liquid sky....
Printed From: Speakerplans.com
Category: Other Chat
Forum Name: Lighting Talk
Forum Description: All your lampy, laser and 'other' special FX needs....
URL: https://forum.speakerplans.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=78230
Printed Date: 27 March 2026 at 9:30am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.08 - https://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: liquid sky....
Posted By: mini-mad
Subject: liquid sky....
Date Posted: 22 April 2013 at 5:12pm
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...on a budget! lol ok so ive convinced my eldest for her 18th to have a black light party so i wont need that many (if at all) light effects. Iv got a single datamoon (lookin for a buddy for it) and have been throwing many many ideas around on what to do. before we desided on a UV party i was gonna get moving heads... scanners.. LED parcans, the whole sha-bang! but this idea seems the most simplistic (and cost effective) and easiest to do. sooooo.... im still keepin the datamoon(s) but now adding only one other effect (other then constant UV) a laser! or more to the point the liquid sky effect. so im looking for an effect laser to do the job as i can mount it in the corner of a 6mX6m tent above head hight and add this great layer to the simple lighting rig. now, can someone give me a recommendation for a sub £100 laser to do the job? and are UV LED cans any good, or are 4ft tubes better? cheers guys ------------- If it sounds like a gorilla is trying to escape, turn it down. |
Replies:
Posted By: kristoffdj1
Date Posted: 22 April 2013 at 5:32pm
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Posted By: kristoffdj1
Date Posted: 22 April 2013 at 5:34pm
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That's from last weekend. I do the liquid sky effect at weddings with a pair of kam ilink 500's. Around £350 a pair That's as cheap as you can go and still get the effect IMO. You'll also need a cheap DMX controller. That was a flat ceiling, but the angle I've taken the pic at makes it look like it isn't a bit. Obviously the more you spend above these cheapo lasers the wider the spread you'll get and the smoother the motion of the laser generally. Sub £100 won't look anything like that I'm afraid. |
Posted By: mini-mad
Date Posted: 22 April 2013 at 5:44pm
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a pair?... do i not just need one then?
...by the way.... that looks cool as fuuk! thas what im after can i pic the colour? ------------- If it sounds like a gorilla is trying to escape, turn it down. |
Posted By: norty303
Date Posted: 22 April 2013 at 5:47pm
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A decent 4ft tube fitting with a reflector will eat a cheap UV LED fixture, and provide a better UV output too (i.e. less visible spectrum) On the laser thing, is the tent a proper tent, or does it have open sides? If open sides, keeping enough fog around to make the liquid sky look any good may be problematic. If you can find something to oscillate a mirror back and forth at 500hz+ then you could build yourself a liquid sky effect out of a laser module/pen. Think of a mirror attached to an arm, with a motor with another arm attached to it. Use a 532nm wavelength laser for maximum visibility. P.S. A static liquid sky will get boring after about the first 5 mins  ------------- My laser stuff: http://www.facebook.com/SubsonicSystems" rel="nofollow - Frikkin Lasers |
Posted By: mini-mad
Date Posted: 22 April 2013 at 5:54pm
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tubes for UV it is then. yes a proper tent with sides and all!  im gonna try to hang black sheets off the internal sides to to keep it as dim as poss. living in kent they dont do any form of street lights so wen it gets dark... it gets DARK! on the laser front i did kinda start lookin at "home made" skys but.... well.... i want it to hold up for the night. i understand what you mean it gets boring fast which is why i wanted to buy one incase it had some built in neat effects i could just play with. i was hoping you'd chime in norty... cheers ------------- If it sounds like a gorilla is trying to escape, turn it down. |
