sorry that it took so long; here is a summary of the varilite specs:
there are two interesting types of luminaires available (amongst others):
the spot and the wash luminaire.
the spot features a narrow beam of light (i.e. for tracing actors on a
stage). at a distance of 20", the beam diameter varies between 6" and 11"
(12" and 20" at 40" dist.) and can be controlled (in a specific range) by
computer during the performance.
there are only 11 fixed colors selectable. but it is possible to
use 11 "gobos". a gobo is some kind of slide, carrying an image (i.e. a
portrait of beethoven). these images are then projected to the wall/floor
etc. in one of the 11 colors.
the wash provides a wider beam like the ones used in rock concerts. it has
a 1000W lamp, cyan/magenta/amber color control (should give something about
16 million colors (or less, but at least enough for our project)).
from a distance of 20", the beam diameter varies between 36" (at 24 FC
center beam brightness [whatever FC means]) to 2" (at 1050 FC brightness),
depending on the lenses and diffusors used. it is not possible to change
the lens/diffusor during the performance (computer controlled). But (if I
understand the specs right) it is possible to "narrow" the beam computer
controlled to approx. half of its diameter.
both, spot and wash, can be moved in 2 planes: 270 deg. vertically (tilt)
and 360 deg. horizontally (pan). this means that nearly every position in
the room (except an area of the ceiling) can be reached.
my personal impression of the demonstration was that, at the
same dimmer level, the brightness varies with the color: blue is much
darker than, i.e., red or green. the overall brightness is IMHO rather
dark. but I think that the brightness of the lighted area on the stage
floor isn't that important; important is the light cone in the room above
the stage floor. But, at the presentation, the light cone wasn't visible,
since there was no smoke or mist in the air. I wonder how we can realize
the light cone.
for our project, the spot would be more suitable than the wash, but the
spot has limited color capacity.
so far for the tech specs; maybe gernot would like to express his point of
view regarding the varilites.
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Rainer Fuegenstein rfu@iguwnext.tuwien.ac.at
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"Why are you looking into the darkness and not into the fire as we do ?", Nell
asked. "Because the darkness is where danger comes from," Peter said, "and
from the fire comes only illusion". (from "The Diamond Age")
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