Good lighting is an essential component of a successful trade show booth. Just the right lighting can help an artist to create the atmosphere of a gallery craft well. This gallery will draw from the islands and in the cabin - the first step to a sale.
The lighting is a relatively expensive investment. How does the price-conscious artists to find the right solution?
When it comes to choosing a lighting system is often the artists are new to the exhibition circuitbe overwhelmed. Prices vary greatly, and each can have its own convention center lights have rules. Lighting technology is changing rapidly, that the choice even more difficult.
This article describes what I learned while facing the challenge of my light stand 10'X10 'American Craft Retailers Expo at (ACRE), a large wholesale shows for American and Canadian craft. As I am new to trade shows, this is information only as points of reference for artists in the process of meaningLighting design, and perhaps even for more experienced artists who wish to upgrade their systems.
In considering the various lighting options, it was my goal, my glass jewelry beautiful but inexpensive to light. I wanted the light to its light weight and modular design that fit in boxes for shipment to the show. I was looking for contemporary style, available in silver or black. And I wanted to have at least one special effect lighting - to give my class one - not too flashyElement.
In his CD on the project stands, art offers a management consultant Bruce Baker lights of a 1000-watt stand 10'X10 'very effective. I decided to stay the same or less than 500 watts, but because the show contains 500 watts with the ACRE price level and I finally decided to halogen lights shows me very well. Since I bought the lights at a "big box" store with locations in almost every city of the United States, can I get more light when I lookthe fair, if necessary.
The battle of the bulb
Contractors choice lighting (www.ccl-light.com) says that a lamp is simply a "bearer of light". The light bulb, so you should go to the election of a holder. This is true for a while 'fair-light, even if the devices can dictate the types of bulbs, depending on the options available in the store where shopping for lights. The CCL's website offers a "light bulb photometric" page([Http: / / ccl-light.com/photometrics.html]), whose graphical representation is a refreshing departure from the descriptions set of lighting options that have proliferated on the web.
It is the halogen lamp of choice for many fair-exhibitor. Offers emit a white light. Although people commonly referred to as non-halogen incandescent lamps, is actually a kind of light bulb. It produces light with a thin tungsten filament heated to white by an electricalCurrent passing through it. Not too long ago for many of us - after General Electric was the first halogen lamp was developed in 1959!
Halogen lamps are very different from traditional light bulbs we grew up. The halogen lamp halogen gases (iodine or bromine, in particular) around. These gases allow the filaments operating at higher temperatures. The result is a higher light output per watt.
The gases to do something, butWonder: tungsten tends to evaporate, the filament over time, and gas actually help re-deposit of the tungsten filament. This extends the life of the bulb beyond the traditional light bulb, the tungsten evaporates, it clings to the walls of the bulb looks like a smoky, and finally pulls the yarn is not covered. Who has not shaken a bulb blown in it and liked the sound of the harpsichord, jazzy broken wire?
In addition to the taxmore light than conventional bulbs, halogen bulbs emit a whiter light that offers better color reproduction. "To the special attention and commitment to bring color to use halogen lamps," U.S. website offers light and electrical (www.usalight.com). "Nothing is better than the drama has brought with halogen lamps."
Baker also close to halogen lamps - headlights in particular - for a contemporary look, especially for jewelry and glass. E 'consider that other valuable materials such as ceramics and wood craft could be better improved with halogen or even with some of the traditional incandescent light bulbs that emit a warmer color.
Halogen lighting has decided would be my next task is to choose bulbs. The ACRE show is held at the Las Vegas Convention Center, which has instituted a strict policy of halogen lighting. Each light can not exceed 75 watt halogen lamps and all original packaging must bein the glass (not a detachable lens or linear form).
Fortunately there are a lot of factory sealed halogen lighting, halogen PAR lamps in the form of. PAR is an acronym for "parabolic reflector aluminized". PAR lamps have a built-in reflecting surface pressed glass. The glass provides both an internal reflector and prisms in the lens to control the light beam.
PAR lamps are numbered, as in PAR 16, PAR 20, PAR 56 PAR The number refers to the pear-shaped.Bulbs.com halogen has a section of the site where you can visually compare the different PAR lamps. Within a particular category of PAR lamps, there are different levels of power, lights and projectors, large and small, different sizes and even stronger base colors.
Luckily I was able to process the decision on a PAR lamp with the first decision, for my light (more on that below) to jump shop.
