UK - H&T Mirage has developed Rainbow, a programmable system for dimming and cross-fading ultra-slim fluorescent tubes. The system utilizes the latest technology to produce a random or sequential light pulsing effect, and combined with high output T5 lamps, can create striking effects for interior design or point-of-sale applications.

The product was utilized by Butterfield Signs with great success at McDonald's Restaurant in Oxford Street, London. The Rainbow system was mounted behind large glass panels stretching 13m long and 2.4m high - to spectacular effect. The project impressed the judging panel at this year's Sign Industry Awards, and Butterfield Signs won the accolade 'Best Illuminated Sign 2004'.

The Rainbow system allows the use of smaller, thinner and brighter light sources and angled reflectors to create greater light intensity. Butterfield Signs specified T5 lamps

UK - A.C. Lighting has recently supplied the first Jands Vista lighting console for the launch of the new MINI Convertible at this year's UK Motor Show Live event. The console provided lighting for the 'MINI Open Air Theatre' stunt show, which was produced by Glyn Davies of corporate events company The Russell Organisation, and was on a scale comparable with a large west end production.

Amazingly, the shows used only standard production cars to demonstrate the MINI's impressive handling capabilities via a series of stunts. Martin Locket, the show's Lighting Designer and MD of London based live events specialists Essential Lighting, decided to use the revolutionary new Jands Vista console after seeing a preview of the desk at PLASA 2003. Locket was keen to try the console as an LD and also investigate it as a potential new rental product. Working with Jands exclusive European and

Denmark - The Martin Ether2DMX allows users to increase the number of Maxxyz DMX universes and/or easily place DMX universes remotely on any TCP/IP Ethernet network. Every Ether2DMX box extends the number of universes by four, which means a maximum of 32 universes can be reached. Ether2DMX can also be used to place your DMX universes at a remote location, connected to the Maxxyz by a single Ethernet line (RJ45). Similarly, the number of DMX inputs can be increased or placed at a remote location. Ether2DMX can also be used as an output device for the upcoming Maxxyz PC, or as an input device for Martin ShowDesigner (MSD). Finally, the Ether2DMX box uses the Artnet protocol and can therefore be used to interface with any third-party product that can interface with Artnet.

When using additional Ether2DMX routers a switch must be employed to split up the Ethernet connection. A rack

UK - Rosco has scheduled two free Professional Development Workshops at venues in Bristol & Birmingham. The workshops, designed for lighting and scenic professionals, teachers and technicians, regularly attract large audiences throughout Europe. The workshop leaders, all Rosco Staff, show participants how to create stage pictures and effects with lighting or scenery, generally using equipment and products likely to be in their theatres or paint shops.

For example, the morning session, devoted to lighting, explains how you can simulate raging or smoldering fire, still or rushing water, rain, snow, etc., simply using gobos and modern spotlights. Some advanced techniques for simulating stained glass effects, reflected lightning bolts and other frequently requested effects are also demonstrated.

The afternoon session on finishing and treating sets and scenic pieces shows how scene

UK - Performances at The Congress Theatre in Cwmbran, Gwent are now in the spotlight after the recent completion of a £30,000 lighting refurbishment project managed by Stagecraft. Equipment installed by Stagecraft included two of Selecon's new Pacific followspots - some of the first to be installed in the UK.

Martin Palmer from Stagecraft commented: "When working on all new projects it's important to assess the individual needs of a venue. The new lighting system at The Congress Theatre has been created to make maximum use of the performance space, whilst also being extremely versatile to fit with the many different productions at the theatre."

The new followspot has been designed to incorporate the unique cooling system created by Selecon. This produces a cool beam of light and also directs the heat away from operational controls and lighting components. Palmer con

New Zealand - Selecon has reached an agreement with High End Systems (HES) of Austin, Texas to acquire a patent relating to optical dimming technology. Under the agreement, Selecon has purchased U.S. Patent 6,241,366 titled 'Lighting System with Diffusing Dimmer' for an undisclosed amount. The acquired technology is likely to be employed in Selecon's advanced technology Pacific profile spotlights.

HES chief technology officer Richard Belliveau said: "We are very pleased to form this agreement with Selecon Lighting. Selecon is an innovator in the field of theatrical instruments and we believe that the acquired technology is a perfect match for their new products."

