SeaChanger Color Engine Replaces Gel Filters for Ellipsoidal Stage Lighting

Introducing Ocean Optics’ All-Dichroic Color Engine Add-on for Source Four™ Fixtures

Dunedin, Fla., November 2004 – The SeaChanger Color Engine from Ocean Optics is a four-filter dichroic color changer designed for a variety of architectural and entertainment lighting applications, in particular those where industry-standard Source FourÔ stage lighting fixtures are specified. The SeaChanger’s dichroic design offers a virtually endless variety of color mixing options, excellent transmission efficiency for brighter, sharper colors, and remarkable resistance to heat and other environmental conditions common to stage lighting applications.

What distinguishes the SeaChanger is the micron-scale patterning of its dichroic filters, the result of a patented process that yields spatial resolution, transmission efficiency and filter durability superior to dye-colored gels and other technologies. What’s more, unlike colored gel filters and glass, which are commonly used in stage lighting, the SeaChanger’s ceramic-like dichroic filters are very robust, transmit sharp colors without dimming effects, and are less prone to degrade because of temperature fluctuations.

The SeaChanger consists of four filters -- cyan, magenta and yellow, plus a neutral density filter -- in a 7.0” x 11.5” module that weighs less than 12 lb. and readily fits Source Four fixtures. An 8-channel DMX controller allows for smooth variable fades and color mixing. The neutral density filter, also referred to as the dimming wheel, is unique in that it is able to maintain a consistent color temperature from maximum through minimum dimming with no intensity compensation.

SeaChanger filters can be configured in 4 billion different positions that produce a virtually endless variety of colors. In addition, the SeaChanger’s cyan-magenta-yellow combinations can be matched via software to more than 300 Rosco-colored gel filters, making it far easier to replace existing filter setups. Software matching capabilities for other gel book values will be available soon.

SeaChanger software offers another advantage. When used with an Ocean Optics miniature fiber optic spectrometer, the software can predict the transmission efficiency of the entire SeaChanger color engine, plus out-of-the-ordinary or custom filters.

Contact an Ocean Optics Applications Scientist