ILChttp://intelligentlighting.com
Lighting Systems | Production ServicesTue, 22 May 2018 18:21:48 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.9.3Flight Pathshttp://intelligentlighting.com/flight-paths/
Mon, 02 Oct 2017 20:39:48 +0000/?p=4226Flight Paths is an art exhibit straddling the terminal walkway of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport between terminals A and B. The project, integrated by ILC, was recently awarded the 2017 CODAward by CODAWorx in the transportation category. This concept, originally designed by artist Steven Waldeck, was chosen as part of a open competition for airport improvements and modernizations. The exhibit ...

]]>Flight Paths is an art exhibit straddling the terminal walkway of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport between terminals A and B. The project, integrated by ILC, was recently awarded the 2017 CODAward by CODAWorx in the transportation category. This concept, originally designed by artist Steven Waldeck, was chosen as part of a open competition for airport improvements and modernizations. The exhibit takes passengers and airport customers on a walk through a virtual Georgia forest. In a short period of time, this exhibit has become one of the most photographed areas of ATL.

ILC partnered with SVI Themed Construction who fabricated the scenic elements of the exhibit with laser cut aluminum that were painted and coated to produce a desired level of lighting reflectivity while preserving their vibrant color. Above the scenic element, through holes in the canopy, SVI fabricated an aluminum frame that holds a articulating 4mm video wall installed by ILC. This creates the imagery of the sky, clouds and aviary life above the trees. The entire exhibit is lit from multiple angles including fixtures that sit in the foliage.

The exhibit is driven by a D3 4×4 Pro that serves as the hub bringing together audio, video and lighting elements. An Alcon McBride V4Pro Show Controller was used to handle the show management, and scheduling and interfaces with building automation systems. ETC Echo relay panels control the power for the system. Lighting fixtures from Color Kinetics, ETC and Ketra light the canopy from different directions. In several areas of the exhibit there are “rain showers” projected on the floor from Sony laser projectors.

ILC collaborated with John Featherstone and Lightswitch as the media designers and the creative consultant on the project. Prior to the installation in Atlanta, a scaled mockup was created at SVI Themed Construction to prove out the technology and design. Throughout the process the artist, Steven Waldeck worked hand in hand with the SVI, Lightswitch and ILC team. Matt Pearlman, Account Executive at ILC noted: “the collaboration on this project was intense and extremely productive. We all worked well together to solve problems and bring this project to life”.

The team worked through building this system in the midst of one of the busiest airports in North America. Most of the work took place at night. Matt Pearlman also commented “using the D3 was a lifesaver given how much pre-visualization we were able to do”. Please visit the exhibit and “take a walk in the woods” on your next visit to Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.

]]>ILC Invests In High End Systems SolaFrame 2000http://intelligentlighting.com/lc-invests-in-high-end-systems-solaframe-2000/
Wed, 09 Aug 2017 16:24:44 +0000/?p=4082Chicago based lighting production company Intelligent Lighting Creations (ILC) is pleased to announce that they recently invested in a large number of High End Systems SolaFrame 2000 automated luminaires for their production inventory. The SolaFrame 2000 is High End’s flagship framing LED fixture, and ILC looks forward to offering their clients this state-of-the-art product for local and regional productions. ILC ...

Chicago based lighting production company Intelligent Lighting Creations (ILC) is pleased to announce that they recently invested in a large number of High End Systems SolaFrame 2000 automated luminaires for their production inventory. The SolaFrame 2000 is High End’s flagship framing LED fixture, and ILC looks forward to offering their clients this state-of-the-art product for local and regional productions.

ILC shares a rich history with High End Systems dating back to the early 1990s. In 1994, ILC Founder/CEO Scott Falbe was a student at DePaul University; seeking to raise the game in his university lighting designs, he looked to add automated lighting fixtures to his system. At that time in Chicago, there weren’t any companies who would rent automated lighting fixtures to a young kid from DePaul. Scott persevered and purchased four Intellabeam 700 fixtures, and Intelligent Lighting Creations was born, albeit operating out of his parents’ carport in Niles, Illinois.

