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Thread: Interesting laser effect, how was this done?

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    Default Interesting laser effect, how was this done?

    How was the overhead effect done in this video? You can see it very well on its own at 3:22
    The beams seem to come out of a ring-shaped aperture, not from a central point like you see with a normal RGB projector.

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    I can think of a couple possibilities, though there may be other ways to do it as well.

    1) the projector is actually mounted several feet above the "aperture" location, and the "aperture" is nothing more than a sheet of plastic or glass. That's why you see the ring at that location as well as on the floor where the beam terminates.

    2) the projector is scanning very wide, and the beam is striking a cylindrical mirror that is angled towards the floor at close to a 40 degree angle. The ring you see up top is mirror splash from the beam hitting the mirror.

    Of the two, I think #1 is far more likely.

    Adam

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    Cory Simpson did it, via StrictlyFX from a Arctos Vortex. Lightwave proposed this device way back for Madonna years ago. It is either just a ring of mirrors or it spins.. I can't remember I have not seen one in years. Cory posted some links from the Lightwave's website last week on it, but he mentioned he was working with StrictlyFX.
    Rob Mudryk
    Retired old and Grumpy Laserist

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    i don't go to concerts much but that is bad ass
    Remember Remember The 8th of November, When No One Stood, but Kneel, In Surrender
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    Lightbulb Dang stress-insomnia.. +_+

    Quote Originally Posted by Draco View Post
    ..that is bad ass
    ...Bah, it's all just smoke and mirrors..

    OK, I'll bite.. Studying the pix, my first thought was like a 'laser catherine wheel' / 'laser-pinwheel' (..like what's done with fwx, ie: https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2223/...36a60194_b.jpg / http://vignette4.wikia.nocookie.net/...l_firework.jpg ,etc ..But where you had a dozen or-whatever, RGB micro-modules (kind of like 'logsquared's nice design, there..) arranged around the perimiter of a large, fast-spinning base-platter, and each micro-module was on a 'servoed-yoke', so it could be 'independantly swung' towards the center - or out, away from the wheel - via some control-protocol (ie: DMX, which would also control modulation / color-control, base-platter motor-speed, etc..).. Sure, it would be a biotch to make, and would have to be quite the hard-core bit of mech / electronics, etc, but, hey - this is Arctos, we're talking, here.. Kinda known for their 'over-engineering', ya?

    ..Anyhoo, with indie gimbal-like position control, and 'chop' / interference-fx, thru modulation, you could make those 'seemingly mid-air beam-waists' / parallax-fx - I think - with such an approach... BUT THEN, 'Google busted my myth'.. http://worldwide.espacenet.com/publi...019268U1&KC=U1

    ..Which, is far-simpler, mechanically / optically, in it's approach, and makes more sense how you could achieve some of the 'complex-looking color-mods', seen in some of those shots.. Plus, as Sir rMuD testifies, a 'ring of mirrors' sounds about right, looking at this.. But, I still posture that some-sort of 'final-bounce positioner' would be what you'd need for the 'parallax fx', especially crossing center, 'beam-waisting' to the other side.. Sure as spank ain't 'magnetics'.. (..unless, sure, they're in linear-solenoids-as-positioners, etc.. Interesting-stuff, in any-case..

    ..You can come-up with some *really* radical fx, when you start 'mixing / matching' scan-speeds and modulation / chop, off of variable-speed spinning motors, especially a 'cone-scanner'.. 'DO try this at home', sometime: Take yer RGB-jector, and scan some simple stuff, *onto* a variable-speed cone-scanner, with a 'larger' (~4-5") mirror, does not need to be first-surface, just 'glued-on real damn-well'... As you 'play', the scan-speed, animation-itself, position, color-mod / chop, etc, off-of the motor-speed, Heh.. *Majik* happens.. Here's a bid of discussion / a few pix from a KTP.. http://www.photonlexicon.com/forums/...485#post181485 ..Color-modded RGB would be super-

    PS (..this should interest 'andy-con'..) http://worldwide.espacenet.com/publi...002498A1&KC=A1 ..although, I don't know *how* he can 'claim' this: http://worldwide.espacenet.com/publi...009294U1&KC=U1 ..Mmmyeah, I don't think-so.. Anyhoo.. .02

    j
    ....and armed only with his trusty 21 Zorgawatt KTiOPO4...

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    Yep, those Arctos patents are what I thought it might be. Very cool ideas to make that work.

