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Laser
F/X On-line Newsletter - Digest
January,
February, March 1998
Items removed from the on-line
Newsletter web pages during the first quarter of 1998.
NOTE: Links on
destination sites are often changed. We provide the
digest pages for archival purposes and the links to external
sites were working when the material was originally published
but may no longer be working.
What's New
New products and services of interest to
lasersts. Submit your new product information and images in .gif or .jpg
format to our E-mail or contact us.
Digital
Projector Effects
Lower
Cost Enhanced Effects Using Software and Digital Control
As part of our SpectraScan laser
entertainment suite and hardware, EffectsWizard software in
conjunction with digital interfaces and hardware are available to the laser
entertainment community as modules or complete projector tables. Modules
such as remote cone motors, multi-oscillator remote sheet scanners, dual
diffraction wheels, lumias, and of course beam actuator and colour selectors
can be controlled via 32-bit Win95 software and a serial line. Holo-Spectra
has also created a stepper-based positionable and rotating Machida grating.
The advantages of this approach are the elimination of hardware pots,
switches, complex analogue circuits, bulky boxes, and multi-conductor cable.
Also, we have found that the encoding process allows greater flexibility in
creative control and simultaneous operations.
The software is independent of any manufacturer's graphic software or
hardware and functions with our custom programmed microcontrollers.
Interested professionals can contact us for pricing on any individual
modules or full projector packages. We are looking at expanding its
capability to DMX control if parties are interested.
Contact: Bill Arkin bill@lasershs.com
- www.lasershs.com - Holo-Spectra Inc.
800 275-4880
World
Scan
Laser display happenings from around the world. If you
would like your show or installation information here, please E-mail to our
E-mail or contact us
ELA
announces web-site
As of 1st October 1997 ELA [Entertainment Laser Association]
web site will be on line. The address is http://www.ela.org.uk
So what is 'ELA' all about ?
In January 1997 a number of British laser companies attended
a meeting with the National Radiological Protection Board. This meeting
discussed and addressed various UK and European guidelines on the use of
entertainment laser systems and it became apparent that the industry needed
to address certain issues.
To address these issues the association 'BELA' [British Entertainment Laser
Association] was formed and a number of strategic goals were drawn up.
Subsequently it became apparent that other countries were facing similar
issues and indeed interest was shown from overseas companies. It was
therefore decided that a more international approach was needed and the
association was re-named 'ELA' [Entertainment Laser Association]. It is
anticipated, long term, that individual countries will raise local sub
committees and have a single representative to the main committee It is not
the intention of ELA to compete with ILDA but to compliment and indeed form
association between both bodies. We believe ELA will be well placed to
initially give a European view to the international laser display industry.
A brief outline on ELA's mission and strategic goals is
as follows:
'ELA' -Mission Statement.To promote the use of lasers for
entertainment purposes. It is committed developing a working code of
practice that minimises the risk of injury to operators and the viewing
public.
Strategic goals:
-
Develop and implement a code of practice
-
To provide training courses (members, EHO's and
operators)
-
To develop courses aimed specifically at our industry (BTEC/NVQ)
-
To develop a universal scan fail protection system for
its members To give advice on public liability insurance
-
To develop a professional approach to safety with a view
to self regulation
-
To standardise our approach to risk assessment and
provide information on the presentation of documentation for EHO's and
H+SE
-
To promote a safe and professional industry.
ELA at present has a 2 tier membership scheme, these are:
Corporate.- Laser display and associated companies :- Annual subscription
#750 [payable by S/O in 12 monthly installments
Freelance.- For self employed terchs/operators etc:- Annual subscription
#175 [payable by S/O in 12 monthly installments
Laser
Show Gone With The Wind
By DEBBIE ERWIN - SUN Staff Writer
When Plan A doesn't work out, you usually go to Plan B.
The problem with the laser show planned for Edmond's Fourth
of July fireworks celebration was that there wasn't an alternative plan.
Thursday afternoon, high winds whipped through the University of Central
Oklahoma's Wantland Stadium, tearing a 45-foot hole in the inflatable screen
used to project laser graphics onto. The fluke left spectators disappointed
and void of the flag salute and national anthem.
"The show went completely down the tubes with that screen," said
Joyce McEwen, LibertyFest president and chairman of the fireworks committee.
Lasertainment Productions, a Minnesota-based company, was paid $12,500 to
bring the show to Edmond.
It will be the owner's decision whether to refund the money, said national
salesman Gary Evans, who was in Edmond for the show. "I'll have to
discuss it with him (the owner) when I get back," Evans said today.
McEwen and other LibertyFest committee members met with Evans this morning
to discuss the money situation.
