LED Ring Light

I've tried to use Scotchlite and similar products, but unfortunately it didnt work very well. Many of the screens produced highlights and/or reflected light in a to narrow angle. I think some of the problem is that the measure of how good a retroreflective material is "in traffic", does not give an indication of how good the material is for chromakeying. Its even regulated by law (at least in Europe) how narrow the angle has to be for reflective materials.

readw: could you tell us how you made the circuit for dimming the LEDs?

By the way, it look really good!! :)
 
eyelight

eyelight

readw, nice design!
I only need a bit of eyelight, not fill:
Any thought on how little you can get away with for eyelight only?
Any though on a design for something to be placed farther away from the camera, e.g. 45 degrees over and to the side, on a lightweight rod? (Would be nice to avoid the light being flat.) (And yes, I also like ringlights for certain looks):happy:
 
teitbite said:
I've tried to use Scotchlite and similar products, but unfortunately it didnt work very well. Many of the screens produced highlights and/or reflected light in a to narrow angle.
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Did you use a ring light or beamsplitter in front of the lens to light the screen?
 
I have not had the time to undertake some real life testing as yet. However once this has been done I should be able to comment how little light is needed to get a reasonable effect.


Warren
 
I used a homemade light ring, not as professional as readw's "ring of fire".

By the way, are there other companies than reflecmedia that makes this kind of chromakeying systems? I know that someone made a product called Holoring around 2002, but it looks like theyre out of business.

Readw: How are you regulating the intensity of the LEDs?
 
Your design looks rather familiar...

http://www.litepanels.com/

pic_ring.jpg


pic_01.jpg
 
Perhaps I am being silly here, but what is the advantage of this light? It seems like when something gets close enough for these to have any effect, it will just totally flatten the lighting on them...I don't see the point. I am sure there is one, I just can't find it. So, basically, why?
 
bc5431 said:
basically, why?
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because the light reflects in the eyes in the shape of a circle. they are used on music promo's a lot because they look cool. also, being mounted around the lens means you get a key light with no shadows in the background. sometimes that's useful.

the bigger LED units are great for steadicam use... but, the LitePanels ringlite is $7k.
anything cheaper gets people excited. :cool:
 
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OK, I get the circular reflection as an eye-light, but I still can't see using this a key light for the very reason that you said it was good; it casts no shadows. Again, I am probably showing my ignorance here (and I understand that no shadows on the walls behind actors is good) but I thought that it was the shadows on an actor's face that gave it depth and texture. Just as this light would eliminate shadows on the walls, it seems like it would elimate shadows on the actors and yield a flat image. Of course, this wouldn't matter if you used it for a steadicam shot where the motion provides depth and the lack of shadows while still consistantly lighting a moving subject would be really nice. So I guess I answered my own question. You would use it as an eye-light or as a key on shots in which the camera moves, but not in a static shot, correct?
 
You're right, the ring light is not a general purpose key light. In video production its most common use is fill and/or eye light. It can be cranked up to create some interesting and surreal effects. By eliminating virtually all shadows striking a face, it can minimize skin imperfections. Ring lights are big among fashion photographers. If you're shooting for realism, its not the light you want.
 
This kind of LED ring is just to look cool and pretend you know something other people don't :) Lets face it thats why we all got into the business anyway right? To look cool, right?


Would love to see a blue / green LED version for chroma key. A daylight or even 3200K version also comes in handy shooting talking heads, used one in bright sunlight and interiors. I guess its a "sell the face" tool, not a 'lets make a new version of the x-files'. A very handy light for many reasons, especially if it can produce any light color like the Zylight.
 
Any brands of ring lights you would recommend with a dimmer? preferably a smooth one... and that it fits on the dvx100a.
Suggestions any1?
Thanks in advance.
 
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visualbrother said:
This kind of LED ring is just to look cool and pretend you know something other people don't :) Lets face it thats why we all got into the business anyway right? To look cool, right?
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Yes. Exactly.
 
Ringlights are also used in macro photography for providing even illumination for extreme closeups. This would be a very useful accessory for someone shooting insects and the like.
 
I want to build one! anyone have any plans for this? Or how about a ghetto alternative to get the same effect? any ideas? thanks much sirs
 
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