This is the archive, no???

The Blue Room Technical Forum Announces Major Upgrades and Redesign

The Blue Room Technical Forums are pleased to announce a major upgrade to their popular website. After 8 years the site has grown from strength to strength with over 15,000 members and over 370,000 posts.

The latest software includes integration of social networking features offering users the facility to share content with their contacts over sites such as Twitter and Facebook, a completely new look and feel together with a modern, stylish, new logo. Updated Blue Room merchandise, featuring the new logo, is now available for purchase through a dedicated web store. As ever The Blue Room remains a not for profit organization run entirely by volunteers, with all money raised invested back into the running of the site.

Although designed for future proofing, the Blue Rooms investment in a dedicated web server back in 2004 has now been surpassed by the demand for the site. The upgrade sees a move to a new server which features improved storage capability and an increased processor capability. With over 30 million hits last year, The Blue Room has surpassed all expectations.
Alongside new software and a new web server, The Blue Room have now included the ability to hold private conversations with groups of other members, as well as improved access from mobile devices, with optimization for iOS and Android.
Included in the upgrade is a new look and feel for The Blue Room’s Wiki, which continues to build a reputation as a source of quality user-generated information for the industry. With over 1,500 articles, covering topics from basic product specifications to advanced explanation of backstage techniques, this open resource is available for anyone to contribute to and is rapidly growing into a world renowned resource for backstage information.

Log on now and check out the latest in backstage discussion online. The Blue Room as ever can be found at www.blue-room.org.uk or by searching for ‘blue room forum’.

Cast Software Releases WYSIWGY R26 TOMORROW, 12/15/2010

Get your previsualization self ready.  Cast Software is preparing to release WYSIWYG R26 tomorrow, December 15, 2010!  If you are already a member, you can head over to the Members Only section of Cast Software’s web site and get it now!

More from Cast Software:

wysiwyg R26 is really virtually real, and this is a fact. R26 has been designed to give the user a better experience on many planes – with a heavy emphasis on Reports and Presentation.

New features in wysiwyg R26 include:

  • Worksheets: Import/Export data from Excel (97,2000,2003,2007) & CSV
  • Over 100 onboard spreadsheet calculations
  • SmartCells: Use PRES Mode’s new SmartCells to intelligently update your show data in both Reports and Worksheets
  • Dimensions: Create clear & concise plots with the new radial and arc length dimension tools
  • Frames simulate motion in Six Degrees of Freedom
  • Reports: Improved Reports tab makes it easier to create, customize, and maintain all of your show’s vital information; Intelligent data filtering using Boolean queries

Luminair App for iPad: A no-brainer for every production set; Download fixture POV and DMX data to your iPod and now to your iPad. Plus R26 allows the User to send Reports, Layouts and Worksheets as PDFs to the Luminaire App
R26 gives the user a solid platform of spreadsheet tools, improving the data experience for the user and improving efficiency in creating paperwork. R26 is also the international debut of some new essential dimensioning tools – radial dimensioning, arc length, and a new Protractor Tool. CAST software development has also made developments in the virtual environment, adding the ability to use the 3Dconnexion mouse for true 3D flyovers on 6 Degrees of Freedom – X, Y, Z, and Pitch, Roll, and Yaw.

wysiwyg R26 and the 3D mouse from 3DConnexion

R26 now has the ability to put the User directly into digital space with the 3Dconnexion mouse, using all of the 6 Degrees of Freedom. 3Dconnexion is a subsidiary of Logitech, headquartered in Fremont, California with European headquarters in Munich, Germany and offices worldwide. With this unique 3D mouse users can pan, zoom and rotate as if they’re holding the model in their hand. It’s a level of control that’s simply not possible with a traditional mouse and keyboard. Users can also operate cameras with this new powerful addition to wysiwyg, focus conventional fixtures, and create amazing flybys as well as switch camera views and create a live motion video – capturing it all with wysiwyg’s onboard CamStudio package.

The 3Dconnexion connectivity feature turns an already outstanding product and gives it wings to fly – so users can now truly interface with the digital world on a level not seen before in lighting design program packages. CAST has upgraded the User experience, increasing productivity, creativity, and potential. With the 3Dconnexion mouse in one hand and a normal keyboard/mouse combination on the other hand, users are truly enabled to fly through their design.

