The newest kid on the block is laser source lighting fixtures. Soon, we will see our old friends, arc and tungsten, replaced by this newer, more efficient technology in certain applications. Laser sources are brighter, more functional, and more efficient than even modern LED beam fixtures. The progress towards more efficient ways of creating dramatic and immersive visual experiences will never cease. However, we cannot proclaim progress without respecting that progress can come with inherent changes. Although the struggles are real, many of these changes can be overblown or misconstrued. In order to educate myself, and others on the real intricacies of the shift towards newer technologies, I decided to reach out to a few people who are facing the real-life challenges of bringing laser sources to our audiences.
What are the Benefits?
The Claypaky Xtylos offers incredible intensity in colors as it uses an additive proprietary RGB light-engine. There are no dichroics to weaken the power of the beam. Dimming, strobing, and color changing are all done electronically, not mechanically. This means that they are lightning fast and reliable features. The beam is fuller and flatter than an arc source. There are no pronounced hot spots as with an arc beam unit. “The beam looks like a solid tree trunk of light rather than a bright twig,” according to George Masek, Strategic Marketing Manager for Claypaky. The Xtylos also draws considerably less power than traditional arc sourced fixtures. Xtylos uses only 400W total per fixture, and when the intensity fader is at zero, the source is off. Laser can be a much greener alternative to LED-based fixtures. The Xtylos has a 20,000-hour source. This is ten times longer than any arc source unit without the heat.
Jerad Garza, International Sales-Americas for Ayrton, notes, “Laser, just by its nature of being concentrated light, affords us the ability to produce super tight, high output, sub 1° beams that can go for miles,” he says, adding, “One major factor influencing this is the sheer size of the source. The use of LED as a white light source poses quite some challenges in terms of collectively directing the light energy into a usable beam.” The width of the beam path, or gate, then predicts how large the optics must be, the size and length of the fixture in order to have zoom, etc. This larger beam size is of great benefit for generating a flat field and nice, wide angled wash, but with such a large gate, LED is hard pressed to reach beam angles below 2°, making the real, sub 1° beam the final frontier for solid state sourced fixtures. Laser sources like the one Ayrton has chosen in the new Ayrton Cobra solve that problem. While others have chosen to take the additive approach for their laser source fixture, Ayrton uses laser phosphor technology to create an incredibly compact, white source, which affords the best use of all those great subtractive features, like .6-23° zoom range, 92 gobos, and 8 combinable prisms in an IP65 enclosure.
Are These the Same as Traditional Lasers?
It is important to understand that these are not the lasers being used in a Pink Floyd laser show. They cannot track down missiles and they cannot slay Darth Vader. The Xtylos has 1/50,000th the radiance of a traditional 3W RGB laser, thanks to the large 6” diameter output lens and the 1° beam collimation. The beam of traditional lasers is measured in millimeters, not inches. The advent of laser phosphor technology enables use over and above what’s been seen so far in terms of show lasers. Very similar to how cinema projection has benefited from laser filtered through phosphor to make white light, we are able to make use of the same principles to create an incredibly powerful and compact source.
What about Laser Variances?
In the U.S., regulations lump all laser sourced products into the same heap, solely because L.A.S.E.R. (light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation) is the source. The responsibility of enforcing laser variances is divided among different government agencies depending on the intended use of the laser device. Stateside, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates laser products and enforces laser safety standards. They are responsible for ensuring that laser products comply with federal regulations and for investigating complaints about non-compliant products. However, if you are working outdoors and the beams are unterminated, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is responsible as well. In addition to these agencies, there are also professional organizations, such as the International Laser Display Association (ILDA), that provide guidance and standards for laser safety in the entertainment industry. This is already more bureaucracy than most roadies are comfortable with. However, Claypaky, currently the only manufacturer with a valid FDA variance for the USA, offers a 90-minute online class and test that gets the dealer their variance for free.
Who is Responsible?
It is the responsibility of the manufacturer to ensure that their laser products comply with all applicable laser safety standards and regulations. This includes obtaining the necessary certifications, such as the FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH) product performance standard and the European Union’s CE Marking, as well as ensuring that the product is labeled with appropriate safety warnings and instructions for use.
Once a laser product has been certified and labeled for safe use, it is the responsibility of the production company and technicians to ensure that the product is used in accordance with the safety guidelines provided by the manufacturer. This includes using the product only in the intended manner, providing appropriate safety equipment and training to employees, and ensuring that the laser is properly maintained and operated.
How Can We Adapt?
In the same sense that there is nothing constant except change, this is another change in our industry which will, one way or another, bring with it a multitude of new realities. In order to progress, we as an industry will need to welcome these advances with open arms, allowing this technology to become the prevailing lighting source in our industry. Just like fitting 13 roadies onto a 12-person bus, there will be adjustments needed for this to happen. It will take us all working together to allow for more application specific regulations to foster safe use while also lowering barriers. Just like any new technology, our best defense against customer trepidation and concern is examples of wildly successful uses in the marketplace. Shows like Post Malone, Coldplay, Lumineers, Muse, Motley Crüe, Kiss, Megadeth, etc. are working beautifully each night on the road—this is our best method of sharing the power and benefits of this great new technology.
Reach Chris Lose at close@plsn.com
