Elation Lighting

From a showstopping light show that attracted eager crowds, Elation’s next frontier booth experience, to groundbreaking product debuts capped by a Best Debuting Product Award for PARAGON—the company’s new class of LED profile luminaires—LDI 2024 was truly extraordinary for Elation.

Elation welcomed lighting professionals to “Experience Tomorrow” at LDI in Las Vegas by taking them on an immersive journey enhanced by an interactive digital campaign, spanning the show entrance to the retro-futuristic Elation booth and the dynamic Battle of the Busk stage.

“LDI 2024 was a defining moment for Elation,” stated Eric Loader, Global Vice President of Sales at Elation. “We showcased our commitment to innovation and the future of lighting like never before, and the response was phenomenal. From the stunning debut of the PARAGON Series, which earned the Best Debuting Product Award, to the interactive experiences that engaged attendees at every turn, we aimed to inspire and elevate the entire lighting community. Our vision for 'Experience Tomorrow' came to life, and we're excited to continue pushing the boundaries of lighting technology.”

PARAGON Series: Setting a New Standard in Lighting Innovation​

At the center of the experience, the much-anticipated PARAGON Series made its U.S. debut at LDI, offering lighting professionals a first-hand look at the new standard in professional lighting. PARAGON captivated attendees throughout the show and featured in the company’s crowd-pleasing hourly light show. The PARAGON S received the Best Debuting Product Award at LDI 2024 to cap off a fantastic show! The award honors true product innovation and celebrates the company's commitment to pushing the boundaries of entertainment lighting technology.

REBEL Profile: The Compact Powerhouse​

LDI attendees also witnessed the unveiling of the REBEL Profile, a bold, compact fixture designed for indoor and outdoor applications. The IP65-rated REBEL is exceptionally bright and has multiple design options, showing how a compact design can deliver maximum impact. It is built for rental houses and designers who need adaptable fixtures to do everything without breaking the budget.

Digital Campaign Experience: www.elation.global​

As part of Elation’s "Experience Tomorrow" campaign, Elation introduced a new immersive digital campaign experience at www.elation.global. Framed as a gateway to new creative realms, the interactive experience showcases the company’s cutting-edge product series and ground-breaking technologies, including the new PARAGON and REBEL series, through interactive storytelling and dynamic product demonstrations.

PULSE at the Archway​

Elation invited several lighting designers and industry professionals to the PULSE at the Archway entrance at LDI to share their thoughts on the latest technologies and the future of lighting. Highlighting the PULSE strobe series, a centerpiece of Elation's 2024 “Experience Tomorrow” theme at LDI, the archway proved to be a vibrant hub for ongoing conversation and collaboration with the lighting design community.

“The Evolution of Stage Lighting” Infographic​

Elation’s “The Evolution of Stage Lighting” infographic, released during the show, resonated with attendees, charting the history of lighting design and highlighting Elation’s role in shaping its future. This resource celebrated the industry’s rich heritage and underscored Elation's commitment to innovation and education.

Next Gen Panel at Battle of the Busk with Obsidian​

Obsidian Control Systems showcased its latest developments in lighting control technology at a dedicated, interactive booth that provided more space to highlight the ONYX platform. Obsidian was a proud sponsor of LDI’s Battle of the Busk and was pleased to have ONYX consoles participate in the three-day workshop and competition. Obsidian also hosted a Next Gen Panel at Battle of the Busk, bringing lighting designers Stephen Lieberman, Jason Baeri, Erica Hayes, and Darien Koop to discuss career growth, collaboration, and technology’s role in the creative process.

A Universe of Solutions for Every Designer​

And as if that weren’t enough…add the latest innovations across the PROTEUS, FUZE, KL, PULSE, LIMELIGHT, SŌL, and SIX+ series, plus new offerings from Magmatic Atmospherics and Obsidian Control Systems, and Elation reinforced its position as a visionary leader in professional lighting.