Today, ILC is a thriving lighting company based in Chicago with projects all over the world. “As we looked for the next fixture to add to our line, we had a wide array of choices,” said Tom Siko, Vice President of Sales & Marketing. “We considered all aspects of the fixtures, including operational efficiency, features, benefits and output. At the end of the process, we found so many things we liked about the SolaFrame 2000 that it was a natural fit.” ILC has taken delivery of the SolaFrame 2000 fixtures which are now available in ILC’s fleet of lighting products. Scott Falbe commented, “It’s a unique path we’ve had with High End over the years. We’re thrilled about adding High End Systems fixtures to our inventory again!”

HES Regional Sales Manager Paul Hancock added, “High End Systems’ relationship with ILC is an essential partnership that I am thankful for the opportunity to help cultivate. Being able to work with Scott, Tom, Chuck, and the whole team at ILC over the past few years has been a unique and extremely fulfilling experience. I am excited to be a part of that relationship going forward. ILC’s investment in High End Systems’ White-Light LED automated fixtures marks another pivotal moment in the acceptance that White-Light LED is a stout replacement for metal halide fixtures.”

An ETC Company, High End Systems is a leading manufacturer of automated lighting and control products for the entertainment industry. For more information on High End Systems, visit www.highend.com.

ILC is pleased to announce an investment in Elation Professional, Proteus Beam fixtures. These intelligent lighting products offer superb beam and projection effects in a completely IP65 weatherproof package. Featuring an output of 12,000 lumens the Proteus Beam can be reliably operated in a wet location and provide stunning effects and visuals.

Recently used at Morton Arboreturm in 2016 for “Illumination” designed by Lightswitch and John Featherstone, these fixtures performed flawlessly in “Fantasy Forest” through the snow, sleet and rain of Chicago’s coldest months.

]]>Tech that Tuesday–VL3000 Belt Tensionhttp://intelligentlighting.com/tech-that-tuesday-vl3000-belt-tension/
Tue, 16 May 2017 15:29:07 +0000/?p=4002One of the most common maintenance tasks on most moving lights is checking and correcting belt tension. As a fixture is used and travels in trucks, it’s not uncommon for belts to become too loose or too tight (the former because of truck rides and normal use loosening fasteners, the latter because some belts tend to shrink a little with ...

]]>One of the most common maintenance tasks on most moving lights is checking and correcting belt tension. As a fixture is used and travels in trucks, it’s not uncommon for belts to become too loose or too tight (the former because of truck rides and normal use loosening fasteners, the latter because some belts tend to shrink a little with age and heat exposure). The outcome is similar in both cases – features of the light don’t move right. They might skip steps or simply refuse to move at all. Fortunately, most belt tension problems are easily corrected by the end user.

We’ll be looking at a Vari-Lite VL3000 series fixture today, but many of these principles apply to other moving lights. The VL3000 uses belts to drive pan and tilt, as well as most of the visual effects (color wheels, gobos, the zoom mechanism). It’s a good idea to check on these tensions when performing regular cleanings. You’ll want the following tools:

#2 Phillips Screwdriver

5/32” Hex wrench

3/16” Hex Wrench

5/16” Nut driver or open-ended wrench

First let’s look at pan and tilt, as these are pretty easy. We’re concerned with the four screws circled in red. Also note the two springs with red arrows – these will actually set the belt tension for us. The procedure is simply to loosen each screw about half a turn, and then move the head from one endstop to the other a few times to let the springs push the motor to the right position. Then tighten the four screws in order – 1, 2, 3, 4 (This pattern is recommended by Vari-Lite for all spring-tensioned motor mounts, the first screw is always on the opposite side of the springs).

Next up is pan. We’ll need to set the fixture on its side for this. I like to lay it down so that either the back or the front of the head is resting flat on the table. Be careful of the power cable, if you’re working on a fixture without powercon.

Once you’re looking at the bottom, remove the four socket cap screws holding the bottom plate on.

I’ve marked this photo the same way, and the procedure is much the same. You’ll loosen the four socket-cap screws holding the motor mount in place about half a turn, then rotate the pan back and forth a few times (you’ll need to carefully set the fixture back up, it’s fine to do this without putting the bottom cover on, but be careful, the studs for the screws can scratch up a work surface easily).

With that done, your belt tensions are correct and pan and tilt should be working normally.

