each containing 20 high output LEDs for a total of 240 individual LEDs, each topped with a remote phosphor dome. The phosphor domes are an OSRAM proprietary design, which are blue light activated to produce light in two exact color temperatures, Tungsten and Daylight.

Measuring in at 15″ high by 3.5″ deep and just 18.25″ wide and a total weight of only 13 lbs with the yoke, the MoleLED is perfect for location lighting were lightweight and small compact design is required. There is local or DMX controlled dimming from 100% to 10% with auto sensing power supply from 100-240 volts and uses just 0.6 amps max draw on a 110 volt AC power input.

To MoleLED is expected to being to ship early 2010.  A pricing has not been released as of yet.  To learn more about the MoleLED, visit Mole Richardson’s website at www.mole.com.

iSquint Holiday Gift Guide for the Theatre Geek

Can you feel that?  It’s the gift giving season! There are always great gift giving guides for loved ones, kids, add all kinds of other people in our lives.  But what about the techie in all of us?

There are a bunch of cool tools and toys out there for the techie and designer in all of us.  Most of these gadgets help us do our jobs quicker and easier.  Then there are some that are just way to cool not to own and play with.

The iSquint Holiday gift Guide is just a sampleing of some ideas on what to get.  Where can you pick up these great gift ideas?  Try your local theatrical dealer. If you can’t find it there, you can certainly find it online some where.  But as today is December 7, you better hurry, you want to make sure to get your gifts in well before the celebration begins!

I have broken down the guide into three list.  One list for each type of theatre professional.  While of course there are many MANY other types of theatre professions, I am just focusing on these at the moment.  If you feel that I am missing a great gift to add to the guide, let me know if the comments section of this article.

Happy Hunting!

Techie

• The Ratcheting & Original Ultimate Focus Tool
• Focus Glass
• C-wrench
• Pin Splitter
• iPhone Lighting  apps
• Setwear Gloves
• Backstage handbook
• FireSword Flashlight
• MagLight
• Spyderco Knife
• iTunes Gift Card

Lighting Desingers

• Lux meter
• Seachanger Color Bug Meter
• Lightwright 5
• Vectorworks
• WYSIWYG

Programmers

• Enttect Programming Wings
• DMX Coffee Machine
• Swisson DMX tester

Again, these are just a sampling of gifts to get the theatre professional in your life. Am I missing something to the list? Let me know in the comments section of this post.

Review: Rosco Strobist Gel Collection

A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about an interesting product from Rosco Labs, the Rosco Strobist Collection Kit. While this does not have to do directly with Entertainment lighting, it is still worth a mention as a designer we must document our work for our records and our portfolio. Rosco Labs was kind enough to send me a sample of the Strobist Kit to test out the color corrections and write a review here on iSquint.

First, let’s hear what Rosco has to say about the Strobist Collection:

Rosco, the worldwide leader in color filters has assembled the essential collection of filters for use with your on-board flash. Rosco has been manufacturing color filters since 1910 and our Cinegel range of color filters has earned two Academy Awards™. Working with David Hobby, the founder of www.strobist.com, The Strobist Collection contains the Cinegel filters photographers need, properly sized (1.5″ x 3.25″) to fit most shoe-mount strobes. There are 20 different colors inside with multiple pieces of each color for a total of 55 pieces of filter.

So what comes in the Rosco Strobist Kit.  Think of the kit as a normal swatch book with only the colors that you might need to correct colors of a photo with the use of a flash. The size of the cuts of gel are the same exact size from the normal Rosco gel swatch book, minus the hole from the pin. The cuts of gel are already the perfect size to place in front of most standard shoe mounted strobes.  While there is no specific way to attach the gel to the front of your strobe, using tape will work just fine.  In my case, I used a flash hood not only to help diffuse and soften the flash, but to hold the gel cuts in front of our strobe. The cuts of gel were a little larger then the size of my flash hood, but the gel easily flexed a little inside the flash hood while still giving me the same effect.

My camera of choice is my Nikon D80 and Nikkor DX 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G lens with a Nikon SB 28DX Flash. Each of my review photos was taken at a distance of 2.5′ with an ISO 200, F 5.3, and a speed of 1/60 so that each photo was consistently the same except for adding of the gel. Have to be some what scientific about this testing!

From the gallery of images below, you can get an idea of what the Strobist Gel kit has to offer to change the look and color of the scene you are trying to capture. Most if not all of these color corrections can certainly happen in post production, but it is always better to do less in post and frame and correct the shot before hand.

Is the Rosco Strobist Gel Kit worth the $9.95 it cost to color correct your images while on location?  I am going to leave that question for you to answer.  For me, the Strobist Kit will be a nice addition to my camera bag.

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