Looking Ahead​

Elation extends a heartfelt thank you to everyone who visited the Elation booth at this year’s LDI show in Las Vegas. For those who attended, we hope you found the event rewarding and look forward to the opportunity to discuss the future of lighting together. Make sure to visit elation.global for more information about our latest products, including the new REBEL Series and the award-winning PARAGON.

Elation capped off a fantastic 2024 LDI Show by winning the coveted Product Innovation Award for PARAGON, the company’s new flagship series of intelligent lights for entertainment, and a new standard in professional lighting.

Toby Velazquez, ADJ Group Global CEO, commented, “We would like to take this moment to commend the incredible efforts of our Engineering and R&D teams, along with everyone involved in developing what we believe is the finest moving head series Elation has ever produced. The creation of PARAGON stands as a testament to their dedication, technical brilliance, and unwavering commitment to excellence.”

At the center of Elation’s “Experience Tomorrow” booth, PARAGON captivated attendees throughout the show and featured in the company’s crowd-pleasing hourly light show.

“From the very beginning, this project was guided by a singular focus: to deliver a fixture that excels in performance, serviceability, and unparalleled quality of light,” Velazquez continues. “Every detail, from its precision-engineered mechanics to its flawless optical output, has been meticulously crafted to set a new benchmark in the industry.

“This achievement would not have been possible without the tireless passion and hard work of the entire team over the course of two years of development. Their collaborative spirit, innovative thinking, and determination to overcome challenges have resulted in a product that not only meets but exceeds the expectations of professionals worldwide,” stated.

LDI’s Innovation Award honors true product innovation and celebrates companies that push the boundaries of entertainment lighting technology.

Velazquez adds, “As we prepare to celebrate this accomplishment with an award for PARAGON, we will ensure that the incredible effort and dedication of our Engineering and R&D teams are front and center. This award will be a tribute to their passion and vision in redefining what is possible and establishing a new standard of excellence in the world of professional lighting.”

From groundbreaking product debuts to an immersive booth experience, this year’s LDI was nothing short of extraordinary for Elation.

For more information, please visit: www.elation.global/paragon

Elation, a global leader in advanced entertainment lighting solutions, is excited to unveil the PARAGON Series at LDI 2024 in Las Vegas, marking the first time the U.S. industry can experience this revolutionary technology up close. Designed as "the new standard" for professional lighting, the PARAGON Series delivers powerful, precision lighting that combines state-of-the-art innovation and robust weatherproof rating with an authentic understanding of designers' creative aspirations.

Visitors to Booth #2224 will be transported to a retro-futuristic spaceport lounge, a gateway to lighting's next frontier, where Elation's latest innovations, including the PARAGON series, will be on full display. This immersive booth balances cutting-edge technology with mid-century aesthetics, setting the stage for a journey through lighting's next era.

Combining multiple fixture roles in a single, adaptable design, PARAGON offers unmatched flexibility without compromise and has already generated anticipation across the lighting community. LDI attendees will be the first to see it in action and have the opportunity to place orders for this groundbreaking series, which blends striking design, superior light quality, and variable color fidelity control in a lightweight and compact package.

"The PARAGON Series is our highest state-of-the-art fixture yet and represents our dedication to pushing creative boundaries," said Matthias Hinrichs, Product Manager at Elation. "It combines our most advanced lighting technology, offering lighting designers unprecedented control and creative options, while also meeting the needs of production companies. PARAGON offers unprecedented color control and can adapt to any application from arena shows to outdoor events."

Engineered to withstand the rigors of demanding professional environments, PARAGON's IP54 weatherproof rating offers protection against water and dust ingress, meaning it performs reliably in any indoor space and temporary outdoor environment, elevating its versatility for multi-event use. PARAGON delivers consistent performance no matter the circumstances yet requires little maintenance.