Other belts in the VL3000 series are not automatically tensioned, so there’s a little bit of a ‘feel’ required. We’ll look at the belts in the color module, as I frequently find belts that are much too tight, causing the wheels problems when moving fast.

The color motors are mounted with two screws each – one screw inserts directly into a threaded portion of that black plate, the other screw goes through a slot in the plate into a Keps nut. This slot allows the motor to rotate to adjust the belt tension.

The belts should not feel completely taut – there should be a little bit of give, but not so much that the belt is able to move around the pulleys without engaging the teeth. If you don’t feel any give when you press on the belt, it’s too tight and may cause problems down the line. Simply loosen the screw going into the Keps nut (a right-angle screwdriver and combination wrench is useful here) and allow the belt to slacken. Very gently pull the motor back against the belt (use one finger and just pull hard enough to take all the slack out of the belt) and tighten the screw. The wheel should spin freely without too much resistance, but shouldn’t wobble back and forth independent of the pully.

Remember that these ideas are pretty universal – if you have a color or gobo wheel in a fixture that’s not moving quite right, belt tension could be to blame (some fixtures use a gear-driven arrangement and in most cases those are not very adjustable, but belts are very common). Sometimes problems can be cleared up with a very minor adjustment in tension, so don’t be afraid to experiment a little while troubleshooting – there are not very many instances where a belt that’s a little bit too loose or too tight will cause damage to a moving light.

]]>Meet the Crew–James Gatelyhttp://intelligentlighting.com/meet-the-crew-james-gately/
Wed, 10 May 2017 21:56:58 +0000/?p=3900Jimmy is ILC’s Assistant Warehouse Manager. ” My position here at ILC varies daily but my main job is Assistant Warehouse Manager, supervising the completion of all outbound orders. I check in daily with the multiple departments in the shop, verifying that all equipment has made it onto the orders, then properly loaded onto the trucks. I have been involved with ...

” My position here at ILC varies daily but my main job is Assistant Warehouse Manager, supervising the completion of all outbound orders. I check in daily with the multiple departments in the shop, verifying that all equipment has made it onto the orders, then properly loaded onto the trucks.

I have been involved with lighting for about 5 years now, starting with a Theatre Lighting Degree from Columbia College Chicago. Lighting Production and Design is a true passion of mine and working at ILC has really helped fuel that fire. I have access to top of the line gear and a wealth of knowledge around me to help build ideas and creativity. ILC has been a huge help and contributor to my growth and success in my career.

A few favorite projects that I have been involved in here at ILC, is the Morton Arboretum, Gateway for Cancer Gala at Navy Pier, and even some prep work for the past Superbowl. Being involved in shows of this scale makes me realize how much of an impact our work makes, and helps drive my passion even further.” -James Gately

]]>Tech that Tuesday — Radiance Hazer Cleaninghttp://intelligentlighting.com/tech-tuesday-radiance-hazer-cleaning/
Tue, 04 Apr 2017 13:28:32 +0000http://www.intelligentlighting.com/?p=3429The Radiance hazer is a high quality machine that can provide many years of reliable service, but it does require maintenance. Depending on how heavily your machine is used, it may require cleaning several times a year. If you notice that your hazer’s output isn’t as good as it used to be, it’s probably time for a cleaning. The process ...

]]>The Radiance hazer is a high quality machine that can provide many years of reliable service, but it does require maintenance. Depending on how heavily your machine is used, it may require cleaning several times a year. If you notice that your hazer’s output isn’t as good as it used to be, it’s probably time for a cleaning.

The process is pretty straightforward, you’ll need the following tools:

#2 Phillips screwdriver

7/16” nut driver or socket wrench

Needle nose pliers or hook-shaped pick

Begin with a cold machine – you don’t want to try this if the block is still hot. Start by removing the cover screws. There are two on the back of the machine, one on the top (near the fluid bottle) and two on one side. The cover will slide forward and up – there’s a grounding strap that will need to be disconnected.

Once you have the lid off, you’ll see the heater block near the front of the machine. It’s got an aluminum cover filled with insulation, held on with two spring clips. Use your pliers or hook-shaped pick to lift the springs from the cover. Gently lift the cover off.

