DarkLightSystems
- 1. Haunt Lighting Design Maximizing Impact of What Your Audience Sees (and Doesn’t See) Presented by Quan Gan, President of Darklight
- 2. Topics • Stage Lighting Principles • Show Control • LED Systems • Examples & Tips • Q&A Session 2
- 3. Topic : Stage Lighting Principles Visibility Mood Naturalism Composition 3
- 4. Topic : Stage Lighting Principles Visibility • Light provides audience understanding of the object being illuminated. Selectively show audience the scene so scare can be hidden. 4
- 5. Topic : Stage Lighting Principles 5
- 6. Topic : Stage Lighting Principles 6
- 7. Topic : Stage Lighting Principles Mood • lighting can make the audience FEEL the scene - reds feel hot, blues feel cold, greens feel creepy or mysterious. 7
- 8. Topic : Stage Lighting Principles Qualities of Light Intensity Movement Form Direction Color 8
- 9. Topic : Stage Lighting Principles Intensity (1) • Bright attract attention - used for distraction. • Dark conceals - used for scare element. • Darker = SLOWER throughput, more scary. • Brighter = FASTER throughput, less scary. • Beware of sunlight spill during early season. Customers will see more of scenery as eyes get adjusted to darkness. • Vary the intensity from room to room to keep guests on edge. 9
- 10. Topic : Stage Lighting Principles Intensity (2) Concealing scare behind glass Infinity mirror Pepper’s ghost 10
- 11. Topic : Stage Lighting Principles Form • Shape of light/shadows can enhance realism or add cool effects – Blackwrap taped directly onto mini LED fixtures. – Gobos, stained glass, reflected water 11
- 12. Topic : Stage Lighting Principles Color (1) • Primary: Red, Green, Blue • Secondary: Yellow, Magenta, Cyan 12
- 13. Topic : Stage Lighting Principles Color (2) • Colored LEDs – Narrow band – Saturated color: surreal look • Filtered White LEDs – Wider band – Softer color: more natural color 13 13
- 14. Topic : Stage Lighting Principles Direction • Hide your light source unless it's meant to be seen. • Generally, point light in direction of travel. • Overhead downward light for natural effects, low upward lighting for dramatic effects • LED fixtures can easily be mounted to any flat surface and pointed in desired direction. 14
- 15. Topic : Stage Lighting Principles Movement • Any change in the above 4 qualities (intensity, color, form, direction) • Show control 15
- 16. Topics • Stage Lighting Principles • Show Control • LED Systems • Examples & Tips • Q&A Session 16
- 17. Topic : Show Control Basic: Preset Patterns • Good for most haunt scenes – continuous play, no reset. • DarkBox Flicker Module – Flicker, blink, strobe, fade, dimming – Set & forget – Multiple lights can connect to one module DarkBox Flicker 17
- 18. Topic : Show Control Medium: Switches or Relays • On/Off control of light • Manually triggered by actor – Vampire example: UV/red spotlight switch • Prop controllers with relays – User can record sequences for lights to blink 18
- 19. Topic : Show Control Advanced: DMX Control • “Performance” type show sequences • Triggered actions • Requires reset – suitable for preshow – Worthwhile for longer sequences DarkBox DMX 19
- 20. Topic : Show Control DMX Overview (1) • One master device and up to 32 daisy chained slave devices – Slave devices: dimmers, intelligent lights, fog machines, lasers, etc. • Master device controls up to 512 channels – Each channel has value 0-255, slave device interprets meaning of value • All slave devices listen to same signal • Slave devices are differentiated by their “start address” • Identical slave devices with same address will behave the same 20
- 21. Topic : Show Control DMX Overview (2) • Various masters available – Basic: 6 channel manual control board, completely manual controls – Medium: 128 channel control board with memory, can build different “looks” and cycle through them automatically – Advanced: dedicated devices, computers, requires tech to program the show, virtually boundless creativity allowed – actions can be triggered 21
- 22. Topics • Stage Lighting Principles • Show Control • LED Systems • Examples & Tips • Q&A Session 22