Key Features of the PARAGON Series:

• Advanced TruTone Technology: PARAGON is built around Elation's exclusive TruTone variable CRI technology, offering designers complete control over color fidelity without altering color temperature. This allows for seamless transitions from CRI 70 to CRI 93, enabling dual functionality—from high-fidelity key lighting to bold effects—all within a single fixture. Designers are no longer limited by native CRI or interchangeable light engine constraints—transform skin tones, costumes, and scenic elements with unrivaled color depth and vibrancy.
• Cutting-Edge CMY Mixing and Versatile CTO: The series features the fastest and quietest CMY color mixing array ever developed by Elation, along with a variable CTO. This powerful combination and its flexibility in color rendering and beam control offer a spectrum of possibilities, enabling designers to create more exacting visuals.
• Convertible Lens System: The PARAGON's precision-engineered, high-quality lens can be interchanged with a Fresnel Wash or PC Beam lens for greater flexibility.
• Two Models, Limitless Applications:
  • PARAGON S: With a 550W white LED engine generating 20,500 lumens, this model boasts a zoom range from 5° to 50°, an extensive FX package, and a full blackout framing system for detailed beam shaping.
  • PARAGON M: Powered by a robust 900W white LED engine with 37,000 lumens, the M model is ideal for a variety of venues, offering a wide zoom range from 5° to 52°, a full FX package, and enhanced framing control for precise light sculpting.
• Reliability for Every Environment: Engineered for IP54-rated durability, PARAGON is built to withstand the toughest environments, ensuring dependable performance indoors or in temporary outdoor settings.

With immersive product demonstrations, and an otherworldly light show every hour, Elation's "Experience Tomorrow" booth is where professionals can get familiar with PARAGON and learn how it's designed to elevate their lighting projects to unprecedented heights.

Elation, a leader in professional entertainment lighting technology, proudly introduces the REBEL Profile at LDI 2024, a powerful, compact LED profile fixture engineered for both indoor and outdoor applications. Designed to meet the diverse needs of lighting professionals, and as bold and adaptable as the people who use it, the REBEL Profile combines robust performance with advanced features that make it ideal for a variety of demanding environments.

Built to withstand the rigors of both temporary outdoor applications and high-impact indoor settings, the REBEL Profile offers lighting designers unprecedented control and flexibility. With its compact design, IP65 rating, and high-output 500W LED engine, REBEL is ready to deliver intense beams, sharp projections, and a comprehensive effects package for captivating mid-air and projection visuals.

In the spirit of discovery, Elation's Booth #2224 transforms into a retro-futuristic spaceport lounge, allowing visitors to experience the brand's vision for the future. The booth's mid-century aesthetics and immersive environment set the stage for discovering Elation's latest innovations, with the REBEL Profile showcasing how compact design can deliver maximum impact.

"The REBEL Profile was created to answer the demand for a versatile, rugged fixture that offers both high intensity and adaptability," said Matthias Hinrichs, Product Manager at Elation. "Built for rental houses and designers who need fixtures that can do it all in indoor or outdoor settings, REBEL brings top-tier results and long-lasting value without the premium price."

Key Features of the REBEL Profile:​

• High-Intensity Output: Featuring a peak field 500W white LED engine, the REBEL Profile provides up to 22,000 lumens, delivering brilliant, high-intensity beams and sharp, powerful projection for impactful stage and event lighting.
• Comprehensive Visual Effects: Equipped with a rotating and fixed gobo wheel, full animation wheel, dual prisms, dual frosts, and high-speed iris, the REBEL Profile offers designers a range of dynamic effects that enhance creative possibilities.
• Precision Framing and Control: The fixture's advanced framing system allows for full blackout shutter cuts, with a wide zoom range of 3.5° to 51° for precise beam shaping and control.
• Weather-Resistant and Durable: With an IP65 rating, the REBEL Profile is protected against dust and water, making it a dependable choice for both temporary outdoor use and intense indoor applications.

