◆
Speed
In Color Wash, Speed is defined as the amount of time which elapses
between the initial display of the Starting Color in Cycle One (Red in
ROYGBIV, or Violet in VIBGYOR), and its next display which begins
Cycle Two. There are 64 different speeds which can be set in the
Color Wash Effect, ranging from as fast as .5 seconds to as long as 2
hours to complete a single cycle. Switches #1-6 control the speed
options. For the fastest speed (.5 sec.), all switches between #1-6 are
OFF. For the slowest speed (2 hrs.), all switches between #1-6 are
ON. The previous table (
Table 2: Color Wash Speed
) illustrates the
available options, and their switch settings.
◆
Saturation
In the Color Wash Effect, you can vary the Saturation by choosing
light Saturation (pastels) or full Saturation. Switch #7 controls
Saturation. For light Saturation, set Switch #7 OFF. Full Saturation
is achieved by setting Switch #7 ON.
◆
Brightness
In the Color Wash Effect, Switch #8 controls the level of Brightness.
The Brightness, or intensity, of the light can be set to either half
intensity or full intensity. For half intensity, set Switch #8 OFF. For
full intensity, set Switch #8 ON.
◆
Cycle Direction
The direction of the sequential flow of colors can be controlled in the
Color Wash Effect through Switch #9. When Switch #9 is OFF, the
direction of the flow of colors is clockwise from Red to Violet (ROYG-
BIV). When Switch #9 is ON, the direction of the flow of colors is
counterclockwise from Violet to Red (VIBGYOR).
EXAMPLE OF COLOR WASH EFFECT
Speed of 20 seconds, Full Saturation, Full Brightness, in a clockwise
direction (ROYGBIV)
CROSS FADE
The Cross Fade allows you to set ColorBlast to smoothly move from
one color to another. The Cross Fade differs from a Color Wash in
that it alternates between only two colors while the Color Wash cycles
through the entire spectrum of colors. The Cross Fade slowly increases
the intensity of one color of light while simultaneously reducing the
intensity of another color. For example, a Cross Fade set to begin with
red and end in blue will first display a fully intense red, then mix in a
bit of blue (producing pinkish hues), then mix more blue (to produce
magenta hues), then display fully intense blue, and reverse the process
(magenta, pink, red) before beginning the next cycle (red-pink-magen-
ta-blue-magenta-pink-red).
CHOOSE THE EFFECT: CROSS FADE
Switch #11: ON
Switches #10 and 12: OFF
CHOOSE THE VARIATION: CROSS FADE
The Cross Fade can be varied by choosing one of eight Starting
Colors and one of eight Ending Colors at one of eight different
speeds.
◆
Starting Color
In the Cross Fade Effect, Switches #4-6 govern which color begins
the fade. Choose one of the following eight colors: black, red, green,
yellow, blue, magenta, cyan or white.
Table 3
below illustrates all
available options and their switch settings.
◆
Ending Color
In the Cross Fade Effect, Switches #1-3 govern which color to fade
to before it reverses back to the Starting Color. Choose one of the
following eight colors: black, red, green, magenta, blue, yellow,
cyan or white.
Table 4
below illustrates all available options and their
switch settings.
Do not set your Starting Color and Ending Color to the same color.
If you want a static color display, choose the Fixed Color Effect.
◆
Speed
In Cross Fade, Speed is defined as the amount of time which elapses
between the initial display of the Starting Color to the Ending Color
and back again. There are eight different speeds which can be set for
the Cross Fade Effect, ranging from as fast as 5 seconds for the round
trip to as long as 1 hour to complete the round trip. Switches #7-9
control the speed options. For the fastest speed (5 sec.), all switches
between #7-9 are OFF. For the slowest speed (1 hr.), all switches
between #7-9 are ON. Table 5 below illustrates all available speed
options and their switch settings.
EXAMPLE OF CROSS FADE EFFECT
A. Starting from red, fading to blue at a speed of 30 seconds
round trip
RANDOM COLOR
Random Color or “step” produces a randomly generated set of colors
at user definable speeds. Colors step in discrete increments from one
hue to the next. This differs from a Color Wash which sequentially
and more gradually moves through the color spectrum.
CHOOSE THE EFFECT: RANDOM COLOR
Switches #10 and 11: OFF
Switch #12: ON
CHOOSE THE VARIATION: RANDOM COLOR
The Random Color Effect can be varied by Speed, Saturation and
Starting Color.
◆
Speed
In Random Color, Speed is defined as the amount of time a single
color is displayed before it “jumps” to the next color. There are 32
different speeds which can be set for the Random Color Effect, rang-
ing from as fast as .05 seconds to as long as 3 minutes before jump-
ing to the next color. Switches #1-5 control speed. For the fastest speed
(.05 sec.), all switches between #1-5 are OFF. For the slowest speed
(3 min.), all switches between #1-5 are ON.
