NFL Guide to How Lasers Work ?

Stage laser light is a common stage lighting equipment, which uses laser beams generated by lasers to create various visual effects. The following is the general working principle of stage laser lights:

a . Laser light source : The key component in the stage laser light is the laser. Lasers convert energy into a beam of high-intensity, monochromatic, coherent light through the principle of electronic excitation. Commonly used lasers include gas lasers, solid-state lasers, and semiconductor lasers.

The laser light source of the stage laser light is mainly used to control the following effects:

b. Laser beam: The laser light source can generate a beam of high brightness and high focus. This laser can be used to create various beam effects such as beam scanning, beam rotation, beam deformation, etc. The laser beam can draw straight lines, circles, zigzags and other patterns on the stage, bringing dynamics and visual impact to the performance.

c. Laser color: The laser light source can achieve various color effects by adjusting laser modules of different colors. Stage laser lights can emit single-color lasers, such as red, green, and blue, and can also mix these colors to produce other colors. By adjusting the color of the laser light source, a variety of light and shadow effects can be created to create different atmospheres and emotions for the performance.

d. Laser pattern: The laser light source can generate various pattern effects through special optical devices and control systems. Stage laser lights can project diverse patterns such as starry sky, flying particles, geometric figures, text, etc., making the stage lively and interesting. These patterns can be displayed statically or dynamically changing, combining with music, dance or actors' performances to enhance the stage effect.

e. Laser movement: The laser light source can control the direction and trajectory of the beam through devices such as scanners. The stage laser light can realize the scanning, rotation, shaking, translation and other motion effects of the beam, so that the beam shuttles, interlaces or chases on the stage, increasing the visual dynamics and layering. This laser motion can be synchronized with other stage lights and music rhythms to create dazzling visual effects.

It should be noted that the use of laser lights needs to comply with relevant safety regulations to ensure the safety of audiences and performers. When using a laser light source, direct exposure to human eyes should be avoided, and the intensity and range of use of the laser beam should be reasonably controlled.

The laser light source of stage laser light usually adopts semiconductor laser or gas laser. Different types of laser light sources have different power ranges.

For semiconductor lasers, the power is usually between a few milliwatts (mW) and several hundred watts (W). Common semiconductor laser wavelengths include red (eg, 630-680 nm) and green (eg, 510-550 nm) in the visible range, and blue (eg, 440-480 nm) in the ultraviolet range.

For gas lasers, the power range usually ranges from a few watts (W) to tens of kilowatts (kW). Common gas lasers include carbon dioxide lasers (wavelengths of about 10.6 microns) and argon ion lasers (wavelengths of 488 and 514 nanometers).

There is no direct mathematical relationship between the power and wavelength of a laser source. Power refers to the total energy output by a laser light source, usually in watts (W). Wavelength is the light wavelength of the laser beam, usually in nanometers (nm). Different lasers output different power lasers at different wavelengths.

To calculate the overall power of stage laser lights, the sum of the power of multiple laser light sources needs to be considered. Assuming there are two laser light sources with powers P1 and P2 respectively, the overall power is P_total = P1 + P2. Add the power of all laser sources to get the overall power. Please note that this is just a simple example, and the actual situation may be more complicated, and factors such as the stability of the laser and the modulation method need to be considered.

The projection range of laser light is generally divided into two situations , one is indoor and the other is outdoor.

Indoor :5W can be used for places under 200 square meters, and one to two watts for tens of square meters. For 200 square meters to 500 square meters, we recommend using 10 watts, and for more than 500 square meters, it is definitely recommended to use 20 watts.

Outdoors :The projection range of 30W is about 1 km, 60W is 2-3km, and 80W is 4-5km.

That suits you according to the size of the number of people in the venue:

200-500 people venue : 8 to 16 indoor 10W lasers, 6 to 8 900W fog machines

1000-3000 people site : 8-16 30W lasers, 8-16 1500W fog machines

3000-7000 people site : 16-30 30W lasers, 16-30 1500W fog machines

The laser products on our website have the same shell , but have different powers , and different powers have different models . The greater the total power,the brighter the laser light , and the wider the projection range.

Beam forming: The beam generated by the laser passes through a series of optical elements to form the desired beam characteristics. These elements may include lenses, mirrors, gratings, etc., which are used to focus, adjust the shape and size of the beam.

Beam modulation: In order to create various visual effects, stage laser lights usually use beam modulation technology. This can be achieved by rapidly changing the intensity, color or direction of the laser light. Methods of modulating the beam may include the use of rotatable gratings, electro-optic modulators, acousto-optic modulators, etc.