Issues of power
If you are looking for a way to go shop lights, you will noticeThere is a choice between 12-volt and 120 volt lights. 120 is the standard mains voltage directly into most homes and offices - and convention centers.
For a lamp of 120 volts, no additional parts required for a standard outlet. 120-volt lights are generally lighter 12-volt lights, because they did not need a transformer. In addition, cost less and can use halogen or incandescent light bulbs.
I stopped the investigation to 12-volt lights,unless you step out the amount of energy that is used to a lower voltage, and therefore greater energy efficiency. You need a transformer to convert 120-volt house current to 12 volts, and require hard wiring (even if an artist that I have a 12-volt lights out to found a transformer that can, in a socket 120 volts was taken. A 12-volt device has a capacity for high-efficiency light sources that offer a variety of wattages and beam spreads, including the Watts-50MR-16, which is popular in galleries.
I chose the 120-volt lighting for the show because they do not have to worry about transformers and was able to just plug in
The choice of a store lighting and Track
I read this forum ACRE online for tips on where to buy the lighting. As an artist, said that it seemed very reasonable buys all of its lighting to Home Depot, because if something goes wrong during the show, found a nearby store for replacement parts.
This wasone thing to note: As appealing as the designs can be wonderful, special lighting makes order of any type is a risk that a malfunctioning light for the duration of a show.
Another artist on the online forum ACRE said that buys his lights Lowes. There is probably no matter what big-box stores you choose, provided it is one in every city.
Since I was new at trade shows and this kit would be my first start, I resisted the choice of many good suppliersnetwork. I limited myself to, but offer Lowes. A side effect of this is that my choices have been reduced easily.
Within the category of halogen lighting, you can monitor the lights or porch lights fitted (with arms stretched out). I went with runway lights. This was partly because the stem lights that I found on the Internet is relatively expensive and Lowe is not with them, and because the runway lights, I could have just one cable instead of severalfalling.
The seller Lowes lighting was available to put together a complete package from the track lighting on the display and in storage. I decided on four, two-foot track to keep the size of my shipping boxes. Here is an overview of what I bought:
• 4 two-foot sections of track, brand portfolio, painted black, Item # 225678 ° Every section includes 2 lights, for a total of 8 Total: $ 23.12
Flared Gimbal Track * 8 lights, brand portfolio, Item # 120673, with aSatin chrome finish for a contemporary look. They are easy to order the title, following the enclosed instructions. Total: $ 80.76
* 8 halogen lamps, Par 20, 50-watts, for a clear bright light. I bought some lights and some lights. The lamps are very compressible, just over 3 "long and 2.5" in diameter. Total: $ 60.00
Miniature Straight Connector Portfolio × 2, Item # 120 716, for connecting two sections of the runway end to end. The idea ishave only one cable to connect a series of four lights. Total: $ 5.92.
× 2 cable and connector kits, brand portfolio, Item # 120 827, to trace the power of a standard electrical outlet. I connected to the end of the two sections of the track by loosening the lid on one side of the track. Total: $ 17.06
• Various Multi-Purpose Ties (cable ties), followed by Catamount, to connect the rails to stand-pipes. Total: $ 5.00
× 2 heavy extension cords / power strips -14-gauge, 15-meter, 82965 with three branches each, trademark Woods by Lowe, Item # 170 224, Model Total: $ 22.00
Total: $ 213.86
The gimbal lights I chose to accept only a 50-watt PAR 20 lamp that makes it easier to choose between the bulbs. So in this case prompted the owner of the choice of the lamp, around otherwise.
Photometric bulbs emit after the elections page for contractors, a PAR 20, 50-watt halogen bulb with a flood of a light beam 5'4 "Diameter when it reaches 10 meters. It offers more than 12 foot-candles of light in value to 10 meters away from the lamp (one foot-candle is the light level on a surface of the foot, holding out a standard candle.)
For reasons of comparison provides a PAR 30 with a beam diameter of more than 8 'to 10 meters away and still get about 14 foot-candles at that distance. What happens when you notch up a 75-watt? You get much more foot-candles (38) to 10 meters away. This suggests thatlarger exhibition stands might want to take advantage of a higher wattage bulbs and higher PAR.
Total uses the path I have chosen to 400 watts of lighting power. This gave me another 100 watts or accent lighting specialties to add to my stand, while still at the 500-watt limit.