Discover the REBEL Profile at LDI 2024​

Visitors to the booth will have the opportunity to witness live demonstrations of REBEL's capabilities, interact with Elation's experts, and experience a captivating hourly light show that transports them to lighting's future. Elation's "Experience Tomorrow" theme not only highlights technological advancements but also underscores its commitment to elevating the creative possibilities for professionals in the industry.

Elation is set to captivate attendees at the upcoming LDI Show 2024 in Las Vegas with an exclusive showcase of its latest advancements in professional lighting. From December 8-10, 2024, the Elation Lighting team will transform its booth into an immersive experience featuring product showcases and a series of high-impact industry announcements that underscore the company's commitment to pioneering innovation in lighting technology.

"At Elation, our team is driven by a passion to push the boundaries of lighting technology," said Eric Loader, Global Vice President of Sales at Elation. "The LDI Show provides the perfect stage to share our latest innovations with the world and to connect with the professionals whose creativity brings our products to life."

Key Highlights for LDI Show 2024 Attendees:

• Location: Visit Elation at Booth #2224 to explore the latest in lighting technology and connect with on-site experts.
• Interactive Product Demos: Engage with Elation's cutting-edge technology through hands-on demos that showcase the newest features and industry-first innovations, tailored to creative professionals in various lighting fields.
• On-Site Media Opportunities: Schedule interviews and photo ops with Elation's spokespersons, who will offer insights into the technology and inspiration behind the latest product developments.
• Daily Announcements and Key Insights: Each day of the show will feature exciting news on Elation's 2024 roadmap, unveiling tools and strategies to meet the evolving demands of live entertainment, concerts, architecture, and broadcast lighting.

Elation's appearance at LDI Show 2024 reinforces its role as a leader in lighting innovation. Attendees can expect to leave with a fresh perspective on how the company's tools elevate creative possibilities and expand the boundaries of what's possible in lighting design.

Step into the limelight with Elation’s award-winning KLCYC Series. Designed with low-profile housing, the KLCYCL and KLCYCS are ideal for footlight positions, providing excellent versatility for stage, film, television, and event lighting.

Featuring high CRI ratings and a powerful LED array, the KL Series delivers precise colors and natural-looking skin tones on and off-screen. Coupled with their lightweight construction and fanless cooling system, the KL CYC Series allows designers to perform brilliantly and broadcast their creative vision. The KL CYC L is the perfect fixture for smooth and evenly illuminated cyclorama, set or wall washing application. It utilizes a carefully crafted asymmetrical reflector design to achieve perfect blends while covering significant heights with ease.

Designed with an incredibly low profile housing the KL CYC L is also the ideal choice for footlight positions, providing excellent versatility for stage, film, television and event lighting use.

Seamless magnetic alignment, simple mounting bracket attachment and elegant power and data wire management make the KL CYC a breeze to integrate into new designs or upgrade traditional CYC fixtures or foot lights to a modern LED fixture without compromises. The fanless design ensures the fixture is always a perfectly silent performer. Adjustable front feet allow for angle changes when floor mounted. The top and bottom barndoors allow for a perfect framing of the light output along the surface or to avoid overshot in footlight applications.

The KL CYC L features Elation's proven RGBMA color system, allowing a perfect color match to many other fixtures in the KL and Fuze ranges. Calibrated color temperature control, greenshift adjustment and the CMY and RGB emulation modes provide the designer with powerful control to recall any color in up to two separate segments.
The newly developed EdgeLight feature allows the user to designate a safety light in red or blue to turn on whenever desired, or if DMX signal is lost. This new feature provides a guide for performers on stage to where the edge of the stage is located.

The KL CYC L is the ideal solution for Touring Applications, Theme Parks, Live Events, Theater or Houses of Worship.

KL CYC L: https://www.elationlighting.com/kl-cyc-l
KL CYC S: https://www.elationlighting.com/kl-cyc-s

Unleash the full potential of LED batten lighting and ignite your creative spark with the new SIX+ BAR from Elation. Building on the success of Elation’s industry-standard SixBar series, the SIX+ BAR delivers the next evolution in professional LED batten lighting workhorses.

