The LED to illuminate the TV studios is not yet widely used because the equipment with the power required by new technologies has only begun to be developed.
By Max Jaramillo
In order to achieve a good image for television, not only should you have good cameras and editing systems, lighting also plays a fundamental role in achieving sharp images and with a correct definition of the objects that make it up.
Now, with the development of new high-definition image technologies, such as Full HD, 4K and 8K, lighting has not been left behind. Carlos Iván Fernández, from the company Qparts, explained that "More than a change in the type of luminaires, there has been a change in the way of lighting because the production in High Definition requires a sharper illumination because the projected image is of greater definition".
For his part, Juan Sebastián Benjumea, development engineer of the company Ecoiluminación, indicated that this change basically consists of guaranteeing higher lighting levels than when illuminated for standard format. "This means that there is no type of technology that is special to record in high definition, what you have to be careful about is to have more lighting equipment or equipment with greater luminous flux."
Keep warming up
Another factor that is directly related to lighting in television studios is the heat emitted by the lamps. Traditional lighting equipment converts 88% of the energy it consumes into heat, only the remaining 12% of energy is used in light generation.
In this regard, Carlos Iván Fernández said that high temperatures generate a greater consumption of air conditioning and, above all, an environment of high temperatures in which it is uncomfortable to work not only for technicians, but also for talents.
"Such a scenario involves having, in an enclosed space, equipment that generates heat such that it becomes a problem. But now the high temperatures in the recording studio are no longer a problem, LED technology, thanks to its energy efficiency , provides high levels of lighting with low heat generation . This technology takes advantage of 90% of the energy it consumes in light, only the remaining 10% is converted into heat, "said the representative of Ecoiluminación.
But what kind of lamps do TV studios in Latin America use today? At this time, commented the representative of Qparts, luminaires with Quartz or HMI lamps , are still the predominant equipment in the studios in Latin America , LED equipment so far is reaching the required powers and its costs are still high compared to the previous technology.
"However, we have already installed projects where we have mixed or led-only solutions . One of the problems of the various options that exist of LED luminaires is their homogenity and stability in the color temperature, this is the reason why high quality LED equipment has higher costs, because they guarantee that they have stability in the color temperature throughout their long hours of life (50,000 hours at half-life)", Highlighted.
In the same sense, Juan Sebastián Benjumea said that due in part to the high costs of this equipment, halogen luminaires present in the market for several decades are more used in Latin America.
LED, the new generation
Technological advances in the field of lighting have made available to television studios luminaires with LED technology. This environmentally trending technology provides considerable advantages in the field of television production. Among them the low energy consumption, portability, generate less heat, deliver extended durability and CRI greater than 80%.
The LED-generated light source allows to be controlled through a DMX signal. These equipment now require a lower consumption and do not need the use of Dimmer, but a Relays box to be able to turn them on and off and a DMX signal distribution to be able to operate them in the various functions that each equipment has, such as zoom, focus, color change, color temperature adjustment, strobe, among many other possibilities.
"In short, they are much more versatile equipment. Today the operators of the lighting consoles must be trained in a different way to be able to get the most out of the benefits of the control of the equipment by DMX signal, "said the representative of Qparts.
Among the characteristics of LED lighting systems that make it striking, it is worth highlighting:
1) Portability, being usually lighter equipment, it is possible to transport them more easily.
2) Low power consumption, this feature makes it possible to use batteries, which implies being able to have light sources on in places where you do not have access to an electrical network, in addition, robust electrical systems or high-caliber wiring are not necessary .
3) Little heat generation, now the lights do not burn to the touch, it is possible to manipulate them at any time, and even transfer them when they have barely been turned off, they also increase the feeling of comfort for those who are in the recording studio.
4) Long service life, LED technology, being environmentally trendy , is designed to last. Usually manufacturers guarantee 50,000 hours of use, which means in a nutshell, that if we turn on an LED luminaire today, we will have uninterrupted light for the next 5.7 years.
5) Electronic control, LED lights can be controlled by electronic circuits operating at high frequency, this ensures the elimination of the "flicker" or "flicker" effect present in luminaires of other technology.
Changed the way of lighting
New lighting technologies require a different way of positioning lighting in studios, especially with LED technology, due to the versatility of the equipment that allows greater efficiencies when it comes to lighting and also allows light to be brought closer to talent, because it does not generate high temperatures, therefore the concept and way of illuminating must be different. In addition, studies require having not only the electrical distribution but also a DMX signal distribution.
Additionally, special care must be taken, more than with the position of the latest technology luminaires, with the necessary lighting levels, especially if the remodeling involves changing the standard format by high definition format.
But, taking into account the above, the basic theory of lighting is still applied even with state-of-the-art lighting, such as the well-known "basic lighting triangle", regardless of the technology of the lights it is still an arrangement of three lights forming a triangle with the subject in the middle, this means that if the lighting of a television studio is modernized, you must continue to have the main lights and fill lights, as well as the backlights and backlights that were available before the remodeling.
It will always depend on the use that will be given to the studio, whether it is a news studio, dramatized, unitary or realities and contest programs, and obviously it will also depend on the design made by the director
of photography.
2014, with positive expectations
While the television industry has had significant growth in recent years, the lighting segment has advanced but not at the same pace. For Carlos Iván Fernández, 2013 was a slow year, in which they were more dedicated to designing studios with LED and mixed technology.
"2014 seems to be a good year, because we are already executing projects designed in 2013, I think users are already more aware of the advantages of using LED technology in TV studios. We have already made the assembly of two sets for the NTC programmer of Channel ONE, 100% LED, for which we had to add to its traditional grill and electrical distribution system, a DMX distribution system to be able to control the Pairs and Ellipsoidal LED equipment that were acquired, "he added.
For the representative of Ecoiluminación, in 2014 it is foreseen, as in past years, the growth of the audiovisual market in Latin America, this will benefit the entire industry of the sector, including lighting. The trend in this segment focused on TV in Latin America is focused on the inclusion of new technologies that provide more and better options when buying to the growing demand, mainly in Mexico, Brazil, Venezuela, Peru and Argentina.
"Growth creates an environment conducive to the inclusion of new bidding companies in the market, ultimately benefiting the final consumer and the quality of Latin American productions," he concluded.
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