Table 6
below illustrates
the available options, and their switch settings.
◆
Saturation
In the Random Color Effect, you can vary the Saturation by choosing
light Saturation (pastels) or full Saturation. Switch #6 controls the
amount of Saturation. For light Saturation, set Switch #6 OFF.
Full Saturation is achieved by setting Switch #6 ON.
◆
Starting Color
You can choose from one of eight different starting colors in the
Random Color Effect. From these eight different starting points it will
cycle through a set of 128 colors which step in discrete increments of
at least 25% of the color spectrum so no two colors in a row will have
similar values. Switches #7-9 govern the Starting Color.
Table 7
below
illustrates all available options and their switch settings.
EXAMPLE OF RANDOM COLOR EFFECT
At a speed of every 2 seconds, Fully Saturated, Starting with Color 1
In this example, if a second ColorBlast is set to the same settings as
the example above except for Starting Color, each would change
colors at the same rate but not follow the same color display.
FIXED COLOR STROBE
Strobes are a “stop action,” or rapid series of very short intense light
flashes which can make actions seem intermittent. In the Fixed Color
Strobe Effect, the same color is strobed at each flash.
CHOOSE THE EFFECT: FIXED COLOR STROBE
Switch #11: ON
Switches #10 and 12: OFF
CHOOSE THE VARIATION: FIXED COLOR STROBE
The Fixed Strobe Effect can be varied by Color and Strobe Rate.
◆
Color
In the Fixed Color Strobe Effect, switches #1-3 AND #4-6 govern
which single color will be displayed during the flash. Choose one of
the following eight colors: black, red, green, yellow, blue, magenta,
cyan, or white. Both Switches #1-3 AND #4-6 must be configured in
exactly the same way.
Table 8
below illustrates the available colors
and their switch settings.
◆
Strobe Rate
In the Fixed Color Strobe Effect, Switches #7-9 govern the strobe rate
which can be set from as fast as 20 flashes per second to as slow as
2 flashes per second. For the fastest speed (20/sec.), all switches
between #7-9 are OFF. For the slowest speed (2/sec), all switches
between #7-9 are ON.
Table 9
below illustrates all available options
and their switch settings.
EXAMPLE OF FIXED COLOR STROBE EFFECT
Strobing Red at a rate of 20 flashes/second
VARIABLE COLOR STROBE
Strobes are a “stop motion,” or rapid series of very short intense light
flashes which can make actions seem intermittent. The Variable Color
Strobe Effect cycles through a sequence of colors, generating strobes
of different colors.
CHOOSE THE EFFECT:
VARIABLE COLOR STROBE
Switches #10 and 12: ON
Switch #11: OFF
CHOOSE THE VARIATION: VARIABLE COLOR STROBE
The Variable Color Strobe Effect can be varied by Speed, Cycle
Direction and Strobe Rate.
◆
Speed
In the Variable Color Strobe Effect, Switches #1-5 govern the pattern
of colors displayed during the flash of the strobe. The pattern of colors
displayed depends on how fast the colors are advancing through the
spectrum. This advance is measured as a percentage around the spec-
trum. At the lower Speeds, each strobe will flash sequential colors
since it is slowly advancing through the spectrum. Faster Speeds will
flash colors further apart in the spectrum, with the fastest Speed
flashing complementary colors.
Table 10
below illustrates all available
options and their switch settings.
◆
Cycle Direction
The direction of the flow of colors can be controlled in the Variable
Color Strobe through Switch #6. When Switch #6 is OFF, the direc-
tion of the flow of colors is clockwise from Red to Violet (ROYGBIV).
When Switch #6 is ON, the direction the flow of colors is counter-
clockwise from Violet to Red (VIBGYOR).
◆
Strobe Rate
In the Variable Color Strobe Effect, Switches #7-9 govern the strobe
rate which can be set from as fast as 20 flashes per second to as slow
as 2 flashes per second. For the fastest speed (20/sec.), Switches #7-
9 are OFF. For the slowest speed (2/sec), Switches #7-9 are ON.
Table 11
below illustrates all available options and their switch set-
tings.
EXAMPLE OF VARIABLE COLOR STROBE EFFECT
Speed of 10% advance, Clockwise Direction, Strobe Rate of 10/sec
* this Speed will display advancing complementary colors.
WIRED
ColorBlast can be operated via either Stand Alone or Networked
control. Networked control will allow you to utilize either a DMX512
controller or a PC to operate any connected units. If you are using an
external control source, you must set the DIP switches to receive exter-
nal data.
DMX512
To make the light receive DMX data from a DMX512
controller, Switches #10, 11 and 12 should be in the
OFF position.
DMX512 operates at 250,000 baud.