TT modulation (TTL Modulation) and analog modulation (Analog Modulation) of stage laser lights are two different modulation methods, and they have some differences and functions in the control and application of laser lights.

a.TT modulation (TTL Modulation):

TT modulation is a digital modulation method that uses TTL (Transistor-Transistor Logic) signals to control the switch of the laser light. In TT modulation, the light output of the laser light has only two states: on and off. By controlling the high and low levels of the TTL signal, the brightness and flashing frequency of the laser light can be controlled. The advantages of TT modulation are simple operation, good real-time performance, and it is very suitable for high-speed flickering effects. However, since there are only two states, TT modulation cannot achieve continuously adjustable brightness changes.

b. Analog Modulation:

Analog modulation is a continuously adjustable modulation method, which controls the output brightness of the laser lamp by changing the voltage or current of the input signal. Analog modulation can achieve continuous brightness changes from off lights to full power, so it is very common in stage lighting effects that require smooth gradients. Analog modulation typically uses an analog control circuit or a digital-to-analog converter to generate a continuously varying control signal for precise brightness control.

Effect:

- TT modulation is suitable for special effects that require high-speed flashing and fast switching, such as fast flash, strobe, etc. It is often used to create dynamic and fast-changing effects in stage performances, light shows and stunt shows.

- Analog modulation is suitable for lighting effects that require continuous changes and smooth gradients, such as color gradients, brightness adjustments, etc. It is often used in stage performances, stage background lighting and stage atmosphere creation to achieve richer and more diverse lighting effects.

It should be noted that different stage laser lights may support different modulation methods, and the specific modulation methods and functions can be confirmed according to the specifications of the specific equipment and the manufacturer's instructions.

The scanning system is used to control the movement of the laser beam. It usually consists of two rotating mirrors, one for scanning in the horizontal direction and the other for scanning in the vertical direction. In this way, the laser beam can form different patterns and motion tracks on the stage.

The scanning speed of the galvanometer in the stage laser light has a direct impact on the laser effect. The scanning speed of the galvanometer determines the speed and accuracy of the laser beam moving in space, thus determining the quality and smoothness of the projected laser pattern or effect.

Lower scanning speeds (such as 15K or 20K) will cause the laser beam to move relatively slowly. In rapidly changing laser effects, this can result in a jumpy feeling between patterns or effects, which is not smooth enough. For example, in a continuous laser animation, a lower scan speed may cause the lines to appear choppy rather than smooth and coherent.

Higher scan speeds such as 30K, 40K or 50K move the laser beam faster for smoother patterns and effects. The fast scanning speed enables the laser beam to follow the predetermined path more accurately, producing continuous and smooth motion. This is very important for drawing complex laser patterns or achieving fast dynamic effects.

In general, higher scan speeds generally provide higher quality laser results, making patterns and animations look smoother and more natural. However, the actual effect also depends on other factors, such as laser power, laser color, projection surface, etc. Therefore, when choosing a stage laser light, it is necessary to comprehensively consider the scanning speed of the galvanometer and other technical parameters to meet the specific laser effect requirements.

The control system of the stage laser light is responsible for adjusting the power of the laser, the characteristics of the beam and the movement of the scanning system. It can be connected with the light console or computer through DMX , ILDA protocol or other communication methods to realize remote control and programming.

The laser light system has built-in system and external system.The built-in system is the self-propelled system that comes with the laser light.It can play automatically after plugging in the power supply . No adjustment is required.For external or external systems, please see the next one. paragraph.

There are many options for the control software of stage laser lights, the following are some of the commonly used software:

1. Pangolin Beyond: Pangolin Beyond is a professional laser light control software with powerful functions and flexible operation interface. It supports the control of multiple laser projecters, has advanced graphics rendering capabilities and timeline editing functions.

2. Laserworld Showeditor: Laserworld Showeditor is an easy-to-use laser light control software for laser shows and shows. It provides an intuitive interface and a variety of special effects, supports timeline editing and real-time control.

3. Pangolin QuickShow: Pangolin QuickShow is a laser light control software for entry-level users. It has a simple operation interface and basic special effects, and can be used to create simple laser shows and performances.

4. Laserworld Showeditor FREE: Laserworld Showeditor FREE is a free laser light control software, suitable for laser light project control. While it's relatively simple, it's still possible to create basic laser effects and sequences.

5. Phoenix Showcontroller: Phoenix Showcontroller is a full-featured laser light control software with advanced special effects and editing functions. It supports multiple laser control interfaces and provides a wide range of laser effects and presets.

Please note that different brands and models of laser lights may correspond to different control software. Therefore, before choosing the control software, it is best to determine the brand and model of the laser light, and check its official website or documentation to obtain the corresponding recommended software and compatibility information.

In general, stage laser lights produce high-intensity, monochromatic, coherent beams through lasers, create the desired effect through beam forming and modulation techniques, and then control the movement of the beams through a scanning system to present various images on the stage. Wonderful laser effects.