This is the heater block. You can use your 7/16” nut driver to remove the four nuts and washers and lift the top of the block off. You’ll also want to gently remove the gasket and inspect it – if it’s cracked or damaged, it should be replaced. A leak in the heater block makes a big mess.

We can see this block is fairly dirty, when clean the chambers should be shiny aluminum. We’ll use our flat bladed screwdriver to scrape out as much of the burnt-on fluid as possible. Soaking in vinegar can help loosen things up. You can take this opportunity to remove the hose from the inlet port and run a 5/64” drill bit into the tube to make sure it isn’t clogged.

Once everything’s clean, reverse your disassembly, replacing the gasket and top of the heater block before putting the flat washers, split washers and nuts on and tightening. Make sure these are tight – otherwise you may have a leak.

]]>Meet the Crew–Andrew Murschelhttp://intelligentlighting.com/meet-crew-andrew-murschel/
Mon, 20 Mar 2017 19:32:43 +0000http://www.intelligentlighting.com/?p=3418Andrew Murschel is ILC’s Rental Coordinator. “I began learning about lighting design and technology my sophomore year in high school. Working on the school plays and concerts as well as doing freelance lighting design with a few local theatre companies quickly whet my appetite for learning all i could about the subject. In 2008 I decided I wanted to go ...

“I began learning about lighting design and technology my sophomore year in high school. Working on the school plays and concerts as well as doing freelance lighting design with a few local theatre companies quickly whet my appetite for learning all i could about the subject. In 2008 I decided I wanted to go to school and 4 years later emerged from Northern Illinois University with a degree in Theatrical Design and Technology, emphasis in Lighting.Very shortly after graduation, I got a job at Upstaging. While there I began to learn everything that I could absorb. Everything from fixture repair to the ins and outs of life on tour. In 2014 I spent more time on the road than I did at home and discovered that the touring life isn’t what I wanted to do forever. It was in November when I injured my knee on a tour that reminded me to continue expanding my knowledge base.

I began to learn more about databases and programming, figuring if I couldn’t find warehouse work in the industry I could begin to shift more toward computers. This is when I found ILC.

At ILC I began in the conventional aisle and after six months I moved to my current position of “Rental Coordinator”; which is a bit of a misnomer as I don’t actually coordinate any rentals.

Since moving to this role, I have began taking on a variety of duties. Managing and tracking inventory, sorting out shortages, and pulling data out of our inventory tracking system are just a few of my responsibilities. I have also recently been given the responsibilities of managing our Card access, security, phone, time clock, and HVAC controls.

Without a doubt, my favorite aspect of ILC is the respect we all seem to have for each other’s background and experience. We all bring different things to the table, and seeing the culmination of our efforts is wonderful.”

]]>USITT Show Report by Tom Sikohttp://intelligentlighting.com/usitt-show-report-tom-siko/
Mon, 13 Mar 2017 19:12:10 +0000http://www.intelligentlighting.com/?p=3398This year was a good year to be at USITT. Aside from the comradery of the connections within the theatrical technology industry, this year brings a host of new products and innovative manufacturers. The location in St. Louis this year exploded with students and professionals from all over the US. “Under the arch” the beauty of this French colony city ...

]]>This year was a good year to be at USITT. Aside from the comradery of the connections within the theatrical technology industry, this year brings a host of new products and innovative manufacturers. The location in St. Louis this year exploded with students and professionals from all over the US. “Under the arch” the beauty of this French colony city in Missouri played host city this year for a great event. We saw a couple of stand-out products last week worth mentioning.

Product: Gallery SeriesAltman has created a unique product to answer a need within the architectural lighting market. The Gallery Series fixture is designed to operate as a low-profile LED ellipsoidal, that is user configurable to adapt to a wash fixture. With an average output of 4000 lumens and a CRI of >92 this is perfect for high end retail, hospitality or exhibit applications. Lens options provide a variable beam angle of 25-50 degrees in wash or 15-60 degrees in profile. The 50 watt LED engine is available in a variety of different color temperatures. The Gallery product is available in several mounting options including Smart-Track and a variety of RAL colors. For more information visit: http://www.altmanlighting.com/product/gallery-series