Posted By: kristoffdj1
Date Posted: 22 April 2013 at 6:14pm
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I flick between the flat setting, some tunnels and some best sync stuff. I use a pair as one of them does not have a wide enough sweep to do a proper ceiling. A pair levelled and crossed over makes a totally solid ceiling when you are stood on the dancefloor. Can't tell too well in that pic as the house lights were on too for the buffet, but when they are dimmed its solid blue. |
Posted By: mini-mad
Date Posted: 22 April 2013 at 6:23pm
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...pretty sweet... i shall probe further dear sirs! ------------- If it sounds like a gorilla is trying to escape, turn it down. |
Posted By: mini-mad
Date Posted: 22 April 2013 at 7:24pm
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no good? http://www.play.com/Gadgets/Gadgets/4-/41152383/750417295/Laserworld-ES-100G-100mW-Green-Scanning-DMX-Disco-Laser/ListingDetails.html?searchstring=dj&searchtype=allproducts&searchsource=0&searchfilters=s%7bdj%7d%2b&ob=3&urlrefer=search" rel="nofollow - http://www.play.com/Gadgets/Gadgets/4-/41152383/750417295/Laserworld-ES-100G-100mW-Green-Scanning-DMX-Disco-Laser/ListingDetails.html?searchstring=dj&searchtype=allproducts&searchsource=0&searchfilters=s%7bdj%7d%2b&ob=3&urlrefer=search ------------- If it sounds like a gorilla is trying to escape, turn it down. |
Posted By: Audio_AL
Date Posted: 22 April 2013 at 7:41pm
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This is the laser I picked up last week. I know its cheap Chinese stuff but the quality on this unit is surprisingly good (much better than other stuff I have gotten from them). Not to mention the brightness. This does liquid skys and tunnels very nicely. Note: probably shouldn't use a laser of this power for a 6m x 6m tent. http://www.ebay.com/itm/281070959411?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649" rel="nofollow - http://www.ebay.com/itm/281070959411?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649 Unless you are worried about power consumption stick with 'traditional' black lights. ------------- Make it loud! |
Posted By: kingkwak
Date Posted: 22 April 2013 at 8:09pm
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What about a bubble machine with UV additive, UV paint on drapes and some of those realy cheap star cluster lasers with a LED backlight?
+1 on the tubes or normal lamps, LEDs are nearly there just not quite. ------------- To much power? NEVER. |
Posted By: norty303
Date Posted: 22 April 2013 at 8:25pm
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This one claims to have DMX,a nd will do a 6m tent just fine. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Lanta-Quasar-Emerald-50mw-Green-Scanning-Laser-DJ-DISCO-VENUE-CLUB-DMX-/200908454876?pt=UK_Sound_Vision_Other&hash=item2ec713bbdc I make no guarantees about its effectiveness, I get funny shakes even recommending a laser under eleventy billion pounds!! Oh, and a UV cannon in each corner will do them to a T! ------------- My laser stuff: http://www.facebook.com/SubsonicSystems" rel="nofollow - Frikkin Lasers |
Posted By: nineleaves
Date Posted: 22 April 2013 at 8:51pm
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Laser pointer on a stick... twizzle twizzle ;) ..nah, listen to everyone else; im just being a dipshit :3 :) |
Posted By: Audio_AL
Date Posted: 22 April 2013 at 8:54pm
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Anybody know the "proper" wavelength for uv? 400-410nm? Under 400nm?
