Projecting logos

[Reggie]

Have a lighting job coming up where the client wants to project the logo or symbol of each group performing on a white cyc wall behind the group. Initially thought about having gobos cut for each group. Don't have a gobo rotator, so I would dedicate a lamp operator to the task of changing out the gobos. Is there a better alternative? Maybe a digital projector?

[jaightaylor]

Uhm. 1 light for each gobo?

The other alternative is to find a mover that you can drop custom gobos or lithos into.

[hsaunier]

I've had some success with using an LCD projecter. Grab jpeg images and place them in a powerpoint slide show and fire away. Limit the amount of light saturation on the cyc.

[Reggie]

Thanks, I'll have to find one that I can rent with enough power to reach the cyc.

[Clifford]

If you have a rear electric or upstage hang position and you rent a projector that has keystoning abilities, it shouldn't be a problem.


Just realized you have to get data to it. If you can do that, the above still applies.(Maybe have the data source backstage?) Otherwise, if you're projecting from the balcony rail or booth, yeah, you'll need a powerful projector.

[Sean]

Originally Posted by jaightaylor

Uhm. 1 light for each gobo?

The other alternative is to find a mover that you can drop custom gobos or lithos into.

If you're short on dimmers, then just use two dimmers and replug during the event. You'd have the logo for the current act, and the next one both plugged in. When you fade out the first image, swap to the "on deck" light.

It will be much easier to keep the gobos in the lights....keeping the focus/orientation correct and all. Unless you have the $$ to afford a rather bright projector, this is probably your best "low dollar/low circuit" way of doing it. If you have enough lekos to do it, that is.

--Sean

[len]

My vote would be something digital or video based. With a video projector you can use something like powerpoint to switch images, and have as many as you want. Also, if any of the talent has logos, graphics, etc., it can be scanned in or incorporated electronically. Creating 10 - 20 gobos could get $$. Most people have a notebook with a vga out. Most projectors accept that type of signal. And most projectors can keystone to a degree, so it should be fairly easy. The difficulty is mounting it so that it looks good and is bright enough, but even that is not that big a challenge.

[BillESC]

Keep in mind, using Power Point will allow for full color graphics whereas custom steel gobos do not and glass gobos would sky rocket your budget.

[NickJones]

Originally Posted by Reggie

Have a lighting job coming up where the client wants to project the logo or symbol of each group performing on a white cyc wall behind the group. Initially thought about having gobos cut for each group. Don't have a gobo rotator, so I would dedicate a lamp operator to the task of changing out the gobos. Is there a better alternative? Maybe a digital projector?

Followspots could be an option, downside is keystoning is hard, but chances are you have one directly opposite each side of the stage, so you project two. You already have the followspot op's there, so they can change, and there will be a post about printing your own gobos somewhere here. Good luck
Nick

[ruinexplorer]

When I was in Phoenix, I would rent one of these with the added motorized gobo changers. I'm sure someone in your neck of the woods would have one to rent. Or, assuming you have source4 fixtures, you could possibly rent one or two of GAMs gobo trays.

I would shy away from the extreme angle and keystone correction on projection. If you are showing a company logo, they don't take too kindly to their images becoming distorted. When you are using keystone correction, you can't avoid it entirely. The best bet is to go from FOH with a long-throw lens. Remember that the cyc isn't a normal projection surface so you will have light loss due to that. Other than that, you should make sure to keep as much light off your cyc as possible to make the images stand out.