Simulating Laser

[ben.suffolk]

One of the guys who uses my USB DMX Interface just posted about a very cool application he has written (is still writing)

 

It uses a data projector (or in fact can use 2) to simulate a laser. He uses the USB interface to receive DMX so control of the system also works just like a real laser.

 

Although the software is not yet release he does have some video and pictures on the site of the system in use.

 

His site is here LaserSim

 

It struck me as quite a neat concept, and one I had not seen before. What do you guys think? I suspect it has some good milage as it won't have the safety issues of a laser, and a lot of people have data projectors around these days that could be put to occasional use like this, so a good cost saving.

 

Ben

[david.elsbury]

That's pretty cool. Imagine that with a few HES DL2's or similar.

Look forward to seeing the day that it's released. I wonder if it could run stand-alone, IE not with DMX input but replaying programmes etc.

[djwiltsh]

This seems like a really good idea. Imagine what it would look like with a 20,000 lumen Christie projector!

 

Dan

[dbuckley]

That's pretty cool. Imagine that with a few HES DL2's or similar.

I'e got a DVD from HES which shows the DL2 acting as a laser simulator, it looks really quite impressive. Cant find it on the web though, odd... The DL2 has a 5000 lumen Christie projector in it, so mid powered.

[james jag]

talk to a company called rill laser ltd, http://www.rill.biz

[dosxuk]

We've tried this before, and while the effect can be ok, there are two big problems - brightness of the beams and black level of the projector. With our projectors you have to wind the brightness down so much so there isn't a white box being projected as to make the actual beams too dull to work unless you turn all the other lights off.

 

Also, when you have a proper projector there, it's very tempting to use it to project stuff other than 'laser' effects. We found that plasma type effects look much more stunning.

 

We use flash for projecting the laser effects (you can download the file here: http://www.vis-is.co.uk/lasers.swf) using a keyboard plugged in to select from the effects (press 1 - 8 to turn on/off effects).

[3guk]

Looks like a great idea, I wish him the best of luck with it !!

[Hambone]

I experimented with using a projector for lighting after seeing just how much refraction in the haze there was between the rear-projected screens and projectors.

 

I made loads of Flash graphics with black backgrounds and different beatmatched simulated gobos, colours, etc sequenced and triggered in Ableton Live.

 

But with only 3500 lumens, the effect wasn't really useable, especially when using brighter scanners and lasers. And there is SO much more I'd rather do with the projectors than simulate existing lights, so it seemed a waste of a resource.

 

Now I'm using the same Flash graphics but projecting them onto the screens, choreographed and sequenced with the scanners, washes, laser, strobes and blinders.

 

So it wasn't a total waste of time! I could see it working better with brighter projectors with better contrast, though, especially in a moving yoke. Not being limited to fixed gobos and colours will be a huge improvement.

[ljb2of3]

Hey All, just thought I'd let you know that I've also added Art-Net support to the software, and that a down loadable version is on the site.

 

You're all welcome (and encouraged) to play around with the demo version. I'd like to know how it performs on a computer besides my own.

 

-Landy Bible

LJB2of3 Lighting

http://www.ljb2of3.afraid.org/lights/lasersim.php