Jeremy Collins, managing director for Selecon Lighting, adds: "High End's IP will allow us to deliver an improved dimming solution for our Pacific MSR line at an affordable cost. Combining the highly

USA - Color Kinetics Inc (CKI) has announced record revenues of $10.2 million for the second quarter of 2004. Revenues increased 39% from the $7.3 million reported in the second quarter of 2003 and increased 24% from the $8.2 million reported in the first quarter of 2004, say the company. Net income for the second quarter increased to a record $575,000, compared to $84,000 for the second quarter of 2003.

During the first half of 2004, the company generated approximately $1.2 million in cash from operating activities and, as of 30 June 2004, had cash and equivalents of $54.7 million. The Company's cash balance as of 30 June 2004 included approximately $35.2 million in net proceeds from its recently completed initial public offering in which the Company issued 4,000,000 shares of common stock at a price of $10 per share.

"We are very pleased to announce record results, pos

The Netherlands - Lumileds Lighting has announced that 10 European charter members have joined its Luxeon Lighting Network, which was launched in April at the Light+Building exhibition. Charter members include James Thomas Engineering, LightProjects, LumiDrives, Philips Luminaires, Nios, Space Cannon, Solar GB, Bocom, Altekno and BREE. The Network offers the lighting industry's first LED luminaire guidelines that provide a high level of confidence for predictable performance when specifying Luxeon LED lighting systems.

"Lighting designers and architects are frequently reluctant to specify unproven lighting technologies," said lighting designer Kevan Shaw. "Identification of luminaire manufacturers that adhere to a common set of technical design criteria and who will support and stand behind their products, gives professional lighting designers the confidence to s

UK - Avolites will feature production models of all its lighting control products at PLASA 2004. The newest Avo products - the eDMX, the ART 2000s stand-alone dimmer and the D4 Desktop were seen in prototype at PLASA 2003.

The Avolites eDMX system transfers DMX data across a Wi-Fi radio link - completely removing the need for DMX data cables. eDMX units are easily addressed and user configured, either as transmitters or receivers, allowing the fast set up of 'Point-to-Point', 'Point-to-Multipoint' or 'Multipoint to Multipoint' DMX Data Transmission Systems. Each transmit/receive pair of eDMX units relays data for one DMX universe at full speed, with ranges of up to 1km.

The deployment of eDMX is totally user definable - one per light, one per pipe or truss, or one just one to overcome the front of house data leap. A big advantage to rental and production companies is that any

UK - Tryka L.E.D. will be exhibiting its popular L.E.D. luminaires and controllers at this year's PLASA, with some new additions to the range. Debuting at the show are the Module 144 Flood - a powerful colour-changing floodlight with 144 LEDs - and a 110V version of the Modulation Driver, designed to facilitate control of Tryka's fixtures in countries with 110V voltage, such as USA, Canada and Japan. Also new is a hand-held controller, which allows users to remotely colour change and control Tryka units.

Not shown at PLASA before are the LinkLED Optic - adding the benefit of a choice of optic lenses to this flexible lighting system, the Module 1 Flush and Module 1 Dome. The latter two IP-rated luminaires contain a single high-brightness LED in respectively a flush and dome enclosure.

Tryka L.E.D. can be found on stand N77.

(Lee Baldock)

USA - Lighting/projection programmer Rodd McLaughlin, Emmy-nominated lighting/projection designer Patrick Dierson, and programmer Kim Grethen have launched Idyll Hands Imagery, which will offer digital content design and creation, media server programming, and pre-visualization services to the concert, corporate, theatre, film, and television industries. Among the services offered by the company is the optimization of digital content for media server playback.

"Our combined understanding of lighting and control, projection and media products, and the needs of designers makes this a unique partnership," says McLaughlin. "Patrick, Kim, and I have worked on projects together for many years, and given our combined technical knowledge and involvement in the industry, it was a natural evolution to come together in this effort. We offer a host of experience, not only in

Canada - Strand Lighting has won the contract to supply the lighting system for the new Toronto Opera House. The 2000-capacity Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts will be the new home for the Canadian Opera Company and the National Ballet of Canada. The design team for the project includes Jack Diamond and Gary McCluskie, Diamond and Schmitt Architects, Shaili Patel and Lana MacInnes of electrical engineers Mulvey & Banani International, and Josh Dachs and Richard Hoyes of the theatrical consultancy Fisher Dachs & Associates. The acoustical consultants for the project are Sound Space Design of London in association with Aercoustics Ltd.