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    This effect has been done many years earlier as well, 1984 (?) it was done just as I was hired at AVI in 1984 (their first full time engineer), and I would bet by a few others as well - its just know one knew it, We treated laser effects technology as a black art years ago - that was our version of intellectual protection, no lawyers... Like RF Engineers did then and still do now too !

    Ward Davis at AVI used a G124 (an open loop galvo) on a spinning motorized rod. The laser entered a tube (PVC Pipe) on ring bearings, with homemade slip rings made of copper pipe and motor brushes. The galvo signal went thru the slip rings as to actuate the galvo while a motor pulley system spun the rig around... the unit was balanced as to reduce vibration. You could apply a signal thru the galvo to produce "ring shaped images" or offset to produce an hourglass type shape as well. It was one of our special cone effects used in corporate shows to "beam in" company CEO's, Directors, Presidents, etc.

    I can say that patents can be made and issued on many lighting designs, laser effects, and methods, but the real test is getting a challenge in court to see if it stands... like the my patent of the AVI Omniscan vs the LFI LumiSphere "court battle ". After about a half a million USD($) spent, we came to a mutual agreement and our patent held up in court, and LFI was a licensee for some period of time thereafter, I helped with refining of the LumiSphere system Opto-Mechanics and effects.

    NOTE: Patents do not mean you get money... and it does not mean you we the first... I have seen this many times before.

    Now... Go out and create something new and beautiful !
    Did my first "Laser Lumia Show" in 1974... and have never stopped experimenting !

  9. #9
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    It's likely the ring bearing from a used CT machine. Probably made by Moog.
    Steve

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    that is quite the over engineering description for a static ring/cone of mirrors 3' in diameter.

    Quote Originally Posted by dsli_jon View Post
    ...Bah, it's all just smoke and mirrors..



    OK, I'll bite.. Studying the pix, my first thought was like a 'laser catherine wheel' / 'laser-pinwheel' (..like what's done with fwx, ie: https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2223/...36a60194_b.jpg / http://vignette4.wikia.nocookie.net/...l_firework.jpg ,etc ..But where you had a dozen or-whatever, RGB micro-modules (kind of like 'logsquared's nice design, there..) arranged around the perimiter of a large, fast-spinning base-platter, and each micro-module was on a 'servoed-yoke', so it could be 'independantly swung' towards the center - or out, away from the wheel - via some control-protocol (ie: DMX, which would also control modulation / color-control, base-platter motor-speed, etc..).. Sure, it would be a biotch to make, and would have to be quite the hard-core bit of mech / electronics, etc, but, hey - this is Arctos, we're talking, here.. Kinda known for their 'over-engineering', ya?

    ..Anyhoo, with indie gimbal-like position control, and 'chop' / interference-fx, thru modulation, you could make those 'seemingly mid-air beam-waists' / parallax-fx - I think - with such an approach... BUT THEN, 'Google busted my myth'.. http://worldwide.espacenet.com/publi...019268U1&KC=U1

    ..Which, is far-simpler, mechanically / optically, in it's approach, and makes more sense how you could achieve some of the 'complex-looking color-mods', seen in some of those shots.. Plus, as Sir rMuD testifies, a 'ring of mirrors' sounds about right, looking at this.. But, I still posture that some-sort of 'final-bounce positioner' would be what you'd need for the 'parallax fx', especially crossing center, 'beam-waisting' to the other side.. Sure as spank ain't 'magnetics'.. (..unless, sure, they're in linear-solenoids-as-positioners, etc.. Interesting-stuff, in any-case..

    ..You can come-up with some *really* radical fx, when you start 'mixing / matching' scan-speeds and modulation / chop, off of variable-speed spinning motors, especially a 'cone-scanner'.. 'DO try this at home', sometime: Take yer RGB-jector, and scan some simple stuff, *onto* a variable-speed cone-scanner, with a 'larger' (~4-5") mirror, does not need to be first-surface, just 'glued-on real damn-well'... As you 'play', the scan-speed, animation-itself, position, color-mod / chop, etc, off-of the motor-speed, Heh.. *Majik* happens.. Here's a bid of discussion / a few pix from a KTP.. http://www.photonlexicon.com/forums/...485#post181485 ..Color-modded RGB would be super-

    PS (..this should interest 'andy-con'..) http://worldwide.espacenet.com/publi...002498A1&KC=A1 ..although, I don't know *how* he can 'claim' this: http://worldwide.espacenet.com/publi...009294U1&KC=U1 ..Mmmyeah, I don't think-so.. Anyhoo.. .02

    j
    Rob Mudryk
    Retired old and Grumpy Laserist

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