Tag: set lighting

Managing Heat with LED Lighting

Posted on by J3551CA

Economy of operation is one the primary reasons that many industries are installing LED lighting. The technology also has operating temperatures that are below that of traditional methods of illumination, but LEDs still require a heat distribution system to manage thermal output.

LEDs don’t produce heat through infrared radiation, so they remain cool to the touch, but heat is generated within the device itself. The level will depend on whether the light is pulsed, steady, the wattage of the LED units, and junction temperatures.

Heat must be dissipated from LEDs for them to operate at top efficiency. If that energy isn’t siphoned off in some way, they become less reliable, inefficient, and emit less light. The illumination output is higher in cooler environments, making it essential for some type of heat sink or means of dispersing the generated heat.

Most high-quality LED lamps and fixtures are equipped with heat sinks that reduce the build-up of heat. Additional assistance may be required when the lights are used for long periods of time or at maximum output. Altering the housing surrounding the LEDs or adding fins can provide better heat transference away from the lights.

Fans are also convenient for forcing air past the LEDs to dissipate heat, but won’t be feasible for all types of applications. Liquid coolants offer another method of heat distribution and can be placed in fairly close proximity to the lights. When liquid coolants are prohibited due to safety regulations, thermal electric cooling (TEC) can be utilized that allows individuals to precisely control the level of cooling desired.

LEDs offer a variety of benefits over traditional means of illumination, but professionals will still encounter problems with heat distribution. Any materials used to transfer heat away from the lights should be able to move that thermal energy both vertically and horizontally for optimal performance.

Frank Gatto & Associates, Inc. are specialists in lighting for television events of all kinds.  If you have an event that needs expert lighting, please call us today to see how we can help.

Phone: 561-368-0101
Email: frank@frankgattolighting.com 
We can be found on Social Media at the following links.

            

Set Lighting Techniques

Posted on by J3551CA

At some point, everyone has viewed a film and talked about certain scenes, how they especially liked a romantic interlude or how sinister the villain looked. While the actors’ portrayal of the characters is extremely important, lighting plays a significant role in the way audiences view the characters and scenes.

The illumination of sets, scenes and even special events is the result of careful planning and a working knowledge of how lights and cameras work in harmony. It’s a task that relies on equal parts of creativity, artistic flair, and technical knowledge. Professionals work with a myriad of techniques to ensure every seen is picture perfect.

A three-point lighting set-up is comprised of key lighting, fill lighting, and backlighting – and fulfills a variety of essential functions. It illuminates subjects from three directions and focuses attention on the actors. The technique is used to control shadowing. It can also be combined with backlighting for a four-point system.

Key lighting will be most prominent and will be focused on the area or individual that is to be emphasized. Fill lighting penetrates the dark corners and shadows, while backlighting is used to the rear of the subject and typically from a higher angle to add depth.

Two types of illumination utilized by filmmakers are soft lighting and hard lighting. This lighting is emotional in nature and contributes to how audiences perceive a scene. Soft lighting makes use of increased key lighting to balance the light ratio, thereby creating a scene that has virtually no shadows at all. Diffused overhead lighting is also soft and is especially effective for close-ups and conversations between actors.

In contrast, hard lighting utilizes bright sunlight or smaller light sources to create and heighten shadows. It’s used to great effect for heightening scary and dramatic scenes, along with volatile, suspicious and dangerous situations in filming.

Motivated lighting is a technique that enables shooting in an enclosed studio while imitating other types of existing lights that might be experienced in everyday life situations. This type of lighting can emulate everything from an 18th-century lamp to sunlight from a window.

Last but not least is natural lighting that’s especially effective when shooting on location. Mother Nature creates some stunning effects, but they can be enhanced with carefully placed lights and illumination techniques that are benchmarks of a professional.

Frank Gatto & Associates, Inc. are specialists in lighting for television events of all kinds.  If you have an event that needs expert lighting, please call us today to see how we can help.

Phone: 561-368-0101

Email: frank@frankgattolighting.com 

We can be found on Social Media at the following links.

            

The Benefits Of Using LED Lighting On Set

Posted on by J3551CA

Ensuring that you have the right lighting on set can make or break your production.  Too little light and you lose impact, too much and you run the risk of your footage looking overexposed.  Getting it just right takes time and experience.  It is also helpful to look at new and innovative ways to add light to your set, rather than just using the same old lighting rig time and time again.

Advancements in LED technology now mean that you can achieve an excellent level of illumination using modern LED rigs that are easy to move from location to location and consume less power.

As experts in television lighting industry, we have many years experience of working with set lighting in all formats.  Our specialties include network television lighting, corporate industrials, award ceremonies and sporting events, but we are on hand to offer advice on the best lighting for every kind of set we work on.

What Are LED Lights?

LED, or light-emitting diodes, emit light when an electric current is applied. Because only a small amount of current is required for them to work, they only produce a small amount of heat and are much more cost effective to use. They also offer superior reliability, long bulb life, and exceptional battery life.

LED Lights Cost Less Than Traditional Lights

As a first-class lighting company, we have plenty of experience of lighting internal and external sets using HMI, tungsten and fluorescent light technology.  The introduction of LED lights to our armory, has meant that we can offer even more choice to our clients.

LED lights cost less to buy, require less energy to run and can be powered via batteries.  They are also incredible portable and require less extra equipment to carry around than more traditional lighting rigs do.

LED Lights Are Both Practical and Portable

Because LED lighting rigs can be compact, they are much better for lighting up small or unusual locations.  A traditional rig needs space around it to successful light up the area, whereas LED rigs can be squeezed into smaller spaces.

The other reason that LED lighting rigs are so successful in compact spaces is that they work on a lower voltage than standard lights, meaning they do not produce as much heat and are therefore much less of a fire hazard.  They also are instant on and instant off, meaning that you do not have to wait around for them to heat up or cool down.

Many LED lights also offer the operation of being battery operated, using either standard AA batteries or v-mount batteries for larger light panels.  This means you may not even need a power supply to illuminate your set.

LED Lights Are Incredibly Durable

Because they lack a whole bunch of moving parts, LED lighting fixtures can take a fair amount of being knocked about, which often happens on a television or film set.  Transporting to and from venues, or constant movement around the studio can be hard going on even the toughest of rigs. Because their design does not need to ignite a filament, they have virtually no moving parts making them much sturdier than traditional HMI, tungsten or fluorescent bulbs.

Whatever kind of lighting you need for your television set, Frank Gatto & Associates can help. Call us today on 561-368-0101 to find out more about our first class lighting services.

Frank Gatto & Associates, Inc. are specialists in lighting for television events of all kinds.  If you have an event that needs expert lighting, please call us today to see how we can help.

Phone: 561-368-0101

Email: frank@frankgattolighting.com 

We can be found on Social Media at the following links.