DMX512 controllers include:
• Synchronizer and Multi Synchronizer
• iPlayer
• Smart Jack 3 Adapter (USB)
• Most professional lighting control consoles
PC DMX
To make the light receive DMX data from a PC, set switch #10 to ON
and Switches #11 and 12 to OFF.
PC DMX operates at 115,200 baud.
PC DMX controllers include:
•
Smart Jack 1 Adapter (Serial)
Refer to the Recommended Practice for DMX512 guide for additional
wiring configuration guidelines. This guide is available from PLASA
and USITT.
PLASA Ltd.
7 Highlight House St. Leonard’s Road
Eastbourne, East Sussex BN21 3WH
United Kingdom
Tel
01 323 410335
Fax
01 323 646905
www.plasa.org.uk
USITT Inc.
6443 Ridings Road
Syracuse, NY 13206
USA
Tel
800 93 USITT (938 7488)
Tel
315 463 6463
Fax
315 463 6525
www.ffa.ucalrary.ca/usitt
COLORBLAST SPECIFICATIONS
COLOR RANGE
16.7 million (24bit) additive RGB colors
Continuously variable intensity output range
SOURCE
Variable intensity colored LEDs
DATA INTERFACE
DMX512 (RS485) compatible; serial
port compatible with Smart Jack Adapter
CONTROL
Stand Alone, DMX512 or PC
PACKAGING
Black or white powder coated
aluminum housing
CONNECTORS
Unified power and data cable
LISTINGS
UL listed
POWER REQUIREMENT
1.3 A @ 24 VDC (33 W)
SOURCE LIFE
Color Kinetics illumination products utilize high brightness LEDs as the
illumination source. LED manufacturers predict LED life of up to
100,000 hours MTBF (mean time between failure), the standard used
by conventional lamp manufacturers to measure source life. However,
like all basic light sources, LEDs also experience lumen depreciation
over time. So while LEDs can emit light for an extremely long period of
time, MTBF is not the only consideration in determining useful life. LED
lumen depreciation is affected by numerous environmental conditions
such as ambient temperature, humidity and ventilation. Lumen depreci-
ation is also affected by means of control, thermal management, cur-
rent levels, and a host of other electrical design considerations.
Color Kinetics systems are expertly engineered to optimize LED life
when used under normal operating conditions [ambient temperature: -
4oF to 104oF (-20oC to 40oC), humidity: 0-95% non-condensing
humidity, adequate ventilation and air volume] and when operated
using typical color-changing effects. Long-term operation outside of
these ranges or conditions, or at the upper limits of these ranges or
conditions, may subject the product to further degradation of the LED
source life, or in extreme cases, failure of internal components. Source
life information is based on LED manufacturers‘ data, as well as other
third party testing.
SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
Important Information
Please read all instructions before using ColorBlast products.
Warning
Do not open, alter or tamper with the product case. This will void the
manufacturer’s warranty. Follow all instructions in user guide, and
observe all warnings carefully. To avoid electrical shock, never open
the ColorBlast housing. Do not attempt to service the electronic compo-
nents yourself. Non-expert handling may damage the product and
cause injury to the user.
Strobe Warning
There is some anecdotal evidence that strobe lighting may induce
epilepsy in certain susceptible individuals, although no associated
product warnings have been issued by United States government
according to the Food and Drug Administration.
If strobe lights are used, some international regulatory agencies
1
rec-
ommend keeping flicker rates at or below four flashes per second (as
less of the flicker-sensitive population will then be at risk of an attack).
This flicker rate applies only to the overall output of any group of lights
in direct view. However, when more than one strobe light is used, the
flashes should be synchronized. End users should also consider issuing
a warning, alerting audience or viewers to the
presence of strobe lighting.
The Don’ts
• Do not hot swap. Make sure the power supply is off before connect-
ing or disconnecting fixtures.
• Do not block metallic cooling fins or vents.
• Do not insert anything into these openings.
• Do not use ColorBlast if the power cable has been damaged.
• Do not allow anything to rest on the power cable.
• Do not keep cables in high traffic areas.
• Do not paint, dye, repackage or alter the physical housing.
• Do not store units in dirty, dusty areas.
• Do not tamper with grounded plug configuration.
The Dos
• Make sure the fins are clear and unobstructed.
• Operate only in places where sufficient airflow to cool the unit
is present.
• Keep the unit interior dry. Precipitation, humidity and liquids contain
minerals that corrode electronic circuits.
• Use a 3-wire grounded plug for powering all ColorBlast products as
a mandatory safety feature. The plug will fit only into a grounded
outlet. If it does not fit, contact an electrician to upgrade the obso-
lete outlet. Do NOT defeat the purpose of this by cutting that pin
off the plug.
• Handle ColorBlast as you would any delicate product. Be careful
not to drop the units.
• Have fun with ColorBlast and let Chromacore® open your
imagination.