Product: F8-B LED UV FresnelThere are many traditional blacklights that are growing long in the tooth around rental shops these days. Zylight has come up with a powerful answer to the blacklight needs of the market today. The F8-B is a weatherproof, focusable LED Fresnel at 365 nanometers that offers great performance under blacklight conditions. The unit is physically smaller than many other products on the market and is elegant in how it manages the zoom range of the fixture. With built in DMX or local control it provides a good platform of control flexibility. Optional barn doors (included) give the user focus control of the true 365nm LED light output. For more information visit: http://www.zylight.com/f8-b-led-uv-fresnel

Product: X4 Bar 20Linear fixtures are alive and well in today’s lighting market. While there are many on the market, seeing the GLP X4 Bar at USITT really stood out as a remarkable product. Aside from having an amazing RGB color gamut and output it adds optics for 7:1 zoom from 7 to 50 degrees. A motorized tilt offers the user control based focus, ideal for fixtures in hard or costly to reach places. Lots of little details have been taken into consideration with this product including the enclosure design to allow an adjacent unit to mate seamlessly with coverage and optics. In high resolution DMX mode, the X4 offers full pixel mapping capabilities. For more information visit: http://germanlightproducts.com/products/glp/moving-head/impression-x4-bar

Thanks for reading. If you have questions or would like to see a demo of any of these products, please contact your account executive or sales@ilc.com. ILC is a proud member of USITT.

]]>Featured Vendor — Apollo Designhttp://intelligentlighting.com/featured-vendor-apollo-design/
Thu, 09 Mar 2017 16:00:15 +0000http://www.intelligentlighting.com/?p=3329Apollo is known for their unique gel colors and amazing capabilities on custom gobos. We’ve seen a few other of their unique products that are amazing. Check out some of the products below. Contact your ILC Account Executive or sales@ilc.com for more information on these products or to schedule a demo.

]]>Apollo is known for their unique gel colors and amazing capabilities on custom gobos. We’ve seen a few other of their unique products that are amazing. Check out some of the products below. Contact your ILC Account Executive or sales@ilc.com for more information on these products or to schedule a demo.

]]>Meet the Crew — Scott Hosfordhttp://intelligentlighting.com/meet-crew-scott-hosford/
Fri, 03 Mar 2017 14:00:15 +0000http://www.intelligentlighting.com/?p=3380Scott Hosford is one of ILC’s Account Executives. “Amazingly, this year will mark my 15th anniversary with ILC. It seems like only yesterday I was a young, clueless, theatre nerd trying to learn a thing or two. Now I’m just a middle-aged, often times more clueless nerd that has seen this industry blossom into a hotbed of incredible technology. Like ...

“Amazingly, this year will mark my 15th anniversary with ILC. It seems like only yesterday I was a young, clueless, theatre nerd trying to learn a thing or two. Now I’m just a middle-aged, often times more clueless nerd that has seen this industry blossom into a hotbed of incredible technology. Like this industry, I have come quite a long way and I continue to surprise myself.

I began my career here down in the warehouse, summer of 2001. I say down because in our previous building – which was originally comprised of racquetball courts – the warehouse was downstairs below ground level. It was an exciting building to work in nevertheless. Like many of my teammates here, I have worn several hats throughout the 15 years both in the old, and our current building. From truck driver to moving light tech, to project manager, to account manager… it’s been a wild ride! Throughout the journey, I have found myself blessed with the opportunity to work with such amazing colleagues and clients. I’ve formed many friendships along the way that will undoubtedly last a lifetime. This is what I absolutely love about my job, and what keeps me coming back. Well… that and the monthly celebration lunch, especially on Chipotle day.

There are too many projects to list that have been favorites of mine. I’m proud of every one of them in some form or fashion, even the ones that weren’t particularly “fun”. Tradeshows, corporate meetings, theatre, rock and roll, special events – all of them need lighting. I’m just glad I can help make that happen. At the end of the day, a sale has a life cycle. When that life cycle is complete, it’s exciting to look back on the journey and learn how to do it better next time. I’m proud of the fact that our entire organization shares this philosophy. My personal goal is to exceed our clients’ expectations. That can’t be done without an amazing team of people who are passionate about what they do. For that, I am forever grateful.