------------- Make it loud! |
Posted By: norty303
Date Posted: 22 April 2013 at 10:00pm
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UV covers a wide spectrum. I'm assuming you mean the stuff we use? The woods glass in the 400W UV fixtures only allows wavelengths down to about 320nm to pass, and up to around 400nm. That's basically the UVA region. ------------- My laser stuff: http://www.facebook.com/SubsonicSystems" rel="nofollow - Frikkin Lasers |
Posted By: mini-mad
Date Posted: 23 April 2013 at 2:31pm
yes!! iv been thinking about UV bubbles too... i will be getting aload of UV paint dont you worry about that
nice link norty... i'll look for a pair of cannons as that sounds the most simple and compact cheers guys. ------------- If it sounds like a gorilla is trying to escape, turn it down. |
kingkwak wrote:Posted By: mk2_ginger_biscuit69
Date Posted: 23 April 2013 at 3:28pm
i used to have one like that in the same kind of case, but was sold as 20mw and had none of the extra features - just sound-light and sensitivity. I imagine its a similar unit just with dmx added etc. but was surprisingly bright for the first year of use, plenty for small venues etc, and an alright liquid sky effect [my favorite too]. Already sounds like this will be better than the average 18th, but just remember the music will make/break it a LOT - make sure you have plenty and varied, and really know what her and her mates want! ------------- ''Remember that the object of a subwoofer is to enhance the output of your main speakers, not overpower it'' ''Dubstep - an elongated electronic fart'' |
Posted By: mini-mad
Date Posted: 23 April 2013 at 4:52pm
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cheers ginge lol thas just it, i do want it to be the party her friends will talk about... til her 21st dont worry about the music.. i was a DJ in a small club for 6month back in the late 90s and did quite a bit of "mobile DJing" before and after that, doing kids parties/christenings/kids club parties. its been a while but its like riding a bike just as an update: sound rig- 2x X10's, 4x CUBO15's, matrix amps (XT800, XT6004) and a citronic Xover all run off a soundcraft compact4 mixer. light rig- 1x NJD datamoon...... erm.... well this is the bit im working on lol iv had recommended tents and they look like what im after so i'll be BUYING one of those. all in all it should be a fecking blast! ------------- If it sounds like a gorilla is trying to escape, turn it down. |
Posted By: mini-mad
Date Posted: 23 April 2013 at 5:23pm
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UV lights.... http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/UV-400w-Ultra-Violet-Neon-Cannon-DJ-Disco-Light-/190628372035?pt=UK_Sound_Vision_Other&hash=item2c62561e43" rel="nofollow - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/UV-400w-Ultra-Violet-Neon-Cannon-DJ-Disco-Light-/190628372035?pt=UK_Sound_Vision_Other&hash=item2c62561e43 or... http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Soundlab-UV-400w-flood-cage-neon-rave-blacklight-party-dj-disco-INC-LAMP-/170775150182?pt=UK_Sound_Vision_Other&hash=item27c2fdfe66" rel="nofollow - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Soundlab-UV-400w-flood-cage-neon-rave-blacklight-party-dj-disco-INC-LAMP-/170775150182?pt=UK_Sound_Vision_Other&hash=item27c2fdfe66 or are these wrong? ------------- If it sounds like a gorilla is trying to escape, turn it down. |
Posted By: nineleaves
Date Posted: 23 April 2013 at 5:34pm
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the round canons throw further, but are a little more concentrated ..abit like a flashlight, but alot broader. the 2nd one is a classic wide flood, so beam pattern like a 500w garden flood or a bay light. depends how you want to use uv :) |
Posted By: mini-mad
Date Posted: 23 April 2013 at 5:38pm
i want to flood the whole of the inside of the tent..... anyway i can  ------------- If it sounds like a gorilla is trying to escape, turn it down. |
Posted By: nineleaves
Date Posted: 23 April 2013 at 5:45pm
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Imo, 2 of the uv long throw canons with beams crossed in an 'x', placed at the two far ends of light bar should do it fine (50 odd degree useful angle) ..though that much uv in a tent that size maybe a touch potent ;) ..otherwise could get away possibly with one wide uv flood in middle of gantry should do nicely. That said two long throw canons will be alot more flexable in different venue types in future; so upto you. |
Posted By: mini-mad
Date Posted: 23 April 2013 at 5:50pm
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ok, see what your saying.... makes sense... the tent im after will be the "industrial" version so i should be able to hang a light or two of the apex of it... http://www.thomann.de/gb/dts_uv_strahler.htm" rel="nofollow - http://www.thomann.de/gb/dts_uv_strahler.htm ...or two of these. i dont want to kill anyone with a really REALLY nice tan lol trying to explore all routes but having a single cannon is a nice idea for future use and maybe even renting out along with the tent for black light parties. ------------- If it sounds like a gorilla is trying to escape, turn it down. |
