WATER SCREENS AND STATIC SCREENS FOR LASER SHOWS

There are two main effects produced by lasers in shows, surface projections where lasers create text, animations, logos, even cartoons that are displayed on walls, water surfaces, netting. The surface projections can be direct onto a surface where the audience see the same image, or the image can be rear projected. We often use rear projection, placing a gauze / netting / water screen between the laser and audience. As an example the netting is used as an almost invisible projection surface leaving the image appearing in mid-air.

When performing rear projection we need to flip the image so the audience see the correct version. In our systems we have placed manual image flipping switches to remove the need to do this in software, the image can be flipped on both vertical and horizontal planes allowing you total control of the displayed image.

Types of screens we usually suggest.

Water screen A water screen is based on a truss / frame that has water jets connected to a water chamber usually a length of box section aluminium with sealed ends and water input / output, the jets are in 3 rows at 1cm pitch creating a water curtain, the screen is suspended 3 or more meters above a drip tray that catches the falling water. The water is taken from the drip tray and pumped back into the system.

Netting We use two types of netting. One is constructed from a metallic fabric, and the other from a “light responsive cord” that reacts with the laser light and illuminates like a white shirt in a disco containing UV lighting, makes the projected image extremely bright.

Gauze We have two types of gauze. One is on a motorized roller that can be controlled by DMX. The gauze can be dropped down or pulled back up by selecting a DMX value. The roller and all electronics are enclosed in two meter sections that also form transport protection. The other gauze we use has been selected to by in the theata and hung from the theata’s existing curtain poles. This can be supplied 5 meters x 20meters and is made from a “light responsive cord”.

The other type of effect used is direct beams that are usually made directly over the audience’s heads, for the best laser beam show effects we supply either haze or smoke machines depending on the environment. For more details of these machines visit our haze and smoke page at: Professional hazers and smoke machines for laser shows.