Seen at #USITT: plotLight, Online Paperwork Management Software

Something new that shown at USITT 2011 in Charlotte was plotLight.  At it’s simplest form, plotLight is an online paperwork management softwork tool for the lighting professional.  At plotLight’s core is the plotLight BRAIN, a complex machine-learning application that combines data-mining with advanced Bayesian logic. Each plotLight project combines plotLight BRAIN components with your project’s specific lighting design, meaning that you can focus on creating your design while plotLight focuses on catching mistakes and simplifying your design process. Think of plotLight like a dedicated assistant, diligently working on the small stuff so you can worry about the big stuff.

There are three types of plotLight BRAIN components to help organize your paperwork:

Show Component —  The Show Component stores information about a specific show or event. This component manages general information about the show.

Venue Component —  The Venue Component manages information about a specific venue, theater, arena, room, or other type of performing space. From remembering a venue’s physical specifications to detailing the electrics capabilities of the space.

GearBox Component —  The largest of the plotLight BRAIN components, the Gearbox component stores information about the specific equipment available in a collection.

The basic monthly plan runs $15 USD.  Details on specifics on the plan have not yet been released as well as additional add-on options for more advanced control. plotLight was offering a one month FREE trial of the online tool at USITT.  If you want to try plotLight out for FREE for one month, head over to usitt.plotlight.com.  BUT HURRY, you must register for the free trial by March 16th.

You can learn more about plotLight by visiting their website at www.plotlight.com.

Martin Professional Launches myMartin Website

Martin Professional’s popular eShop has expanded its functionality and changed its name to myMartin. Accessible at my.martin.com to pre-approved customers, myMartin is a convenient, online source for purchasing Martin Professional lighting, video and smoke products, as well as accessories, spare parts, swag and more.

The new, full-service eBusiness Web Site features a new look, a user-friendly navigation process and all new features. Users also have access to a host of useful information including all manner of product info, pricing, product availability, special campaigns, ordering information, account management and more.

Simple to use with a shopper-friendly purchasing process and secure payment system, myMartin provides instant access to all things Martin Professional from one convenient location, anytime, anywhere in the world.

Stage Research Announces Beta of LightShop Website

Stage Research, the developers of entertainment software such as SFX, Soft Plot and Light Factory have announced the beta release of a new website, LightShop.

LightShop is an online database that deals with every aspect of entertainment lighting. You will be able to find a wide range of reference tools from finding replacement lamps for thousands of fixtures, gobos from the leading gobo manufacturers, downloadable PDF’s of lighting desk manuals to lighting data and photometric calculators.

The LightShop website will also integrate into Stage Research’s SoftPlot and Light Factory software aiding in the design process.  Users will be able to build a project online and import that information in to the software to help build and create a show quicker and easier.

During the three month trial period, the entire LightShop website will be free.  After the beta testing period, general data will remain free of charge.  To access the advanced features of the website and integration with Stage Research’s software, there will be a yearly subscription fee, which has yet to be announced.

Check out the LightShop website while it is still in beta by visiting www.lightshoponline.com.

USITT New Diggs on The Internet

We knew this was coming, but hadn’t heard anything in quite some time.  While preparing for USITT’s 50th Conference and stage Expo in Kansas City next year, we stopped by usitt.org and found this, their new diggs on the web! This is a fantasic new site design that is easy to navigate and find specific information.  This is a HUGE step up from where they were for the longest time.

ESTA Announces eSET Portal

The ESTA Foundation has launched a new site geared towards providing entry level entertainment technicians a educational portal to learn and better understand terms and fundamentals within the entertainment industry.

The Essential Skills for the Entertainment Technician (eSET) goals are to provide technicians with knowledge and skills to function across all fields of the entertainment industry and a tool to organize and guide their learning.

While the site or portal is designed to better educate new technicians, educators have access to the site for in-depth materials to help educate those new techs as well as assist educators on ways to present the most up-to-date information.

Another interesting point about the site is it gives facility managers the ability to cellect venue-specific information to assist in training their workforce.  Even employers can access the site to do the same function.

Visit the eSET website to learn more information, see samples and sign up.  For students, the subscription is $10, for professionals, the subscription runs $15 and a five seat license runs $40.  Subscription includes access to the full contest of definitions and terms, downloadable PDF’s of those terms and definitions and sample assessments.

Wybron Announces New Shop Online Feature

Wybron, the makers of color mixing products just announced the start of a new shop online feature of their website, www.wybron.com. Users are able to log on to purchase almost any product that Wybron offers in their entire product line.  Some products are still listed as POA or only available through their dealer network.  All prices are the standard MSRP or retail price with no price breaks.  Purchases are only able to be completed with a credit card.

This offers users the ability to purchase Wybron products directly from them.  Users can still purchase Wybron products from the Wybron dealer network at a possiable discount.  For more information, contact Wybron directly through their website at www.wybron.com.  To locate a Wybron dealer near you, visit their dealer section.