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X factor stage haze

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Category: Other Chat
Forum Name: Lighting Talk
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URL: https://forum.speakerplans.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=84025
Printed Date: 26 March 2026 at 7:09pm
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Topic: X factor stage haze
Posted By: GregM
Subject: X factor stage haze
Date Posted: 15 December 2013 at 8:52pm
Watching X factor and wondering how they get the light beams to cut through the haze whilst also getting a crystal clear video image?

Artist and lights aren't a million miles apart so it can't just be left to chance that the haze doesn't drift across the camera view so how's it done?, is there now some form of haze filter or software on the camera????

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Remember, if you don't want to hear the answer, don't ask the question!



Replies:
Posted By: shagnasty
Date Posted: 15 December 2013 at 9:13pm
Always assumed they use massive hazers and a battery of fans/blowers to build like a "haze curtain" across the stage, also remember the camera will have the depth of field carefully controlled not to focus on the haze, with the aperture tight you could keep the performer sharp and pretty much lose a lot of haze!!


Posted By: GregM
Date Posted: 15 December 2013 at 9:26pm
Hmmmm, I'd not thought about control over the DoF on the camera, I guess technology has moved on a tad at this £level

I just remember (painfully) the challenges of shooting any wedding in anything other than an overcast sky presented - let alone through stage haze!!

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Remember, if you don't want to hear the answer, don't ask the question!


Posted By: shagnasty
Date Posted: 15 December 2013 at 9:27pm
Pro video kit has a guy "shading" the video from the CCU, basically remote aperture control, they may also have polarisers on the front of the lense!!


Posted By: csg
Date Posted: 15 December 2013 at 9:40pm
its all about particle size. cheap hazers have particles of around 10 micron and produce a less reflective haze that requires higher concentrations to show up light beams, but also give more attenuation as the particles themselves are opaque ( essentially a very fine ash)

the better systems produce a particle size or around 0.2 micron which are translucent in nature, far more reflective and therefore require far lower concentrations to work well. Another advantage of the smaller particle is that it is lighter and will hang in the air much more evenly. 

Oil systems are preferred,  but these days dry systems like MDG atmospheres are the norm as DF50's and other crackers can get messy over time. Oil systems also have the advantage of a much higher condensation temperature compared with glycol systems, and this factor will allow the oil haze to resist layering that is common with glycol systems.

the even hang and lack of layering will produce an effect that is much less invasive and noticeable to the eye and cameras.




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“The fact is this is about identifying what we do best and finding more ways of doing less of it better”


Posted By: GregM
Date Posted: 15 December 2013 at 9:41pm
Interesting, thanks Shaggy, I feel some research coming on - the techie world seems to have moved on without me noticing!

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Remember, if you don't want to hear the answer, don't ask the question!


Posted By: kevinmcdonough
Date Posted: 15 December 2013 at 10:16pm
hey

far as I know the (expensive) leader at the moment that is regarded as having the finest, highest quality haze is the Pea Soup Phantom Hazer.

never used it myself but reviews and people who use it are generally blown away.

k


Posted By: csg
Date Posted: 15 December 2013 at 10:23pm
i own one for that very reason - it is the best. It has proven particularly popular in HD filming enviroments.

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“The fact is this is about identifying what we do best and finding more ways of doing less of it better”


Posted By: kevinmcdonough
Date Posted: 15 December 2013 at 10:53pm
Originally posted by csg csg wrote:

i own one for that very reason - it is the best. It has proven particularly popular in HD filming enviroments.


some reviews on Blue Room....

http://www.blue-room.org.uk/index.php?showtopic=37922" rel="nofollow - http://www.blue-room.org.uk/index.php?showtopic=37922
http://www.blue-room.org.uk/index.php?showtopic=33664" rel="nofollow -
http://www.blue-room.org.uk/index.php?showtopic=33664

k


Posted By: norty303
Date Posted: 16 December 2013 at 12:32pm
There was an interesting thread on Blue Room not long back about haze and TV, and they do apply a filter which quite effectively removes the standing haze from the televised images but the beams remain visible. Combined with a decent hazer, it clearly (groan..) works...

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My laser stuff: http://www.facebook.com/SubsonicSystems" rel="nofollow - Frikkin Lasers



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