The problem with gobos is that they are fairly fragile and we use them in one of the roughest environments where they can get torn, tangled, scratched or shattered. Something that folks always ask me on my travels is how to store them. Apollo ships the steel and glass patterns in fairly robust and protective boxes or sleeves (depending on whether it is steel or glass) but after the beating that they take on the road, you are left with a fragile round steel or glass wafer that doesn’t seem to fit into anything. I always toss my gobos in my briefcase and that is a very abrasive environment full of wrenches, screwdrivers, pens, and the occasional coin. I have used several gobo transportation devices in the past. The most indestructible carrier I have made is a 4″ PVC pipe coupler with craft foam inserts to separate the individual gobos. 
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Gobo storage tips
Halloween Gobo Flyer Available
Check out the 2010 Halloween Gobo Flyer featuring a sneak preview of selected 2011 new gobos. Be the first to have “Spooky Entrance” or “Crazy Witch”! To view the flyer click here! Have a spooktacular Halloween!
Exhibiting at PLASA
We will be exhibiting at PLASA in booth # 2-R24. Stop by and visit with Joel, Keersten, Milad and Keith. They will be demonstrating the Right Arm, Smart Color PRO, EZ Iris, and more! Don’t forget to check out a sneak peak of our 2011 new gobo designs too!
Small Stage Lighting Option – Spotlight mini Architectural line
In my years of stage lighting, I worked in many facilities that were converted from other uses to venues for shows. There are several types of facilities that are more popular than others. Churches are the most common. They are a natural choice for converting in that they have the seating or space for an audience and a natural performance area. They occasionally have track lighting or wired lighting positions installed as well. These spaces are usually smaller than theatres and have lower ceilings. Another popular venue is a converted storefront. These are common because the space is fairly inexpensive to rent. NOTE: be aware that as a renter of the space, you may be required to leave the permanently mounted lighting positions as well as any staging built into the space when your lease is terminated. When working with physically smaller spaces with lower ceilings, the electrician should consider using smaller physical profile fixtures. The Spotlight mini line from Apollo works beautifully (continue reading…)
Iran Needs A New Set Designer?
In reading about Iran’s new drone I was disappointed by the overall set design. It looked great for a grade school play and that is it. I just was expecting to see parents standing up taking pictures. You decide. Check this link.
Apollo Gel Shield
A recent lighting forum question dealt with protecting gel filters. The response was pretty encouraging! Please click on Guest if you are not a member of Light Network to read the comments.
How do gel and dichroics work?
First of all, what we call gels are not gels at all. In the old days (when K.C. was starting to learn about lighting), color filters were made by mixing dyes (some were aniline, yikes!) with cow “by products” (rendered fat and hooves). This concoction was spread in a thin sheet to dry and then cut up into sheets. Nowadays, color filters are coated, deep dyed or color infused plastic based sheets.
A color filter does not “turn” the white light beam a color. A color filter does just that, it filters the unwanted colors out of the white beam of light which is composed of all colors (Roy G. Biv). The unwanted colors are retained in the filter in the form (continue reading…)
Exhibiting at DJ Expo
Neat Android App – Image Color Picker
My Android phone has a program that allows me to point the camera at a fabric or wall, or anything that is a solid color and it will analyze the color, give it a name and spit out the RGB values of the color. I have enjoyed the novelty of it but it is not very accurate. However, it is quite interesting to see the percentages of the primaries that make up the colors.
I recently wrote a blog about an iPhone app that trains you to duplicate a certain color by mixing primaries. All of these separate technologies are getting us ready to mix our own color for lighting with LED fixtures. Lighting designers will have to develop the same skills that great scenic painters have developed over the years in mixing their paints to recreate the scenic artists specified colors. Of course, mixing light and mixing pigments are two completely different mediums but they will eventually interact with one another to enhance or subdue a scene onstage. You can use technology to help you arrive at a color but in the end, it will be your eyes and your brain’s ability to react to what you are seeing and what you want to do with the lighting colors.
Do you have friggatriskaidekaphobia?
Today I learned a new word. I do not have friggatriskaidekaphobia, do you?