Chasing Illuminated Staircase: Difference between revisions
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The lighting design for the production was substantial and as such consumed all available dimmer channels. The production budget would not allow for the cost of hiring additional dimmers, therefore solution to the staircase had to be found that did not rely on dimmers. Additionally, at the end of the performance, all the set pieces moved off stage except the staircase. This meant that any cabling required would have to be able to be disconnected and removed or hidden before the scene change to leave the staircase standing alone onstage. | The lighting design for the production was substantial and as such consumed all available dimmer channels. The production budget would not allow for the cost of hiring additional dimmers, therefore solution to the staircase had to be found that did not rely on dimmers. Additionally, at the end of the performance, all the set pieces moved off stage except the staircase. This meant that any cabling required would have to be able to be disconnected and removed or hidden before the scene change to leave the staircase standing alone onstage. | ||
==The Solution== | |||
The solution to the staircase challenge was to use low voltage lamps to light each riser, and have each lamp turned on and off via a relay that was driven by an 0-10volt [[analogue control signal]] from the lighting desk. | |||
This solution had these advantages: | |||
*The staircase could be controlled from the lighting desk | |||
*No additional dimmers were required | |||
*The lamps could be battery powered, therefore minimal cabling was required: | |||
**Mains cable for the [[Demultiplexer]] | |||
**Control cable from the lighting desk | |||
This disadvantage was that the lighting for each step could only snap on to full and off - fading was note possible. However, this was the agreed compromise to create the effect with the budget and resources available. | |||
Revision as of 11:43, 21 November 2007
The RSAMD's production of Flight included a curving, illuminated staircase. Each step had a frosted perspective panel in the riser which would illuminate and each step was individually controllable from the lighting desk.
The Requirements
The Design
The set for Flight was an airport lounge, comprising an open waiting area flanked by curving walls. Above the waiting area was a catwalk platform, supposedly leading to the aircraft. A staircase following the curve of the stage left wall led between the stage level waiting area and the catwalk. Each step on the staircase had a frosted perspective panel in the riser which was to illuminate. The lighting for each step had to be individually controllable to allow for chases and other effects to be created.
Design and Resource Limitations
The lighting design for the production was substantial and as such consumed all available dimmer channels. The production budget would not allow for the cost of hiring additional dimmers, therefore solution to the staircase had to be found that did not rely on dimmers. Additionally, at the end of the performance, all the set pieces moved off stage except the staircase. This meant that any cabling required would have to be able to be disconnected and removed or hidden before the scene change to leave the staircase standing alone onstage.
The Solution
The solution to the staircase challenge was to use low voltage lamps to light each riser, and have each lamp turned on and off via a relay that was driven by an 0-10volt analogue control signal from the lighting desk.
This solution had these advantages:
- The staircase could be controlled from the lighting desk
- No additional dimmers were required
- The lamps could be battery powered, therefore minimal cabling was required:
- Mains cable for the Demultiplexer
- Control cable from the lighting desk
This disadvantage was that the lighting for each step could only snap on to full and off - fading was note possible. However, this was the agreed compromise to create the effect with the budget and resources available.