Featured Library Additions

Members will also be pleased with the Library Additions included with R26. In fact, the wysiwyg Library is bigger than ever. wysiwyg R26 includes loads of hot new fixtures and the truss, gobos and accessories needed to do a show right. R26 introduces the Coemar Infinity Spot M, Coemar Reflection, GLP Impression Meisterstück, Robe ColorSpot 1200E AT Profile, Martin MAC 101 (Preliminary), Clay Paky Sharpy (Preliminary) and more. Over 65 new fixtures, 165 Gobos and 71 Truss pieces have been added.

Learn more about Cast Software’s WYSIWYG R26 by visiting their web site at www.cast-soft.com.

Lighting for Worship Session added to Super Saturday, January 22, 2011

Lighting for Worship session at Stage Lighting Super Saturday. Tom Sanziano will present a beginner’s guide to starting the lighting process in the Worship Market.  This session will provide an excellent introduction for anyone taking their first steps into worship lighting. Scott Parker says, “We are excited to have Tom join us this year. The lighting design and production values for worship have been on the rise for several years now and church services are one of the few areas that constantly cross the lines of live presentation and broadcast to television. Tom will be joining our faculty that includes legendary designers Ken Billington and Richard Pilbrow.”

This popular annual seminar is designed for everyone involved in stage, architectural, or entertainment lighting. The sessions are not too basic nor too advanced. Sonny Sonnenfeld adds, “Everyone who attends will benefit. The intense all day seminar will be led by theatre lighting professionals leading sessions about inspiration, training, product, and just doing it.”

A dozen theater lighting professionals will speak and about 20 industry lighting manufacturers will on hand and have technical personnel and equipment to demonstrate. The tentative program includes inspiration, fixtures, color, consoles, moving lights, trouble shooting, CAD, Virtual Magic Sheet & LightWright, paperwork, and other subjects. Starting at 8:00 am on Saturday, January 22, 2011, the sixth-annual Stage Lighting Super Saturday all-day seminar will take place at the conveniently located Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts in New York City located across from New York City’s Lincoln Center.

For more information, please visit www.stageseminars.com.

MA Lighting Releases v2.1.0 [6.6] of grandMA2 Software

It’s the Holiday Season and MA Lighting has a special present for you, a software update to your grandMA 2 desk!  MA Lighting just announced the release of version 2.1.0 [6.6] of the desk software for the grandMA2, grandMA series 1 desk, grandMA 3D and the MA VPU.

One of the main features of the new desk software is the implementation of the brand new grandMA2 Remote App for your iOS devices. MA Lighting recently released their latest version of the iOS app for the new grandMA2 software and in 2.1.0, it is full implemented!

Some of the other features that version 2.1.0 [6.6] brings:

  • Partial show read
  • DMX Tester
  • Full configuration for MA VPU
  • RDM first implementation
  • Art-Net in / Pathport implemented

You can read more about the changes and updates in the software by reading over the release notes.  To download and install the new software, visit www.malighting.com.

iPad App: Remote-Cue for Martin LightJockey

Martin Professional already has the MaxRemote iPhone app for their Maxyz series of consoles.  In steps a third party app developer, BLAST Co that developed an iPad app that connects to Martin’s LightJockey PC based lighting controller.

Remote-Cue connects to LightJockey via a WiFI network through Martins LJManager. Just like any iOS remote app for lighting desk control, you get functions for remotely controlling and playback on the iPad.

Some of the functions Remote-Cue offers:

  • Cue Playback
  • Sequence Mode
  • Focuse Mode
  • MasterControl

Check out the 8 minute demo video that BLAST Co put together showing off the app in action.

Remote-Cue has a hefty price tag for iOS apps at $24.99.  But with any app, if it makes our lives easier and make focus/hang go that much easier, $25 is nothing compared to the amount of time saved.  You can pick up a copy of Remote-Cue from the iTunes app store. You can learn more about Remote-Cue by visiting BLAST Co’s web site at www.blast-4.com.

Take a look as some screen shots of Remote-Cue.

