Laser recording on hi8

[ToxicOrange]

In July 04 I posted an enquiry into getting laser type effect (tunnels, fans, letters etc.) loops created in flash for projection. Well time has moved on, and I am now in the fortunate position to be able to record actual laser effects in a controlled environment.
I am hoping to record all alpha numeric characters and punctuation in red, green, blue and white laser light as well as indiviual fanning effects, tunnels, and where possible logos.

My current setup includes one Sony DCR-TRV255SE hi8 camcorder which (even though anchient) is my only method of capturing these effects. Does anyone have any advice on getting the best out of the camcorder so that the picture is as sharp as possible? Obviously the room will be blacked out completely (I have access to a dance studio) but have not seriously looked into contrast/brightness settings on the cam.

An example of what i'm hoping to achieve is here (http://www.chauvetlighting.com/system/fixtures/laserlink_red.html) (watch product video).

Many thanks.


Tony

[ToxicOrange]

As an afterthought, would it be simple to produce luminance based masking for these loops quickly and simply too? and would this be of benefit to the community?

[rickmaersk]

Is this stating the obvious:
get a hazer or a smoke machine.
You might get more consistent results with a hazer. Smoke machines can be a continuity nightmare.
Rick

[ToxicOrange]

For the fanning, tunnel, ellipse effects yes, as the camera will be pointing directly at the laser. For the alphanumeric effects it would benifit from being as sharp and clear as possible and recorded from directly underneath the laser without any fogging as my eventual plan for the letters would be a program to take plain text as a string and have it spelt out letter by letter whilst scrolling right to left( so the clearer the better).

[holly]

Originally posted by ToxicOrange
and have it spelt out letter by letter whilst scrolling right to left( so the clearer the better).
:cool: very clever.

[ToxicOrange]

cheers :yep: allthough the phrase text scroller, as opposed to character by character display would have made more sense ... (sometimes sarcasm is lost on me) doh

[sleepytom]

don't point the laser into the lens! - CCD burn is very easy to do with any decent power laser. you might want to consider hiring a better camera (DVCAM or HDV) if your going to go to the trouble of setting all this up.

[holly]

Originally posted by ToxicOrange
(sometimes sarcasm is lost on me) doh
:( That wasn't sarcasm! I actually thought it was clever.

Altho I agree the newer marketing term is better. :P

[ToxicOrange]

Thanks for the positioning tip Tom, i'll also look at hiring a decent cam as well. I'd like to get these as higher quality as possible.

Holly, a newer marketing term is definately required

[vjrei]

I recomend you to get a Sony Mini DV camera, specially the VX-2100 or 2000 (I am not sure if the HD would do).

This is because Sony cameras are good in low light condition while the hi8 will give you a lot of grain with the blcks and it will look very cheap and you will loose your work while you cane get a much better texture and quality with the other cameras.

Good idea yours.

[sleepytom]

laser isn't low light! its extream contrast.

if your hiring then get a decent DVCAM not a crappy miniDV vx2000 (DSR570 would be a good choice or Z1 HDV)

you'll want to have fully manual exposure control as the extream contrast will be too much for any auto system to deal with. also make sure to have a decent (CRT preferably) monitor pluged into the camera so you can see what its actually recording properly - the viewfinder will be inadiquate for this.

[ToxicOrange]

cheers again Tom, thankfully I know some of the tutors at the local uni. i'll see what they have for hire :D

[robotfunk]

seriously, watch out for your CCD getting a direct hit. I know several VJs that have burnt a hole in theirs from laser incidents,saw some really nice cams get destroyed by this.

[ToxicOrange]

If I position the laser at such an angle that the roof of the tunnel/effect is almost flat to the ceiling and then position the cam close to that ceiling (below the roof of projection) would that limit the chance of a direct hit?

[robotfunk]

if it makes a tunnel the beam is really going around in a circle. changes of a direct hit would increase when you get closer to the edge of that circle.

[ToxicOrange]

cheers robot, will also look at a slightly off center positioning too, that way the loop will look better too (guessing here).

[EchoZa]

don't point the laser into the lens! - CCD burn is very easy to do with any decent power laser. you might want to consider hiring a better camera (DVCAM or HDV) if your going to go to the trouble of setting all this up.

Yup, lost 2 PD150's like that :D