Designed to outshine and outperform in any environment, the SIX+ BAR represents an innovative line of creative IP65-rated LED batten solutions that harmonize the latest LED color technology with versatile design for greater artistic expression. An upgrade of Elation’s beloved SixBar, the SIX+ BAR raises the bar with more output, a broader color spectrum, and an overall superior quality of light.

Equipped with 20W RGB+Lime+Amber+UV LEDs and boasting an impressive CRI of 93, the SIX+ BAR offers a stunning array of colors, ensuring a beautifully homogenized light wash with high-quality color reproduction. Its meticulously engineered optical system ensures even light distribution, and the proprietary RGBLA+UV engine delivers high-fidelity whites and intense primaries with no color fringing. Extra-large 50 mm lenses make it ideal for direct-view applications, and individual cell control opens up many design possibilities.

Ideal for various productions and easily integrated into installation applications, the SIX+ BAR is a highly versatile wash light, uplight, wall/cyc wash, accent light, direct view pixel, strip, and more. The meter-long SIX+ BAR L houses 12 RGBLA+UV LEDs and packs a punch at over 7000 lumens, while the half-meter-long SIX+ BAR S houses 6 RGBLA+UV LEDs and radiates over 4000 lumens.

With fully variable color temperature adjustment (2400K - 8500K), CMY emulation, and a virtual gel library, designers can immediately access a diverse LED color array, including beautifully mixed whites. A time-saving SixBar emulation mode ensures perfect color matching and DMX control with existing SixBar fixtures. The integrated accessory slot accommodates an included frost filter, with optional ND filters and other optics available. The fixture also ships with an included glare shield for wall-wash applications.

SIX+ BAR battens house an electronic dimmer and strobes and can smooth dimming from 0 to 100% with excellent stability throughout the range. A selection of 16-bit dimming modes and curves is also included.

Designed for ultimate flexibility, the SIX+ BAR’s innovative housing allows for end-to-end interconnection and includes an integrated L track on three sides for flexible mounting and positioning. Trunnions designed for attachment to the L track can be fixed at multiple points to optimize positioning around objects or obstacles.

Wrapped in durable, fully IP65-rated housing, the fixture is suitable for any environment, indoors or outdoors. The marine-grade coating ensures protection against the harshest environments, even salty coastal air. Its fanless convection cooling guarantees silent operation, making it ideal for noise-sensitive environments.

Fully controllable via DMX/RDM, Art-Net, sACN, and KlingNet protocols, the SIX+ BAR also features proprietary Aria x2 wireless device management for simplified system setup and maintenance.

Do more with LED batten lighting and set your creative spirit free with the SIX+ BAR!

Joining the PULSE PANEL and PULSE PANEL FX in Elation's new PULSE line of high-impact lights, the PULSE BAR is a highly impactful strobe and visual effect bar that injects dynamism and spark into any performance.

Available in one-meter and half-meter lengths (PULSE BAR L, PULSE BAR S), both models incorporate zone-controllable 1.5W RGB LEDs along its perimeter, 5W cool-white LEDs at its center, and 1.5W RGB LEDs at its core. Whether adding rhythmic flashes that synchronize with the music or crafting special effects for a more visually stimulating experience, customizable zone control of both the RGB and CW LEDs opens up for a myriad of design possibilities.

The PULSE BAR allows you to infuse your performance with intense, attention-grabbing moments of white or colored light that enhance the energy of the moment. A library of customizable RGB and CW strobe effects along with variable dimming modes and curves are included for quick programming.

The PULSE BAR features the same RGB and CW LEDs as the PULSE PANEL and PULSE PANEL FX for a perfect match, and feature the same effects engine and control capabilities as well. Designed for ultimate flexibility, an integrated accessory slot accommodates optional diffusion filters, ND filters and other optics.