[nggallery id=88]

ETC Release v3.0.0 for SmartFade Line Up of Consoles

ETC recently released a software update for the “entry” level series of desk, the SmartFade family, version 3.0.0.  The update brings some new features for both the SmartFade and the SmartFade ML desk.  As with most software updates, software bugs are sent to the big bug house in the sky as well.  ETC has also made the SmartSoft software compatible with Windows Vista 64-bit and Windows 7 64-bit OS’s for live connection to either SmartFade desk.  I am still waiting for a And YES, SmartSoft DOES have a Mac native solution!

Changes to SmartFade and SmartFade ML:

Stack:
The stack has been completely redesigned. Now you can record Cues in any numerical order that suits you and they will play back in correct numerical sequence. It is no longer necessary to use step numbers, simply the cue number is used. Thus you may record cues 3.7, 3.0, 17, 1, 99.8, 125, 2 in that order and they will play as 1, 2, 3.0, 3.7, 8, 17, 99.8, 125.

Note that cues may be numbered from 1 to 199 and point cues may be inserted anywhere from 0.1 to 199.9. The total number of cues remains fixed at 199.

Stack editing has been simplified. Now there is one type of edit for any step number. Turn the dial slowly to see point cues and faster to move by whole numbers.

MIDI:
Now the consoles are set to default on to General MIDI and interconnect immediately.

Changes to SmartFade ML:

Color control:
Many device types are now supported: RGB, CMY, RGBA, RAGCB (Prism Reveal), ROAGI (Selador® Fire™), RGCBI, (Selador Ice™), ROAGCBI (Selador x7).

User personalities may be made with RGB, RGBA or CMY mixing.

Device personalities:
The SmartFade ML console and SmartSoft contain about 500 standard devices (about 40% of the previous number) . A separate file called PERSLIB.BIN may be placed on an SD card and browsed on the console, or in the simulator in SmartSoft, and this contains over 3000 more personalities, more than double than in previous versions. In the future, new personalities will be distributed in this file allowing SmartFade ML to support an unlimited number of devices. Up to 100 additional personalities may be loaded from the file into the console or SmartSoft. You may also make your own personalities as before.

Displays:
When the stack is on, the displays in SmartFade ML include the step name and the running times. Note that the level bar graphs have been removed to make place for this feature. Level bar graphs are still provided in Preview and Edit modes. The SmartFade display is not changed.

Memory Rubberband:
It is now possible to turn off rubberbanding on memory faders. When on, moving light parameters (non-intensity channels) will follow the fader back and forth. When off, the parameters will move to their new positions as you take up a fader and then remain there when the fader is taken down.

You can download v3.0.0 software update for your SmartFade desk by visiting ETC’s Download section of their website.  You can also view the change and release notes form the same page. Additionally, you can grab the SmartSoft software from the download page as well.

Futurelight Introduces New PHS-210 Moving Profile

Futurelight welcomes the PHS-200 successor, the PHS-210. In the past eight years it has been proven a thousand times: The PHS-200 is Futurelight’s reliable starter model – notably for light engineers with professional ambitions. The new PHS-210 will follow this tradition with an updated technology. It is available from now on.

An important renewal: the readjustment to a 16-bit resolution for pan and tilt movements. The mechanic dimmer forms another upgrade. The number of LED channels, however, has been kept at moderate dimensions. Eleven are only three DMX channels more than the predecessor offered. According to this approach, comfortable working with smaller-sized DMX controllers is still possible.

An enhanced running smoothness as well as quicker gobo and color changes can also be put on the list of positive modifications. The device’s design has been carefully adapted to that of its “big brother” PHS-280.

With the power of its 250-watt illuminant, the PHS-210 reaches a brightness level of 21,000 lux at a distance of 2.5 meters. A performance which is definitely able to take up the competitors’ pace. An optional upload box enables easy software updates via DMX link.

The PHS-210 has been developed for the use in discotheques and on small and middle-sized stages. According to that, the 56 programmed scenes surely don’t come amiss. Thanks to the spot’s low weight of less than 20 kilos it makes only modest demands of mechanics of respective event locations.

You can learn more about the Futurelight PHS-210 moving light by visiting www.steinigke.com.

MA Lighting Releases grandMA2 remote App for iPhone/iPad

It was only a matter of time that MA Lighting would release a new iOS app for the grandMA2 series of desk.  Just like the long awaited Hootsuite for iPad app, MA Lighting recently announced the new a, grandMA2 remote. The app is still FREE, but you do still need to spend just a bit of money on the desk.

