Unlike previous RGB LED fixtures that produced colours by combining red, green and blue beams from different LED lamps, all of the Color Tone 50's colour blending is done within its single Philips Lexel module, resulting in superior colours and a whole spectrum of whites that are perfectly even and consistent in tone, says the company. This new technology completely eliminates issues that can sometimes occur with RGB mixing, such as uneven output, discoloration, and "halos" or rings around beam edges.
"This is truly the next big leap forward in LED color-blending technology," said Dirk Kast, general manager for Elation Europe. "The Color Tone 50 produces the most even, smooth colour and white light wash I have seen on any LED fixture on the market. This whole new colour-mixing technology - one that uses a homogenized LED light source - is ideal for a variety of applications, including key light and cyc wash.
"We are finally able to get rid of some of the drawbacks that have been associated with traditional RGB LED colour mixing, such as unevenness and different colour rings around the edges. With the Color Tone 50, you get perfect colours and whites that are completely even and uniform throughout the entire output. Plus, when you look into the fixture, you don't see a bunch of different red, green and blue bulbs - its LED module looks more like a conventional lamp."
The improved colour mixing will persuade many remaining conventional lighting users to make the switch to LED technology, Kast believes. "The Color Tone 50 is a perfect solution for theatrical lighting directors who have been reluctant to use LED fixtures for stage front washing because of the halo effect," said Kast. "It completely eliminates discoloration around the edges and gives you a consistent band of colour that really looks great for front washes. The fixture produces a wide beam angle coverage, so it is ideal from short throw distances of 20' and under or for narrow fixture setback locations."
The Color Tone 50 can be operated in three different modes: DMX, Manual or Stand Alone. When used with a DMX controller, it can be run in either three or seven-channel modes. It features Elation's RDMX (Remote DMX Addressing), which allows DMX values to be set from the convenience of a DMX-512 controller. Other features include User Selectable Voltage, an Auto Test for all functions, and a Control Board with four-digit display.
(Jim Evans)