Both the PULSE BAR L and PULSE BAR S feature Elation's market-leading IP65 protection, a durability standard that not only protects them from weather and harsh environments, even coastal locations, but also serves to protect the internal components and electronics from dust and debris that can wreak havoc on fixtures. The fanless convection cooling guarantees silent operation, making them ideal for noise-sensitive environments as well.

The PULSE BAR's innovative housing allows for end-to-end interconnection and includes integrated L track for flexible mounting and positioning. Trunnions designed for attachment to the L track can be fixed at multiple points to optimize positioning around objects or obstacles. The PULSE BAR includes the same interlocking mechanism as the PULSE PANEL, so the bars can be locked together end to end or connected to the PULSE PANEL for seamless designs.

Controlled via DMX/RDM, Art-Net, sACN, and KlingNet protocols, the PULSE BAR also features proprietary Aria x2 wireless device management for simplified system setup and maintenance.

Create more vibrant lighting displays for concerts, events or theatrical productions. Accentuate scenic, create patterns, shapes, or even animated sequences that add depth, interest, and artistic flair to designs. When the moment calls for high-impact bursts of light and visually striking effects, look no further. The PULSE BAR delivers!

Elation will continue to push creative boundaries in entertainment lighting at the Infocomm tradeshow June 12-14 in Las Vegas with a lineup of integration lighting solutions that blend artistic design with first-of-its-kind technologies. At Elation, our cutting-edge lighting is specifically optimized to meet the unique needs of integrators and installations across the broad AV integration market, from theaters and live venues to broadcast studios, Houses of Worship, themed environments, and more.

Our team of experts will be at Elation Booth W967 to demonstrate and provide insights into these groundbreaking fixtures' advanced features and versatile capabilities.

Proteus

Highlights in the market-leading Proteus series of multi-environmental luminaires, ideal for outdoor installation, include the PROTEUS ODEON, a framing profile fixture with industry-first TruTone technology. TruTone is a variable CRI system that allows for custom selection of the best blend of light output and color accuracy and is seamlessly adjustable from CRI 70 to CRI 93. With CRI adjustable from a single fixture, not only can ODEON cater to a wide range of applications, but designers do not require multiple fixture variants to achieve accurate color representation. The PROTEUS ODEON is the first lighting fixture to feature the new technology.

Also featuring in the Proteus series is the PROTEUS RADIUS, a high-intensity Beam FX fixture with a Solid-State Phosphor-Converted (SSPC) light engine and ultra-intense 0.9˚ beam that leaves a lasting impression, even across vast distances. 360-degree movement on axes and various design features allow the designer to compose an endless array of stunning aerial effects.

Fuze

New in Elation’s popular FUZE series is the FUZE TEATRO, a fully automated yet fanless framing fixture for completely silent operation and the first fanless automated luminaire incorporating an additive color engine. The TEATRO incorporates Elation’s innovative ColourTune technology and lighting fixture software, allowing unprecedented control over output vs. color accuracy. With ColourTune, users can customize lighting output to meet their needs, whether emphasizing brightness or color fidelity. It offers a comprehensive suite of features, ensuring adaptability and color precision for the highest-quality lighting designs.

The FUZE WASH 500, a full-spectrum LED Fresnel with zoom designed for soft-field light applications, will also be shown. Housing a 500W RGBMA LED engine and delivering a powerful output of up to 17,000 lumens with a CRI of 92, it is designed for any application where an automated Fresnel fixture is required.

KL

New luminaires in the sought-after KL “Key Light” series will also be highlighted, including the KL CYC cyclorama/set/wall wash. Available in one-meter or half-meter models, it can achieve perfect blends while quickly covering significant heights and is also an ideal choice for footlight positions. Also showing will be the all-in-one KL SPOT IP, a fully automated static ellipsoidal fixture with zoom and the perfect complement to the KL PROFILE FC, as well as the KL PAR FC IP, a full-color PAR light with fully variable CCT that also features ColourTune technology.

