Lights for Future

Lasers are now being used for the first time as a light source for classic motion-picture lighting techniques. The development of larger lighting units is s till limited by the low cost-benefit ratio in the area of scaling performance and color quality. At its world premiere in New York in 1960, the laser was suspiciously regarded as a “ray gun”. Since then, laser technology found applications in medicine, meteorology, and industrial manufacturing, as well as in communications and consumer electronics. In cinemas, laser projection has revolutionized screening quality with razor-sharp images. In automobiles, laser diode headlights provide extremely high luminance density and scope. Lasers also introduce enormous new potential when applied to classic film lighting techniques.

 

As the first manufacturer of automated professional lighting equipment for the entertainment industry, the Italian company Claypaky launched a moving light equipped with a 180W laser engine that utilizes red, green, and blue banks of lasers. The Xtylos is a compact-beam moving light that uses three lasers for its light source. A sophisticated optical system bundles the three basic colors, so that they emerge as a consistent beam of light.

 

“The optical system makes it possible to modulate the beam’s exit angle, color mix, and use of gobos”, says Claas Ernst, Managing Director of VisionTwo, the German distribution and service partner of Claypaky. Currently available technology enables the construction of a laser beam and spot variants, which come in a more compact case than their LED-based counterparts.

 

During the development stage of the laser engine, Claypaky benefited from its parent company Osram, which already had experience  with laser-based lighting systems. The compact-beam light, which intensifies colors by using color change and electronic dimming, created a dynamic futuristic stage show for the American hard-rock band Kiss during its performance at Hellfest, the world’s largest heavy metal festival.

 

By now, Claypaky is part of the ARRI group, and with Skylos it releases a laser-based white light that can be used anywhere as a moving head. Thanks to the efficiency of the 300 W white laser engine, the Skylos can compete in light output with classic Xenon-based search lights of up to 4 kW. This laser-based light outperforms Xenon in energy efficiency by a coefficient greater than ten, just as it outperforms LED luminants by a wide margin.

 

 

 

 

“The laser engine is designed so that the beam is diffused by different lenses and mirrors”, explains the lighting expert. The construction of wide-area dispersing lights, such as fresnels or floods, is still limited by a low cost-benefit ratio in the area of scaling performance and color quality. “Just as LED lighting technology, which was launched twenty years ago, has since made great technological advances”, emphasizes Claas Ernst, “we can assume that laser technology will eventually overcome its current problems and limitations."

 

Photos: © VisionTwo GmbH, Ralph Larmann, Herbert Bernstädt