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Information
and Education - Handbook
Laser F/X: The Light Show Handbook is an indispensable reference work for
all laserists, experimenters and hobbyists. This 430+ page soft cover,
spiral bound book is
the first detailed and up-to-date technical manual on professional laser
displays and laser light shows.
Subjects covered include:
- The early history of laser light shows
- General laser safety
- The theory and practical aspects of lasers
- Laser projection systems and colour control
- Control consoles; schematics and examples
- Laser graphics systems and animation programming
- Choreography and show storage
- Laser 3D
- Outboard equipment and much more.
The appendix reprints
valuable information on:
- Graphics system resolution
- Laser colour balance
- Scanner amplifiers
- Tuning to the ILDA test pattern.
The Handbook is written in a direct
and straightforward style and illustrated with over 90 diagrams, schematics
and photographs. This book takes the reader through all of the details
of laser light show technology. Valuable technical information, tips
and techniques are covered in the extensive sidebars throughout the book.
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Introduction
2/ Can you get rich doing laser
light shows?
3/ The truth about laser light
show finances
4/ So you want to be a laserist.
. .
5/ A brief history of laser
light shows
- The invention of the laser
- Holography and optical transforms
- Early laser art shows
- The birth of X-Y scanning
- Early laser light shows
- Laserium (r)
- Lovelight
- Soleil
- Star Wars
- Other pioneering shows
- Stereoscopic laser 3D
- Industry trends
- ILDA
- The future
6/ Laser safety considerations
- Laser hazards
- Eye hazards
- Skin hazards
- Electrical hazards
- Fire and flood hazards
- Basic safety precautions
7/ Laser light show systems and
effects overview
- Classification of light show effects
8/ Theory, principles and
applications of lasers
- Theory of operation
- What makes laser light special?
- Beam characteristics
- Colours of lasers
- Laser cooling
- Lasers for light show applications
- Other laser applications
9/ Laser systems
- Laser components
- Umbilical
- Exciter components
- Water system
- Laser tuning
- Alignment "from scratch"
- Walking the resonator
- The care and feeding of your laser
- Multimode vs. multiline
10/ Laser projection systems
- Optics plate and cabinets
- Beam tables
- Colour control systems
- Optical effects
- Alignment and maintenance
11/ Scanning and blanking
systems
- Galvanometers
- Galvo speeds
- Drive amplifiers
- Setting up an X-Y scan system
- Open loop tune-up
- Closed loop galvo tuning
- Blanking
- Colour and blanking timing
12/ Control consoles
- Design philosophy
- Beam table controls
- Scanned beam effects
- Graphics control
- Abstract effects
- Colour modulation
- Optical effects
- Control cables
- Example consoles
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13/
Laser graphics systems
- Image creation
- Animation
- Precomputed vs. real time systems
- Digitising
- Rotoscoping
- Editing
- Choreography
- Laser graphics software considerations
- Purchase checklist
14/ Laser graphics and
animations
- Getting ready to digitise
- Setting up the system
- Scanner dynamics
- X-Y vs. X-Y-I systems
- Key frames & tweening
- Rotoscoping video and computer art
- Some helpful digitising hints
- Animation assembly and tween frames
15/ Choreography and show
control
- Music selection
- Storyboarding
- Basic choreography
- Scripting
- Synchronisation
16/ Show storage
- FM audio tape
- Video tape show storage
- ADAT show storage
17/ Laser 3D
- Holograms
- Database 3D
- Stereoscopic 3D techniques
- Volumetric 3D
18/ Fibre optics
- Theory of operation
- Types and sizes of fibres
- Fibre transmission systems
- Colour and blanking considerations
- Transmission system alignment
- Side-glow fibre
19/ Outboard and add-on effects
- Smoke machines
- Bounce mirrors
- Remote spinning effects
- Remote controlled mirrors
- Remote fan makers
20/ Show production factors and
some typical show layouts
- Graphics shows
- Mixed beam and graphics shows
- Beam effects only shows
- Using lasers with other lighting
- On the road
- Caring for your utilities feeds
21/ Promotion; photos and videos
of lasers
- Your company name
- Your logo
- Printed materials
- Photographing lasers
- Photos at the show
- Your promo video
- Videotaping lasers
Appendix:
- How to tune to the ILDA test pattern
- Laser colour balance explored
- Measuring effective resolution
- Scanner amplifiers
- Terminology and standards
- Glossary of terminology
- ILDA frame interchange standard
Bibliography
Index of Sidebars
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Laser F/X: The Light Show
Handbook is priced at $85.00 US$ per copy (retail).
At present, the handbook is out of print - we
will update this page when we have copies available.
To Purchase a copy
with payment by cash, money order or bank transfer, please send e-mail to
the address below. We will communicate with you in regards to shipping and payment
arrangements.
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