With the introduction of platforms such as d3 Technologies’ d3 system and Martin Professionals’ ShowDesigner, simulation software now also provides a complete 3D representation of the stage that show designers can zoom into, orbit and experiment to see how different forms of media might play back on a variety of surfaces, such as curtains of video ‘ping-pong’ pixels, or narrow bars of LED pixels – enabling far deeper levels of pre-programming and visualisation. He points out that most packages also enable designers to cue the video design in productions. In such situations Bonniol turns to simulation software Light Converse, Cast’s WYSIWYG system, and ESP Vision so this process can occur virtually. “For concert or broadcast this is very problematic, as one production number alone can require hundreds of lighting cues,” he says. As stage AV specialist Bob Bonniol, principal creative director at Mode Studios explains, many productions have to be completed within “aggressive, compressed timelines” meaning that AV designers often don’t have the luxury of time in the venue “with the set in place and the gear ready” to be able to write video and lighting cues for the show.
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#Stage lighting design simulator update
Using this kind of software designers can work ahead of time to write lighting and video cues, and update them once the whole production is together. “The software can also be used as part of the pitching process to demonstrate a computer graphic of the final production set-up,” he adds.