Strand Lighting has worked closely with both the Opera Company and the Ballet for over 30 years, most recently at their current home at the Hummingbird Center in Toronto with opera technical director Julian Sleath and resident master elec

UK - The Glastonbury Extravaganza is a three-day event that was started in 1996 by Michael Eavis, founder of the Glastonbury Festival of Music and Dance, with the aim of giving something back to the local community for any inconvenience caused by the larger event.

Entec was responsible for supplying the lighting production for this year's Extravaganza, which was set once again in the picturesque grounds of Glastonbury Abbey and included the varied line-up of Van Morrison, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and Jools Holland. This was the first time that Entec has supplied the event, working with legendary production manager Dick Tee.

To co-ordinate the lighting needs of Van Morrison and Jools Holland, both regular Entec users, as well as the classical event with the RPO, Entec enlisted the help of Fraser Elisha. He and his Entec team-mates utilized the structural elements of the

UK - Switchcraft, the manufacturer of interconnection products for audio and broadcast professionals, has launched a space-saving patchbay fitted with audio and video jacks. Using a standard 19" 1U patch panel, the new patchbay is suitable for analogue and digital installations and contains 48 TT/bantam jacks and 16 pairs of mid-size video jacks that have a bandwidth of 3GHz. Designed for long life, the audio and video jacks are both rated to 30,000 mate/unmate cycles. Audio and video patch cords are readily available and can be supplied in eight different colours and 10 lengths, from 30cm up to 300cm.

(Lee Baldock)

USA - With less performance time - and usually less stage and overhead rig access - it's always challenging for an opening band to make itself stand out. But for country music rising stars Rascal Flatts (currently promoting its latest release, Melt, while opening up for Kenny Chesney) set designer Mike Swinford employed the Versa TILE system from Element Labs.

Although the band has a standard risers-and-stairs setup on stage, the risers are covered with about 20sq.m of Versa TILE, supplied by Large Screen Video (with offices in San Francisco and Miami). "When designing the show, we entertained the idea of bringing LED video onto the stage and we decided that we wanted some sort of self-illuminating video," Swinford says. "We went with the Versa TILE system because it was much more cost-effective [than regular LED], it was lighter weight, it required less power and

Canada - Flow Restaurant and Lounge Bar is centrally located in the more expensive dining and nightlife area of Yorkville Avenue, Toronto. Operated by Tony Longo and partners - proprietors of a chain of superior restaurants in the city - the modern and stylish venue is already attracting many customers who can enjoy a meal on the main floor, or sample wine and food on the lower level, whilst listening to live and DJ music ranging from jazz and blues to R&B.

Chimera Electronics Corporation was responsible for the external lighting specification and installation. The client's wish was to use lighting to enhance the look and style of the building, as well as having a colour-changing system to create a subtle and inviting atmosphere. Tryka's L.E.D. luminaires were selected for the project: Module 3s with 25º optics are used to highlight the brushed metallic columns along the patio

UK - E//T//C UK brought its large format projection magic to the ancient ruins of Caldicot Castle in Monmouthshire recently, for a three-weekend son et lumière production, called Footprints On The Sands of Time, part of the 2004 Chepstow Festival. Projection, lighting, sound, pyrotechnics and over 100 actors combined in a highly memorable show directed by Nick Bamford, and produced by Ned Heywood and Anne Rainsbury.

Three PIGI 6kW projectors with double rotating scrollers were used, located on a specially-built platform at the rear of the seating stands - a throw distance of over 100m. Two PIGIs shone onto a special arched screen to the left, and the other beamed onto the castle keep on the right. The show maximized the dynamic effects of the projectors, which scrolled and rotated constantly in all directions throughout the 90-minute show. E/T/C's Ross Ashton comments: &

UK - Martin Professional will head to the PLASA Show with an array of exciting, new products including a media server that elevates and expands the creative use of digital lighting, and a flexible wing extension for the popular Maxxyz lighting console. For the club/DJ market there is a new promotional projector and flower effect light, as well as a new portable but powerful smoke machine. Jem Smoke will present an updated version of the industry standard Jem AF-1 fan, as well as an update of the industry's most versatile low fog generator.