If any problems occur during usage, unplug the product immediately
and call or email:
Color Kinetics Technical Support Group:
1-888-FULL RGB or 617-423-9999 or
[email protected]
U.S. AND FOREIGN PATENTS AND PATENTS PENDING
Color Kinetics Incorporated grants the purchaser of its lighting prod-
ucts and controllers a personal and non-transferable license to use
Chromacore®, its patented technology for networkable control of
LED-based color changing lighting fixtures for illumination, display and
design. This license is granted only by Color Kinetics Incorporated,
and may not be transferred except by the grantor. The design, dupli-
cation, manufacture, or sale of other products using networkable con-
trol of LED-based color changing lighting may be prohibited and is not
licensed hereunder. Other patents pending.
ON
OFF
10 11 12
ON
OFF
10 11 12
Automagic Trick of the Trade: Single Color Fade. To set a
ColorBlast unit to a single color (no saturation/darkness
to full saturation), set the Starting Color to black. If you
want to go from white light through pastel shades to full
saturation, set your Starting Color to white.
1
Guide to Health, Safety and Welfare at Pop Concerts and Similar Events,
HMSO Publications (UK)
Automagic Trick of the Trade: You can achieve a unique
converging display when two ColorBlast units are set
to the same speed but different cycle directions, one
going clockwise, the other counterclockwise.
1
2
3
ON
OFF
4 5 6
7 8 9 10 11 12
ON
OFF
10
11 12
SWITCH#
SPEED
7 8 9
5 sec
10 sec
30 sec
1 min
2 min
15 min
30 min
1 hr
■
■
■
■
■
■
■
■
■
■
■
■
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
1
2
3
ON
OFF
4 5 6
7 8 9 10 11 12
ON
OFF
10 11 12
SWITCH#
COLOR
1 2 3 4 5 6
Black
Red
Green
Yellow
Blue
Magenta
Cyan
White
■
■
■
■
■
■
■
■
■
■
■
■
■
■
■
■
■
■
■
■
■
■
■
■
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
ON
OFF
10 11 12
Automagic Trick of the Trade: For an asynchronous
display of colors in ColorBlast units, set the units to
the same speed but different starting colors.
SWITCH#
COLOR
7 8 9
starting color 1
starting color 2
starting color 3
starting color 4
starting color 5
starting color 6
starting color 7
starting color 8
■
■
■
■
■
■
■
■
■
■
■
■
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
ON
OFF
10 11 12
1
2
3
ON
OFF
4 5 6
7 8 9 10 11 12
SWITCH#
STROBE RA
TE
7 8 9
20/sec
13/sec
10/sec
7.5/sec
5/sec
4/sec
3/sec
2/sec
■
■
■
■
■
■
■
■
■
■
■
■
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
SWITCH#
SPEED
1 2 3 4 5
0.07%
0.13%
0.20%
0.26%
0.33%
0.39%
0.46%
0.52%
0.65%
0.78%
1.00%
1.20%
1.40%
1.60%
2.00%
2.30%
2.90%
3.60%
4.20%
4.90%
5.90%
7.20%
8.50%
10%
12%
15%
18%
22%
26%
33%
38%
49.9%
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■
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■
■
■
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■
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■
table 5: cross fade speed
Table 7: Random Color Starting Color
Table 8: Fixed Color Strobe
Table 9: Fixed Color Strobe Rate
Table 10: Variable Color Strobe Speed
SWITCH#
COLOR
4 5 6
Black
Red
Green
Yellow
Blue
Magenta
Cyan
White
■
■
■
■
■
■
■
■
■
■
■
■
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Table 3: Cross Fade Starting Color
SWITCH#
COLOR
1 2 3
Black
Red
Green
Yellow
Blue
Magenta
Cyan
White
■
■
■
■
■
■
■
■
■
■
■
■
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Table 4: Cross Fade Ending Color
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
SWITCH#
SPEED
1 2 3 4 5
0.05 sec
0.06 sec
0.08 sec
0.12 sec
0.15 sec
0.21 sec
0.25 sec
0.3 sec
0.4 sec
0.5 sec
0.75 sec
1 sec
1.2 sec
1.5 sec
2 sec
2.5 sec
3.5 sec
4.5 sec
5 sec
7.5 sec
10 sec
12 sec
15 sec
20 sec
25 sec
30 sec
45 sec
1 min
1.5 min
2 min
2.5 min
3 min
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■
Table 6: Random Color Speed
1
2
3
ON
OFF
4 5 6
7 8 9 10 11 12
SWITCH#
STROBE RA
TE
7 8 9
20/sec
13/sec
10/sec
7.5/sec
5/sec
4/sec
3/sec
2/sec
■
■
■
■
■
■
■
■
■
■
■
■
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Table 11: Variable Color Strobe Rate
1
2
3
ON
OFF
4 5 6
7 8 9 10 11 12
