blog banner
    Newfeel Stage stgae light

Stage Laser Lights Purchasing Guide

by Newfeel Lighting on Sep 18, 2024

Table of Contents
  • 1. Importance of Power and Beam Diameter
  • 2. Types of Laser Lights
  • 3. Sound-Control vs. Laser-Music Synchronization
  • 4. Artistic Effects of Text Animations
  • 5. Multi-Pattern Special Effects
  • 6. Quality of the Galvanometer
  • 7. Intelligence of DMX512 Control
Stage laser lights are innovative products that can automatically project various laser beams, patterns, and texts in sync with the rhythm of the music. They are widely used to enhance the atmosphere in places like stages, dance halls, bars, KTV rooms, theaters, TV stations, concerts, and even home parties. Additionally, they are increasingly popular for events such as wedding lights displays, providing a unique and magical ambiance. Alongside professional moving head lights and modern LED stage lights, laser lights remain a timeless and essential lighting device.
When purchasing stage laser lights, the following points are crucial:
1. Importance of Power and Beam Diameter
stage lighting
Laser lights can be dangerous to the human eye, and the higher the power, the greater the risk! For instance, a stationary green laser beam with a diameter of less than 2mm and power above 100mW, if directly pointed at human skin, can cause a burning sensation in just a few seconds. A green laser beam with power over 300mW can burn through fabric within a minute. Therefore, whether you're using laser lights for a laser light show or an outdoor laser level, never look directly at a stationary laser beam!
During laser light shows, the beams are dispersed by high-speed galvanometer scanning. Although the laser’s power might be high, the power density per unit area is significantly reduced, typically preventing irreversible eye damage. However, if a malfunction in the circuit or galvanometer causes the laser beam to stop scanning and it directly enters your eyes, the consequences can be severe. To mitigate these risks, many developed countries like those in Europe and North America have introduced a "Laser Scanning Safety Protection" technology. If the laser beam accidentally stops scanning, the system will automatically shut off the laser. Therefore, when selecting laser lights for an outdoor laser show, ensure that it has this safety feature and verify its functionality.
2. Types of Laser Lights
Based on the scanning components, laser lights on the market can be categorized into two types:
Simple Beam Scanning Laser Lights: These use low-speed stepper motors for scanning, producing basic and repetitive beam effects.
stage lighting
Galvanometer Scanning Laser Lights: These are further divided into low-speed and high-speed types. Low-speed galvanometer lasers (around 10Kpps) are incapable of projecting complex, high-quality text or animations, while high-speed galvanometer lasers (above 30Kpps) can display high-quality text, animations, and even "multi-pattern special effects." Such laser lights are ideal for both indoor events and outdoor light shows.
3. Sound-Control vs. Laser-Music Synchronization
Many laser lights come with a "sound control" function, which is essentially a simple sound-triggered laser playback system, leading to basic and repetitive effects. In contrast, "laser music synchronization" merges the laser effect data with music rhythm data, ensuring that the laser’s speed and intensity are synchronized with the music, providing a much richer and more immersive experience than basic sound control. This synchronization is a key element in creating captivating laser light shows at concerts and large events.
4. Artistic Effects of Text Animations
stage lighting
Many so-called text animation laser lights on the market lack a "stroke separation" feature, which significantly diminishes their artistic appeal. "Stroke separation" refers to the absence of connecting laser lines between different strokes of a character or between two characters. Typically, low-end laser lights do not have this feature, leading to distorted or inaccurate text and animations.
5. Multi-Pattern Special Effects
If a laser light or performance system comes with "multi-pattern special effects," it can project a much richer range of effects. Essentially, a single-head laser light with this feature can produce effects equivalent to the combination of two ordinary single-head laser lights, making it ideal for laser shows that require diverse visual effects.
6. Quality of the Galvanometer
The galvanometer is a critical component that directly affects the quality of the projected patterns. A high-quality galvanometer can project more characters with the same fidelity, or maintain a lower distortion rate when projecting the same number of characters. A good galvanometer not only ensures high-quality text but also allows for more diverse and complex laser light show effects, whether for an indoor event or an outdoor laser level performance.
7. Intelligence of DMX512 Control
stage lighting
Although many laser lights claim to support DMX512 control, they often lack true programming capabilities, providing only simple pattern recall. These lights tend to produce repetitive and basic effects. On the other hand, lasers equipped with "multi-functional DMX512 intelligent programming" offer powerful programming and pattern editing tools. Such laser lights can be controlled via a DMX512 console, enabling seamless integration of laser show effects with traditional stage lighting for a perfect combination of both effects, whether indoors or outdoors.
By considering the points above, you can better understand how to choose the right stage laser lights. Whether you're planning a grand laser show for a concert or setting up impressive wedding lights, high-quality laser lights will continue to deliver stunning and mesmerizing visual experiences.
Related reading