New Color and FX Series

Elation will also be highlighting several new product series designed to kindle the creative spirit in any venue:

SŌL: Inspired by the radiant sun, SŌL is a groundbreaking series of creative LED blinders and effects solutions that seamlessly marries cutting-edge technology with artistic ingenuity. Housing 250W RGBLAW LEDs in a sleek and modern aesthetic are available in single-cell, 2- or 4-cell arrays. Their modular design offers endless possibilities for configuration and arrangement, and all units can interconnect with SIX+ BAR, PULSE BAR, and PULSE PANEL fixtures. SŌL incorporates the innovative ColourTune technology, and a host of front accessories allow for even more aesthetic options and creative impact.

SIX+: These updates to Elation’s industry-standard SIXPAR and SIXBAR series of versatile PAR and Bar color changers feature more output, a broader color spectrum, and an overall superior quality of light. Using RGBLA+UV LEDs that are perfectly compatible across the fixture series, they offer a beautifully homogenized wash of light with outstanding color rendering capabilities and high CRI. Expanded control capabilities make for a more versatile luminaire, and their robust IP65 housings can handle any environment.

PULSE: Get the crowd pumping with the new PULSE series of strobe lights. Available in BAR, PANEL, and PANEL FX models, PULSE is a new line of highly impactful strobe and visual effects that inject dynamism and spark into any performance! Zone-controllable RGB and CW LEDs make for a myriad of design possibilities. Create attention-grabbing blitzes of white or colored light, or craft special effects for a more visually stimulating experience.

LIMELIGHT: LIMELIGHT are versatile, full-color mixing wash luminaires with 7x or 12x 40W RGBL LEDs and efficient zoom lens optics. They offer a highly homogenized output and provide the broad color spectrum and high CRI needed for the quality of light that key and fill light applications require. A well-defined narrow beam is ideal for mid-air effects and long throw distances, as well as broad and even wash coverage at shorter distances. The LEDs can be controlled in two zones for additional eye candy effects.

Take advantage of this opportunity to explore the latest professional-grade installation-quality lighting at Elation Booth W967. Get your free exhibit hall pass at http://www.infocommshow.org using VIP Code: ELA842.

Elation's Research & Development department embarked on a development project that spanned several years to tackle the challenge of achieving the perfect balance between color accuracy and intensity. The result is TruTone Technology, a groundbreaking advancement that allows designers to adjust CRI from a single fixture in order to find the best lighting fidelity.

Achieving that perfect balance between brightness and color accuracy is an issue that has persisted in the entertainment lighting industry for years and holds significance for lighting designers and rental houses alike. Traditional LED engines, with their fixed CRI values, have fallen short in delivering a comprehensive spectrum, leaving designers and gear providers with inflexible options. Despite the industry's numerous attempts to address this shortfall, the ideal solution has remained elusive.

TruTone
The core concept behind TruTone is ingeniously simple yet profoundly impactful: a fusion of high and low white CRI LEDs into a single, high-density optical array that allows for CRI adjustments across a range from CRI 70 to 93. The system blends light smoothly with no switching or stepping and without any visible artifacts or disruptions in color temperature. Its advantage-the flexibility to adjust color rendering in a single fixture to cater to various lighting needs while presenting a new approach to fine-tuning the tone and depth of color-makes the system wholly unique.

Limitations in previous systems
Elation Product Manager Matthias Hinrichs played a pivotal role in TruTone's development and says the journey began with a recognition of the limitations inherent in existing lighting technologies. He states, "Because LED lights often have a low CRI of 70, with discharge lights typically around 80, the light source is not great at representing the true colors of an object, which can appear dull, or in the case of skin tones, unnatural." He says attempts have been made to address this with glass CRI filters that reduce the green component of the source, creating a warmer and more complete spectrum. "That is fine for a rock concert and other applications but when lighting more critical environments like a fashion show, car show, television, theatre or opera for example, where the color rendering of costumes and sets is important, deficiencies in the spectrum appear." Another CRI 'fix' has been through the use of multi-color additive LED engines that make it possible to choose different LED emitters to blend and compensate for the missing frequencies, a step that Matthias says achieved better results but was still not totally satisfying.

