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There are a variety of effects that can be employed to emphasise and complement the lighting you are having installed at your event some of which are indespensible when getting the best out of your display.
Effects that are regularly available on the hire market include haze or smoke effects, strobes, mirror balls, UV tubes, silk flame effects and pyrotechnics. This page will discuss some of these effects and how they can add an extra element to your event.
Haze Machines
Haze machines are an essential component of any lighting rig if you want to get the very best impression from your display.
Haze machines emit a light haze that is produced by pumping a water based haze fluid over a heating element. The haze remains in the atmosphere for a duration of time and emphasises any effect lighting by making the beams of light visible in the air.
Haze machines provde the following benefits when employed in conjunction with effect lighting:
Emphasis of light beams - Without an effective haze machine the beams of lights produced by your lighting rig will only be visible when hitting a surface such as venue walls or floor. Haze makes the beams of light visible through the atmosphere and significantly increases the impression made by your lighting rig.
Effective and safe - The haze produced by rental haze machines is entirely non-toxic and safe when used in the correct way. Hire haze machines should always be supplied with suitable haze fluid to ensure effective but more importantly safe haze effects.
When hiring a haze machine the following factors should be considered and advised to your AV rental professional:
Smoke detectors - If the haze produced is thick enough certain types of smoke detector may be triggered. Ionisation / optical, vesda (air sampling) or video smoke detectors/detection systems can be affected and you should check with your event venue if they permit the use of haze and smoke effects.
Respiratory condition sufferers - If you or people at your event have a respiratory condition or are asthmatic, it is that recommend you don't go into dense smoke. Advise your hire supplier If you are aware that people with respiratory conditions are going to be present at your event.
Strobe Lights
Strobe lights are a striking and effective addition to a lighting rig although they may not be suitable for every type of event.
Commonly seen in nightclubs, theatres and at some live music events strobe lights emit a high energy fllashing light that gives the impression of slow motion when projected onto moving people or objects. Strobes are available with stand alone operation but due to their high impact and possibly overwhelming effect are better controlled by a remote or DMX facility.
Strobe lights demonstrate the following benefits when used as part of a hire lighting rig:
High impact effect - Strobe lights produce a very high impact effect that can be very striking and effective, As mentioned above this may be overwhelming for some members of the audience and is best used sparingly so's not to reduce its impact or irritate audience members.
When hiring a strobe light for your event the following factor should be considered:
Epilepsy - Strobe lighting can trigger seizures in photosensitive epilepsy sufferers. The potential for attacks can vary depending on the frequency at which the strobe flashes (the lower the better). It is advised that you erect warning signs if strobes are in use at your event.