Posted By: nineleaves
Date Posted: 23 April 2013 at 5:56pm
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from what i remember of those (others have more experience there), the output isnt amazing.. so other end of the scale ;) personally id be tempted to use 2x 400w canons ..but thats just me ;) ill wait to see what other folks reckon too, as ive not done alot of stuff in tents.. aside of sleep :) |
Posted By: mini-mad
Date Posted: 23 April 2013 at 5:59pm
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ok cheers fella. i dont want to buy anything underpowered or just not up to it as i want this to be the best i can do, but still make some vage attempt at keepin a leash on the budget lol ------------- If it sounds like a gorilla is trying to escape, turn it down. |
Posted By: norty303
Date Posted: 23 April 2013 at 6:05pm
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P.S. My comment about 'doing them to a T' was a cooking reference. I would think that pointing a 400W UV cannon at someone at up to 6m range is seriously risky to their eyes and skin. I've had arc-eye in much bigger rooms from 400W cannons. A couple of 4ft UV tubes will do amply in a 6mx6m tent, especially if it's got a reflector. Look at the caged Stairville ones, I think I paid about £28 each for mine. Failing that, go down B&Q and get a tube (they sell them for about £10) and a fixture and make up your own for cheap. ------------- My laser stuff: http://www.facebook.com/SubsonicSystems" rel="nofollow - Frikkin Lasers |
Posted By: mini-mad
Date Posted: 23 April 2013 at 6:09pm
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once again, cheers norty. its nice to be brought back down to earth every now and then lol i'll prob go with the stairville ones as there will store and transport better that way. and if i get 4 (one of each side) i should get good coverage?... the tent isnt set in stone yet but around the 6mX6m size or bigger it will be ------------- If it sounds like a gorilla is trying to escape, turn it down. |
Posted By: nineleaves
Date Posted: 23 April 2013 at 6:17pm
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yup nortys the one for this ..actually yeah, thinking about it ..a 6x6 space with white reflective surfaces and 800w of uv ..mother of god, that would be dangerous >.< ..hehe, might need something smaller now, should similar things come up in the fututure ;) :) |
Posted By: mini-mad
Date Posted: 23 April 2013 at 6:39pm
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hold your horses!!! lol ...i intend on getting some sort of stage black background drops to hang on the walls/sides to keep light in/out of the tent and provide some sort of sound deadening (i can wish cant i?) so the party is mostly contain there in. the lighting rig looks like its panning out a damn sight cheaper then the overkill sound system i now have. mmmm.. "Overkill Sound System" has a nice ring to it... might use the name if i ever hire it out ------------- If it sounds like a gorilla is trying to escape, turn it down. |
Posted By: doober
Date Posted: 23 April 2013 at 9:08pm
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You could use some of these http://www.lightbulbs-direct.com/product/2046/blb-uv-energy-saver-11w-bc-uva/" rel="nofollow - http://www.lightbulbs-direct.com/product/2046/blb-uv-energy-saver-11w-bc-uva/ Just wire up some BC lamp holders, use 4 or 6 spread around the tent, they are very lightweight and will give a fairly even coverage in a small venue. ------------- Blahblahblah |
Posted By: JohnnyPyro
Date Posted: 23 April 2013 at 9:28pm
Sounds like you're doing exactly what i do mini lol although iv'e over engineered my marquee/tent so i don't need trussing, replaced a lot of the original framework with 50m tubing 4mm thick then powdercoated so it dont notice  ------------- Pyrotechnics... its not rocket science, well.... actually it is !! :o) Powered by MC2 & XTA |
Posted By: mini-mad
Date Posted: 24 April 2013 at 1:06pm
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.... over engineered ya say?.... lol.... where did you buy said tubing?... just in case do you do black light parties then, or or do you mean tent parties?... as handing a few fixtures has occoured to me but not sure if the tent would take it.... ------------- If it sounds like a gorilla is trying to escape, turn it down. |
Posted By: JohnnyPyro
Date Posted: 03 May 2013 at 7:09pm
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I got mine from a local engineering firm, then drilled a hole for an m10 pan head bolt, then welded the head and bolt to it, so i can hang a cross beam, i done a home load test on it, i hung 2 plasters buckets with 50kg of sand in each for 2 days , no sag or anything, my lights weigh 14 - 18kg each , so no bother with those, and i always use 30kg safety wires to the main frame anyways. If you wanna chat about it mate, just sling me a pm, glad to help ------------- Pyrotechnics... its not rocket science, well.... actually it is !! :o) Powered by MC2 & XTA |