Here is a bit more about the app:

The grandMA remote 2.0 can also be easily used in connection with a grandMA onPC (1&2). Because of the bi-directional communication between grandMA and remote control it is also possible to show intensities and positions or attributes of moving lights in real-time.

Features:

  • Convenient remote control for all important functions of the grandMA range
  • High distances and safe use with all grandMA consoles
  • Up to 2 (for grandMA1 even up to 6) remote control units can be used with each console or station
  • Software is available free of charge
  • Same software for console compatibility: one system – one operating philosophy
  • Completely configurable for every application: Theatre, TV, Concert Touring, Entertainment, etc.
  • Elegant programming and control of moving lights, dimmers, LEDs, effects and media servers
  • Mature software and hardware

Difference to the former grandMA remote Software: The grandMA remote 2.0 software connects to both grandMA2 series consoles and grandMA1 series consoles. Connectivity to grandMA2 consoles requires grandMA2 Version 2.1 at minimum.

Head over to the iTunes App Store and pick up a copy of the grandMA2 remote app and start using it today.  To download the grandMA OnPC 1 or 2, head over to www.malighting.com.

2011 Student Design Competition

That’s right, a student competition, but nothing like what you have seen before.  iSquint.net has partnered with Nemetschek Vectorworks, City Theatrical and Field Templates to bring you the 2011 Student Design Competition. If you have a love for lighting, have a current student ID from a college or university and have the drive to design, then have I got a competition for you.

iSquint.net, Nemetschek Vectorworks, City Theatrical and Field Templates have teamed up to offer one lucky lighting design student a prize package that I am still totally awe struck by. The winner of the 2011 Student Design Competition will walk away with a Professional License of Vectorworks® 2011 with Renderworks®, a personal license of Lightwright™ 5, and a single license of Field Templates SoftSymbols V3.

Does your jaw hurt? Mind did!

The rules are very simple: produce a light plot with Vectorworks, one rendering from Renderworks and paperwork.  But wait, you need Vectorworks, Renderworks and Lightwright to enter the contest to win the very same software!  Easy enough, as a full-time student with an active and valid college or university ID, you can download a FREE student version of Vectorworks 2011 with Renderworks to learn, use and produce the entry requirements for the contest*.  Lightwright also offers a demo version that can be used for producing paperwork for the competition, which you can download here www.mckernon.com. Visit student.vectorworks.net to get a free student version of Vectorworks software.  If you live outside the U.S., you will be redirected to a local distributor in your country to obtain a student version.

There are just a few more rules and requirements to the competition, so pay attention.

  • Any full-time student with an active and valid college or university ID can enter the competition…ANY STUDENT, whether you are in the United States or not, is welcome to enter the competition*.
  • Entrants must submit a lighting plot, a rendering from Renderworks and the associated Lightwright paperwork in PDF format along with the Lightwright file and the Vectorworks file saved to match the submitted rendering.
  • One submission per student is allowed.
  • No limit on size, show or complexity.
  • Competition entries will be accepted beginning January 28, 2011.
  • Entries must be submitted no later than April 15, 2011.
  • The winner will be announced May 6th, 2011.

The Student Design Competition will be judged by leading experts in the lighting design field and developers of the aforementioned software brands. Think of this competition as a design review.  Put your best foot forward and show your talents as a lighting designer and your knowledge and understanding of working documents in our field.

Be sure to check iSquint.net often, as we’ll be posting tips and tricks to help you with your designs. Or, join the Student Design Competition mailing list below and get those tips and tricks right to your inbox.

*Local restrictions or guidelines may apply. Availability and access to the student version of Vectorworks software varies by country.

Join the Student Design Competition Mailing List

Fill out the simple form below and we’ll let you know when we start taking submissions and other information about the competition. Now go and design, design, design!





join our mailing list
* indicates required





LightFactory Releases Version 2.5

Copper Controls, the Developers of LightFactory, the PC based lighting control software just announced the release of version 2.5.  The new version captured and destroyed just a couple of bugs.  Take a look at the change log to see what has been taken care of.

2.5 not only took care of some bugs, but also introduced some new features! The new version offers another protocol, by adding support for streaming ACN. Thus offering a wider array of control across different types of networks and lighting systems.