- 23. Topic : LED Systems Lamps Nightlights Flashlights Fluorescent Standard lighting fixtures Décor lighting Christmas lights Neon Black light Theatrical lighting PAR lights Strip Floodlight Spotlight
- 24. Topic : LED Systems Design Constraints of Haunts Why LEDs are Perfect for Haunts • Small spaces Compact: ¼” to ½” bulbs, multi-LED fixtures comparable to standard lights • Flammable surrounding Low heat: Low voltage, low current, low power: safe! • Close contact with customers Durable: Doesn’t shatter, impact resistant, lifetime > 10 years! • Modularity Portable & Flexible: With right system, plug and play, all colors • Predominantly dark Lights up small areas: Suitable for dark environments, directional • Cost Competitive cost: low cost of energy and maintenance 24
- 25. Topic : LED Systems LED 101 (1) • LED = Light Emitting Diode • Electrical one-way valve: polarity matters • Anode (+): long leg, Cathode (-): short leg • Direct Current (DC) 1.7V to 3.7V to turn on 25
- 26. Topic : LED Systems LED 101 (2) • Point light source • Some typical LEDs: – 3.4V – 20mA • Single LED may not be enough • AC/DC adapters & resistors used 20mA:70mW for compatibility – 120V AC (transformer steps down to 12V) – 12V, use resistors to limit current, provides 3.7V to each LED 350mA: 1W 26
- 27. Topic : LED Systems How to Light an LED Basic LED Circuit 27
- 28. Topic : LED Systems How to Light an LED • Select DC source (12V) • Determine LED specs from datasheet – Voltage drop (3.7V) – Maximum continuous current (20mA) • Determine resistor needed – Voltage = 12V – 1.7V = 10.3V – Resistance = Voltage / Current (Ohm’s Law) Simple LED Circuit – Resistance = 10.3V/0.02A = 515Ω – Pick larger common value: 560Ω 28
- 29. Topic : LED Systems Flashing & Dimming • LEDs can flash ON/OFF very quickly – Animatronics controllers (relays) will work • LEDs need special dimmers – Dimming = flashing VERY fast Pulse Width Modulation (100s-1000s Hz) • Brighter: more ON time than OFF time • Darker: more OFF time than ON time 29
- 30. Topic : LED Systems Types of LED lighting • Traditional Light Replacements – LED PAR-Can, LED light bulbs, LED stage lights… – Connects directly to 120V AC – Pro: bulbs are safe, low heat – Con: bulky, cables are still 120V AC, reliable equipment can be expensive, not water resistant • Low Voltage Systems – LED spotlights – Pro: entire system is safe, low heat, water resistant, low voltage, easier setup – Con: Not designed for all applications 30
- 31. Topic : LED Systems 20 LEDs @ 20mA/LED= 400mA = 0.4A 12V Power Supply > 0.4A current output OK 31
- 32. Topic : LED Systems 32
- 33. Topic : LED Systems Wiring Notes for Typical LED Systems • Make sure Power Supply is adequate – Calculate LED total current – If PS not enough, use more and spread load • Long cable has resistance (reduces brightness) – 22AWG, < 800ft: negligible – Long distances: go use thicker cable, reduce distance to PS – Shorter distances: telephone cable is great • Polarity matters: red to red, black to black • Use stranded cable if possible: more flexible 33
- 34. Topic : LED Systems Darklight makes it simple • Polarity doesn’t matter for our LEDs Precision X • High power LEDs have internal drivers – Constant brightness even with voltage sag over long wire • Plug & play for easy reconfiguration Precision Y – Tool-less swapping of LED fixtures • Water resistant • Built to handle tough environments – Rated for 50,000 hours Precision Z 34
- 35. Topics • Stage Lighting Principles • Show Control • LED Systems • Examples & Tips • Q&A Session 35
- 36. Topic : Examples & Tips Winchester Mystery House San Jose, CA 36
- 37. Topic : Examples & Tips City Museum St. Louis, MO 37
- 38. Topic : Examples & Tips Haunted Graveyard Bristol, CT 38
- 39. Topic : Examples & Tips Tips • Work with set lighting • Detailed haunts should use more natural colors: white + gel filter • Use battery pack with LED lights to check your work as you go • Don’t wait until last minute! Lighting is IMPORTANT! 39
- 40. Topics • Stage Lighting Principles • Show Control • LED Systems • Examples & Tips • Q&A Session 40