The 30-minute laser show would have included a flag salute, Whitney Houston
singing "The Star Spangled Banner" and Olympic fanfare.
"By the time we knew about the problem, it was too late to get someone
to do the national anthem and too late to get a flag," McEwen said.
To make matters worse, UCO's public-address system wasn't working so
committee members couldn't announce to the public that the laser show had
gone kaput.
McEwen offers her apologies to the public. "We're sorry. We worked very
hard on this. We worked on this for the past year and on and off for three
years," she said. "We looked at different laser people, they sent
us tapes. We did our homework on this. Mother Nature had a different
idea."
Lasertainment didn't have a backup screen because each costs between $20,000
and $25,000, Evans said.
The company has only two screens, including the new six-story high and
50-foot wide screen that was brought to Edmond. The other was at a show in
Minnesota. "The other screen has been at about 300 shows over the past
six years," Evans said. "We've never had anything like this
happen."
Singapore's
Discovery of Laservision Creates Eighth World Wonder
By: John
Eustace
18 December 1997: Titled "The Eighth Wonder of
the World", Laservision Australia's second major Singapore attraction
has high expectations to live up to.
Yet, achievable it has been, by Laservision creating a multi-sensory
audience experience, a world first combining their exciting new 3D animated
laser capabilities with 2D film, is their newest Singapore attraction.
Laservision are Australia's leading and most accomplished themed attractions
and presentations company with a large portfolio of innovative and creative
projects in the Asia-Pacific region.
The Singapore Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Education commissioned
Laservision to create "The Eighth Wonder of the World" for the
Singapore Discovery Centre. The show comprises of a 16-minute
multi-dimensional film and 3D laser experience. It was developed by
Laservision with the duel aim of entertainment and education, mixing comedy
with reality and special effects, and hosted by a specially created 3D-laser
character named "Whizbee".
Constituting Laservision's second major contract for the Singapore
Government the Discovery Centre follows the success of Laservision's
spectacular Merlion created on Sentosa Island, Singapore's premier themed
attraction.
"The Eighth Wonder of the World", depicts and illustrates a debate
between two fantasy characters a Professor and Whizbee. The Professor,
lecturing on the 'Seven Ancient Wonders' is interrupted by the rascalous
Whizbee, who challenges the relevance of these 'Wonders'. Whizbee maintains
that Singapore must be the Eighth Wonder of the World! Whizbee goes on to
prove his argument throughout the mesmerizing presentation.
The production incorporates archival film footage along with contemporary
elements (many shot in highly restricted areas) filmed during two weeks
location by Laservision. Utilising the latest in digital editing and image
manipulation techniques the various source materials have been seamlessly
merged with sophisticated 3D laser images in Laservision's Sydney studios.
"The film depicts reality whilst the 3D laser experience is beyond
reality." McCartney explains, "The film accurately portrays
historical events, which could not effectively be played out in laser
animation. The laser animation and graphics re-enforce abstract concepts
more strongly and effectively than film. One medium augments the other
explaining, dramatising and bringing history to life in an exhilarating and
relevant new way." To perform this innovative presentation Laservision
have re-equipped the Discovery Centre theatre with a sophisticated polarised
3D stereoscopic laser projector to take advantage of the specialised silver
screen, and a 'state-of -the-art' 70mm film projection system.
The latest laser projector is a very different technology to the systems
Laservision developed for the dramatic outdoor spectaculars they are
synonymous with. Laservision's latest generation systems simultaneously
project two stereoscopic images. When viewed through special polarised
lenses one of the stereoscopic lasers images is optically masked from each
eye. The brain automatically compensates for the stereo image offsets, as
they are varied the image effectively occupies the space between the screen
and the viewer, creating a convincing three-dimensional illusion. The laser
graphics are interwoven with two-dimensional 70mm film imagery to stunning
effect. Whizbee hovers around the audience then flies toward the screen and
enters the film. Elements from the film image are transformed into
three-dimensional animated laser forms that seemingly occupy the theatre,
encompassing the audience in a multi dimensional and intense experience.
The Singapore Discovery Centre is situated directly opposite the Armed
Services Training Institute and is owned by the Singapore Ministry of Defense.
Created to educating tourists as well as locals about Singapore's history
& defense. The fully equipped 350-seat theatre caters to about 10,000
people daily. Two other 3D films are screened in addition to Laservision's
"The Eighth Wonder of the World".
Contact : Laservision Australia
612 9658 1000 laser@laservision.com.au
DISCLAIMER:
Some of the information in the Backstage area is provided by the
persons or companies named on the relevant page(s). Laser F/X does
NOT endorse or recommend any products/services and is NOT
responsible for the technical accuracy of the information
provided. We provide this information as a service to
laserists using the Backstage area.
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