Then LED engines started to be available with a high CRI option of 90+ and manufacturers began offering high CRI versions of existing products, or even replacement engines. "But that came with a drop in performance. As the CRI increased, the LEDs became less efficient so you ended up with a fixture that was 60-70% of the original output," Matthias explained.

For rental houses, the high CRI options meant they had to stock two different sets of fixtures, and the high CRI versions would often sit in the warehouse for long periods compared to normal CRI stock. "That's not great for business," Matthias stated, noting that Elation made the decision early on to forgo dual fixture versions. "On the designer side, you had to be mindful of what you specified because if you speced all high CRI fixtures, you needed 30-40% more fixtures because you didn't have the necessary light output. That's also not ideal."

What if...?
It was apparent that the crux of the issue lie in the inherent trade-offs between CRI values and performance yet each solution presented its own set of compromises. Elation engineers then asked the question, What if, instead of settling for a fixed CRI value, we could offer users the ability to seamlessly adjust color rendering in a single fixture according to their needs - more horsepower or more color accuracy?

Elation R&D explored avenues for blending high and low CRI LEDs into a single, cohesive array and a breakthrough came when separate drivers and electronics for each set of CRI LEDs was tested. Matthias explains, "Independent CRI engines eliminated the hard switch and allowed us to seamlessly adjust the fixture to any CRI we wanted. Because of the efficiency differences at each CRI point, we did a lot of math and optimization to get the blend of output and color spectrum just right while making sure that the color temperature remained stable when moving between the different CRIs."

This fluid adjustment, facilitated by sophisticated algorithms and meticulous engineering, ensures optimal performance and efficiency along the 70 to 93 CRI range. A CRI of 70 aligns perfectly with many existing fixtures like the Elation Proteus Maximus and Lucius, while a CRI of 93 is ideal for applications where color accuracy is essential like keylighting, theater, fashion, auto shows, TV/film, etc. Optimal efficiency is in the middle, at CRI 80, which is perfect for high performance requirements.

Color influence
The more engineers looked at the system, the more they realized its advantages. "When we scrutinized it, we looked at white light on a surface, a person, a costume, and it looked great, also skin tones," Matthias recalls. "But we quickly learned that the system has a huge influence on the color mixing system as well. It allows you to shift colors from a cold balance to a warm one and create some beautiful warm theatrical colors. It's an adjustment in fidelity and a new way of influencing color." In short, by changing the spectral composition of how a color is built, it gives the designer an expanded range of color variations to choose from. "When we presented the feature to theatre and television designers, they could really see its advantages and were amazed at the palettes they could create."

Unique flexibility
Since the TruTone system enables the adjustment of CRI from a single fixture, it not only accommodates a broad spectrum of applications but also eliminates the need for multiple fixture variants to achieve precise color representation. No longer is the designer stuck with the choices he or she made in the type of LED engine. A lighting fixture can play a dual role in a single show. Whether it's illuminating a presenter with high CRI keylight then repositioning to a rock band for full-on power looks; or illuminating a car at an auto show then repositioning onto a DJ at high output, TruTone's seamless CRI transitioning is unique and is the only system in which this is possible.

Proteus Odeon and beyond
TruTone's adjustable fidelity opens up a world of possibilities, allowing users to fine-tune the tone and depth of colors with unparalleled precision. Elation's new Proteus Odeon framing profile moving head is the first lighting fixture to feature the new TruTone system, and the technology will be implemented into other Elation fixtures moving forward.

In closing, Matthias states, "TruTone has been years in the making and we're excited to bring this new technology to the market. I think when designers see the possibilities, they will realize the real impact it can have on their designs."