Cue list and cues were also touched on in the new release.  Cue list now offer the ability to run in LTP, HTP, build mode.  Chase and matrix LED effects also offer the ability to run LTP, HTP, build or inhbit mode as well. A new feature to the track sheet; you now have the ability to fully edit any part of a channel within any cue.

To learn more about LightFactory, visit www.lifact.com.

Rosco Introduces LitePad Axiom and LitePad HO+

Last week, Rosco Labs introduced the newest member to the LitePad family, the LitePad Axiom.  Back at LDI 2010, you got a sneak peak of the Axiom from Chad Tiller giving a quick run through of the 100 years of Rosco.  In the video, Chad mentioned some of the latest products that Rosco is preparing to announce and one of them is The LitePad Axiom.

The LitePad Axiom has a steel and aluminum housing is designed not only to protect the light source, but to make a variety of mounting solutions quick and easy. The back of the housing has a universal mounting system allowing the LitePad Axiom to be affixed with brackets to C-Stands or mounted with Velcro, rubber bands or other conventional methods. The housing includes a gel slot for adding Roscolux or Cinegel color or diffusion.

An interior connection in the LitePad unit assures secure electrical connection. The slim profile, low heat and power consumption and outstanding quality of light make LitePad Axiom an excellent choice for professionals everywhere.

The new Axiom also features two color temperatures, daylight (approx. 5800K) and tungsten (approx. 3800K). With tungsten and daylight LitePads, which have equal light output, there is no need to color correct your LitePad, losing valuable light intensity. LitePad’s minimum green content allows for high color rendering and great film and digital photography.

LITEPAD HO+

LitePad HO+ looks and performs similar to the current LitePad HO fixtures. HO+ continues to allow photographers and filmmakers to hide, tape, Velcro and rubber band LitePads in the areas they need that extra kiss of soft, indirect light. The upgraded differences between LitePad HO and Litepad HO+ are: LED’s on ALL edges, interior connector and the number one requested upgrade – now available in Daylight or Tungsten balanced units.

Except for the larger 12″x12″ & 24″x24″ units, most of the original LitePads only had LED’s on two edges. LitePad HO+ fixtures have LED’s on all four edges no matter what the size. This change becomes particularly significant for the 6″x6″ and 6″x12″ sizes. Those two units had the same number of LED’s as their thinner 3″x6″ and 3″x12″ counterparts; meaning that even though they were larger they didn’t generate significantly more light, they just illuminated more surface area of the unit. Now that these two HO+ units have LED’s on all four edges – they are noticeably brighter and much more useful. In my opinion – the 6″x6″ unit is the perfect light choice to mount directly to smaller cameras and the 6″x12″ Axiom just became the most efficient and useful unit of the range.

To learn more about the LitePad Axiom and the LitePad HO+, visit Rosco’s web site at www.rosco.com.

Coolux Releases Version 4.7 for Pandora’s Box

The Pandoras Box Version 4.7 software update features some major improvements like the groundbreaking FluidFrame™ Technology, the new Pandoras Box Warper and Windows 7 compatibility. This latest version of Pandoras Box is more versatile and powerful than ever before.

NEW FluidFrame

FluidFrame Technology addresses a common topic in live video processing as well as signal processing in general. Imagine you run genlocked HD-SDI Streams @59.94hz and output them at 60hz via DVI.

With FluidFrame Technology Coolux has created a solution that offers a smooth cross-conversion that can take any input and output frame rate, supporting both interlaced and progressive sources and clips.

FluidFrame Technology is a new powerful feature for both 2D and Stereo3D (S3D), it supports 50/60 fps videos and live streams with Pandoras Box Servers. Coolux’s proprietary encoder now supports 1920×1080@60p and 1920×1080@50p.

NEW ScreenMask

The new Warper allows the user to create cut outs and mask while painting onto the projected surface from within PB Warp. The new zoom and pan features allow precise texture based warping.

NEW Windows 7 compatibility

Both the Coolux Pandoras Box Manager and the Pandoras Box Player are now fully compatible with the Windows 7 operating system.

Learn more about version 4.7 by visiting Coolux website at www.coolux.de.

© 2020 Justin Lang Design, All rights reserved.