The Maxedia Digital Media Composer, which includes integrated DMX control, provides full control of both lighting and video elements, boasting a number of advantages over other digital media servers, including up to a maximum of 20 layers simultaneously, 3D effects with unique real-time manipulation, programming and playback without the use of

UK - CP Sound has supplied a complete lighting and sound design, specification and installation to the new independent club, 90 Degrees - The Right Angle in Grantham, with the technical work being completed in just four days! CP's Colin Pattenden was approached by the owners after they researched the nightclub trade press to find good options for sound and lighting. Pattenden asked David Linger from Robe UK to supply the lighting, whilst he concentrated on the sound and lighting design.

90 Degrees is located in a cavernous old building above a wine warehouse and consists of several rooms, including a main DJ/dance area, a secondary dancefloor and a seated 'booth' area with rounded, cocoon-like seats. From the outset, the club has been designed to be truly multipurpose. The name '90 Degrees' refers to the owners wanting everyone to have a clear view of the performance area in fro

UK - Martin Professional's worldwide training program, Acade-media, was officially launched on Tuesday 2 August, in Maidstone, England, where Martin UK's trainer, Chris West, taught participants 'General Service of Intelligent Lights'. West has been conducting training for Martin across the UK for three years, but this session marked the first time a Martin Acade-media course was presented.

Martin's international education manager, Marc Anderson, was there for the occasion, and explains: "The products are quite complex and the customer base is constantly expanding. There is a huge demand for training and we have ambitious plans for meeting that demand. Today's session is the result of nearly two years of preparation." He went on to add: "We've got a half-dozen courses ready to go. And when we have all the pieces in place, our goal is to be able to certify technic

UK - A new architectural lighting show launches in February 2005 in London. 'ARC 05 - the architectural, retail and corporate lighting show', it is the only lighting exhibition in the UK that is specifically targeted at architects, interior designers, lighting designers and specifiers. The show will be held at the Business Design Centre, Islington on 14-15 February and will also be supporting a two-day RIBA approved CPD programme and two-day forum in association with the LIF on LEDs and DALI.

All seminars taking place during the exhibition will be RIBA approved CPD and will all be related to lighting topics for architects. There are a number of lighting-related CPD seminars available, ranging from office and retail lighting to LEDs and daylighting control. A seminar theatre seating approximately 70 people will be built on the exhibition floor and will be promoted by Mondiale Pub

USA - Brian Dowd, the well-known general manager and East Coast sales manager for TMB, is to join LED lighting effects manufacturer Color Kinetics on 16 August, overseeing sales in the Mid-Atlantic region. An experienced lighting designer and technician, Dowd oversaw sales, operations and business development at TMB, and the launch of the company's New York office. His 27-year career includes sales, management, and technical experience at entertainment lighting companies Main Light Industries Inc and McManus Enterprises, as well as corporate meeting design and technical direction for DuPont Company. Dowd has also been directly involved in the work of several industry bodies, including the ESTA Technical Standards Program.

UK - This year's Glastonbury Festival was again hailed a huge success, with many companies battling the inclement weather to supply staging, lighting, sound and AV to this ever-developing event. With so many stages, tents and zones on site, the following can only be a snapshot of those industry experts who worked so hard - some regular festival suppliers and some new faces - to ensure the continued success of arguably the world's most famous annual outdoor musical event - ever!

Lighting

In action for Oasis' Friday night headline slot on the Pyramid stage were192 James Thomas Pixelline LED battens - part of a stunning lighting scheme designed by LD Andi Watson, with gear supplied by LSD/Fourth Phase.

On The Other Stage, LD Jonny Gaskell used 55 Pixellines and PixelDrive software, supplied by Bandit Lites, for Orbital's final set. Taking an experimental approach, Gaskell took

UK - London's Hammersmith Odeon played host to the first gig of The Corrs' European tour in June, showcasing the songs from the band's new album, Borrowed Heaven. Absent from the touring scene since 2001, the band has spent 18 months recording the new album in Dublin and Los Angeles, and will tour British arenas in November, taking in Newcastle, Glasgow, Sheffield, Birmingham, Manchester and London's Wembley Arena, following a month visiting European destinations.

The band has used live sound specialist Canegreen since its first set of UK dates in 1998, as tour manager Henry McGroggan explained: "The Corrs have grown with Canegreen; tonight we have 80 channels of audio running from the stage and the Canegreen boys can manage it. The technology has moved on significantly over the years and Canegreen keep right up to date in terms of offering us new equipment that will make the ban

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