The smoothness of the dimming curve of stage lights and key points for selection

The influence of the smoothness of the dimming curve of stage lights

The dimming curve is the function graph of the light output of the dimming equipment according to the preset function after receiving the input signal. It directly affects the effect of the light output and reflects the performance of the digital dimming equipment. The smoothness of the dimming curve is crucial to the performance of stage lights. If the smoothness of the dimming curve is poor, such as in 256-level grayscale dimming, the dimming curve will present a sawtooth-shaped step waveform. At low brightness, the sudden change in the steps is obvious, and the brightness jump is easily detectable by the human eye, making it impossible to achieve the flexible effect of gradually brightening or dimming, which affects the visual experience of the audience and the overall atmosphere creation of the stage.

To improve the dimming effect, the smoothness of the dimming curve can be enhanced through the following several methods:

Nonlinear dimming is adopted: At low brightness, the speed of the adjustment step is reduced to avoid the sensitive areas of the human eye when the gray level increases or decreases.

Subdivide the gray level: Increase the gray level to a higher level to make the changes in light brightness more delicate.

Reduce the speed of light variation at low brightness: Avoid obvious brightness jumps in low-brightness areas to make the light changes more natural.

Key points for choosing stage lights

Brightness and color temperature: Brightness is usually expressed in lumens (lm), and color temperature is expressed in Kelvin (K). Lamps with a light intensity of less than 4000K have a relatively warm tone and are suitable for creating a cozy atmosphere. Lights above 5500K are closer to natural light and are suitable for performances and events. The appropriate brightness and color temperature should be selected based on the performance requirements and the characteristics of the venue to avoid overly bright and dazzling lights or overly dim ones that may affect the performance effect.

Durability and cost: Durability is related to the service life and stability of the lighting fixtures. High-quality stage lights should have good heat dissipation performance and a sturdy casing to reduce the probability of malfunctions. At the same time, the purchase cost and usage cost should be comprehensively considered, including the price of the lamps, energy consumption, maintenance costs, etc. Under the premise of meeting the performance requirements, products with high cost performance should be selected.

Dimming performance: The smoothness of the dimming curve is one of the important indicators for evaluating dimming performance. In addition to paying attention to the smoothness of the dimming curve, it is also necessary to understand the dimming range and dimming accuracy of the lamp. The dimming range should be able to meet the needs of different performance scenes, and the dimming accuracy determines the fineness of the light brightness adjustment.

Types and functions of lighting fixtures: There are various types of stage lighting. For instance, spotlights have concentrated light and clear spots, making them suitable for highlighting specific areas or serving as the main light source. Diffused light has a soft line and a large coverage area, and is often used for canopy lighting or general lighting. The spotlight has high brightness and adjustable light spot depth, making it suitable for tracking actors or highlighting key points. The computer light is intelligently controlled and programmable, suitable for complex scenarios. The appropriate type of lighting fixtures should be selected based on the performance content and stage design, and attention should be paid to the additional functions of the fixtures, such as color changes and pattern projections, to enrich the stage lighting effects.

Control system compatibility: Modern stage lighting cannot do without intelligent control systems, such as the DMX512 protocol. When making a purchase, it is necessary to ensure that the stage lights are compatible with the commonly used lighting control systems to achieve functions such as automatic following and remote control, thereby enhancing the performance effect and operational convenience. Meanwhile, the scalability and upgrade space of the control system should be taken into consideration to adapt to the changes in future performance requirements.

Safety: During installation and use, it is essential to ensure the safety of the lamps. Check whether the electrical performance of the lamps meets safety standards and whether the enclosures have protective measures such as fire prevention and electric shock prevention. In addition, the weight and installation method of the lamps should also be taken into consideration to ensure that the stage structure can bear the weight of the lamps and avoid accidents caused by the lamps falling or overheating.