Looking for low-profile LED fixtures to light a fabric set - recommendations?

emoreth

Member
We're currently using 26 Colorblast 12 TRs with wide-angle lenses and barn doors to uplight our stretch-fabric set. We work hard to achieve minimal light spill because of the 2 huge front-projection IMAG screens on our angled upstage walls. Our minimum trim height is 31' and we can only access the battens with a lift, so we're hesitant to light the panels from above unless we can do it with moving head wash fixtures (preferably MAC 301s or equivalent). Unfortunately, the budget doesn't look like it'll stretch quite that far anytime soon.

The problem is that, while fixtures we have are adequate, they're black and are really hard to miss against our white stretch panels and greenish tan carpet. My boss hates the way they look sitting there. He keeps telling me we should backlight the panels, but we've tried it and it's not bright enough to compete with the 24000-watt Fresnel wash that hits 20' downstage.
We're trying to find a solution that's less visible, easier to reset when we rearrange the panels, and harder to knock over when the musicians decide to wander around between set pieces during rehearsal. The panels are curved (18" deep for a 6' width), so the lights need to follow the curve at least somewhat.

We've also talked about building hider panels for the Colorblasts -- maybe even including a base that we could bolt the fixtures to -- but I'm not sure how well that would work, given our iffy track record with building set pieces and the top-heaviness of the lights.

So what do you guys think? Any fixtures we should try to demo? Ideas on how to build sturdy holders for our bars? Votes for downlighting with moving head wash lights? All opinions are appreciated!
 
Building so-called "modesty panels" can be relatively easy - and they can also hold your lights in place and hide the cables. Use a 1x8 (or a strip of 3/4" ply), and put holes where you want your lights to go so you can bolt them to the base. Then attach "feet" to the base to allow for the bolts underneath, and put masonite or lauan panels around 3 sides of the base and frame out the lauan panels with 1x2s. This is a method I've seen used to great effect in the past and you are also able to hide cabling inside these setups and they are weighty enough to keep your colorblasts in place. Paint the whole thing white (multiple coats as necessary). I'm sure someone will be able to explain this better than I can, I'm better at explaining visually and I'm not at my computer with drafting software on it.
 
One thing we need to accomplish if we're building holders is to make aiming easier when stuff gets moved. The only way I know of that 3-sided wooden boxes will help with that is if they're long enough to hold several lights -- but then they'd have to be curved, and we'd need at least 8 convex ones and 8 concave, with holes drilled in various arrangements for different numbers of fixtures. They'd also have to be pretty heavy in order to handle the weight of 4-6 Colorblasts. This is why I'm asking if anyone knows of flatter lights that'd give us similar performance.
 
One thing we need to accomplish if we're building holders is to make aiming easier when stuff gets moved. The only way I know of that 3-sided wooden boxes will help with that is if they're long enough to hold several lights -- but then they'd have to be curved, and we'd need at least 8 convex ones and 8 concave, with holes drilled in various arrangements for different numbers of fixtures. They'd also have to be pretty heavy in order to handle the weight of 4-6 Colorblasts. This is why I'm asking if anyone knows of flatter lights that'd give us similar performance.
These might work: MIRO CUBE Overview - rosco.com
These have been around for a couple of years and were known as Black Tank Brickblasters. Now that Black Tank & Rosco have teamed up, they're being sold as Rosco Miro Cubes.
They're a 4" cube, weigh 2lbs and have equal (or better) lumens, and a better optical system (which is field adjustable)... plus you don't need any external power supplies.
 
white book covers sound like the way to go, unless you can find someone to trade your black color blasts for white ones.
 
Emoreth,

I sent you a PM with my information, and contact info for Vincent Lighting Systems. I would be happy to help solve your problem.

Thanks!
 
Have you tried Spectra Cyc's? There are 3 flavors now. 200w/100w and the new 50w which I would think would be perfect for what you are doing.

Below are the cutsheets online. They are meant to be spaced 4' O.C. and will wash 12' high. If you want to go 18' high you need a 100w or a 200w for 30'+. They are discreet superflat and almost look like the modest footlight idea. At a later date you could get yokes and fly them.

Here are the links:

Altman Lighting: New LED Spectra Cyc 200
Altman Lighting Spectra Cyc
Altman Lighting Cycloramas -Spectra Cyc 50

We also have a small, low profile cube, but you said wash fixture for soft goods and these are the best.

Hope that helps.
 
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Someone check me here... Because it's early, and I could still be unconcious...

But rather than completely reinvent the wheel, when the OP is happy with his current setup barring colour...
Don't Color Kinetics produce white housings for the Color Blast fixture?
 
What about trying Even LED? Might not be a cheap option, but I've heard nothing but praise from people who've used it! You also don't need much space behind the set to light with it!

Is it a white housing for the Color Blast which "sits over" it or is it a completely separate fixture?
 

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