Cables, connectors and hanging lamps
The Las Vegas Convention Center has strict rules for cables, connectors and hanging lamps.
The double track, 18-gauge cable that the manufactureris acceptable for the lights (leave UL tags and labels intact). These light cables are not connected to the convention center exit, however. Strip or a switch with a 14-gauge wire - Instead, they have three points, heavy, 14 gauge extension cord plug. You can then connect, 14-gauge extension cord into the outlet to the convention center.
A 14-gauge extension cord is capable of handling 1825 watts. And 'helpful to read the briefExtension cable sizing and safety instructions on the websites of the Underwriters Laboratories (www.ul.com / consumers / cords.html) and the University of Florida Cooperative Extension Service ([http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ FY800]) Before you buy a cable.
Bruce Baker suggests the 20-foot cable with six outlets, and that there is a drum. I could not find this type of cable to Lowe, so I opted for two 15 meters, heavy 14-gauge extension cords / power strips, eachthree branches. If you have a larger car, you can find a 25-foot cord with three outlets in Lowes.
There are several settings, hanging lamps, and to consider so many variables that will be a topic for another article. In general, you can hang or clip lights on a truss or "hard walls" of your ad, if you have them. Depending on the rules of a certain mass and size of the lighting system, you can afford to be placedLights the pipe and tends.
To resolve this problem since my design does not include stand my four walls, my lights are both on the existing pipeline or on a trellis. Ties (commonly called "hose") seem to tool of choice to ensure ownership of the pipes or bars, and also for the cultivation of other existing cross pipe and drape. An artist I know uses Velcro strips, followed by cable ties to secure the facilities. There are some websites for allTies. One of them is http://www.cabletiesplus.com.
Multi-Purpose Ties, I bought from Home Depot. You can combine up to 4 cm in diameter, keeping temperatures up to 185 degrees Celsius and up to 50 pounds.
Accent Lighting: LED
There are many ideas for accent lighting - although more than a fair treatment of the theme for this article. Light-Emitting Diode (LED) lighting is a technology for which is growing rapidly and discoveries. Thetakes a lot of lights in light output of a 50-watt equivalent LED bulb and are quite expensive, so LEDs are not ready for prime time, when it comes to a full cabin lighting.
There are several close-up applications for LEDs, however, that deserves to be examined now. An example of counter-stick by MK direct digital http://www.mkdigitaldirect.com (to a whopping $ 175 per foot) is sold. The convenient bag MK Sparkle Light ($ 30) is a portable device that is particularly longover 100,000 hours per day, and promises of jewels "maximum shine and reflections."
The Mini Nexus LED Light System (www.ccl-light.com), now offers a lot of light for its size - a disc format not much bigger than a quarter. The company says it is for direct display of light and crystal, and can also be immersed in water. The light is "attached, ending in a spine, and has a 12-wire" mode "with sevendifferent colors. Unfortunately, none of the white color selection, and $ 25 is a bit 'expensive. However, it shows some of these lights combined with the ambient light in the audience to stand and the most dramatic feature.
Even LED tube lights, lights, flexible lights and linear lights. Super bright LED (www.superbrightleds.com / edison.html) has a collection of 120-volt LED lamps lives for accent lighting and other low-and a variety of applicationsother fascinating products as "lights-up plans."
In this letter, the search was still lighting accent to my stand to a very particular light. Stay tuned for an upcoming article on the results.
Online Resources
The following list is not a recommendation, but a starting point for the study of lighting systems, cable ties, and accent lighting.
http://www.ccl-light.com - inexpensive and has many "Bulb Photometrics" page optionsto determine the amount of light you want and what kind of a light bulb
http://www.direct-lighting.com - mounted stem and runway lights
http://www.usalight.com - large selection of lamps and light bulbs
http://www.bulbs.com - quick visual comparison of PAR lamps (halogen-section)
http://www.cabletiesplus.com - Cable (zip) ties to ensure runway lighting tube
http://www.mkdigitaldirect.com - LED lighting for jewelryCases
http://www.american-image.com/products/lights/lights.html - a nice selection and visual design of the stem mounted light and the other (but not cheap)
http://www.brightmandesign.com/products/wash-super.html - good technical information and images of lighting installations for exhibitions, different stem mounted clip-on design
http://www.superbrightleds.com - LED accent lighting, including lamps and bar lives
