need tiny omnidirectional light source for SFX

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finedesign

Member
I'm looking for a tiny but strong omnidirectional light source that I can attach to the end of a wire, like a hanger.

What I'm trying to do is shoot scenes with people, but animate an orb emitting particular matter around them. Since the orb is bright, I want to cast the light onto the scene, then rotoscope out the wire. So I will manually "animate" the physical light around the scene during the action by moving it on the wire, then composite the digital source on top of it.

I'm probably creating way too much work for myself. But am feeling ambitious.
 
is the orb in the story free flying,

or is it like a light saber or wand held by an actor in the scene.

if it's free flying, you won't have much control or precision unless it's composite-ed on. size wont matter much at that point. you can if you like pick a key-chain led and maybe put a diffused white cup on it, there are also pen lights. and there are new led lights made for indoor and car lighting(some have round diffusion modifiers). in reality, if your going with sfx, pick a light to show the orb lighting the characters(a normal led torch with a diffused cup will work)

for the string, anything will do(diy a hanger), or use a monopod for a point and shoot camera

if you want flexible leds, led strings, striped leds or rope leds(looks like small flexible neon). use 2/3 colors, you can shape it on anything you diy.

you can buy small diffused leds from electronic stores(the ones that have electronic boards and ICs, wires, connectors). the ones that look like an led with two wires at the end or the ones on boards(be carefull and don't zip yourself if your diy-ing the light and make sure the stick is not conductive).

you can always add diffusion with a diffusion cup and make anything omni-directional.
 
honestly I think a lamp socket with a bare lightbulb would be easiest. you can get colored bulbs if you prefer, or frosted for a bit softer look. Unless this animated orb is quite small.
 
Thanks Amr and Andrew.

This orb would be a free...not connected to anything.

The only thing I don't like about a typical socket is the form factor. Most block the light from the rear.

Essentially I guess I'm looking for specific bulbs that are like the one in the first link, but still high powered.
 
you can pick something nice and round for the diffusion, or use more than one bulb(if it's a night scene leds would be better and easier to power). no one said you need to use only one blub or source it could be 2 or more inside a white paper for diffusion like a china lantern(paper light) or any kind of diffusion. or even without just one in front and one for lighting the subject, there are also round lights like ring lights. it does not have to look like an orb to be an orb in the final image.
 
just one of many examples, you can use any available material for diffusion, flash diffusion cups, small led diffusion, any fabric(silk, cotton). leds don't get too hot so options of diffusion are much easier.
 
i have seen people making plastic molds from balls(basket, soccer, tennis) or any round object. something that looks like ps3 move, you can use ps move.
 
it will still need composite-ing and cg work, but it would look more realistic with lights illuminating the scene and characters.
 
How about a ping pong ball with a small led in it. Excellent diffusion like 360 degrees and the led can be powered off a button battery contained in the ball itself. If more brightness is needed, then the 2 electrical thin wires supporting the ball would power the high brightness led from an external led driver. If a larger globe is needed, then perhaps Home Depot lighting dept. may have some 4 to 6 inch diameter glass/plastic lamp globes. Just an idea.
 
Adding light in post is always second rate to light created naturally. I don't want this to look too CG. And trying to add light that wraps around a person's face in AFX ain't easy. Thanks for the comments.
 
you can find small 20W halogen bulbs very bright. You cannot solder wires on the pins (chance it will melt ) but you can use some car cable lug.
since it is 12v, there is almost no risk with power supply but it is high power and require thick cable and a transformer.
you can also try with some tiny bulbs for maglite or mini maglite torch, some are very powerful and require only 2 or 3 AA cells .
with these you can use a really tiny electric cable.
http://www.google.com/products/cata...&sa=X&ei=JV-UT8HmE8-cOqW_zMAO&ved=0CE0Q8wIwAw#
http://www.google.com/products/cata...ei=zl6UT7qNKJCUOtfmpf8D&sqi=2&ved=0CEkQ8gIwAA#

Leds are great, but very directional, and high power leds require a heatsink, so it is definitely not what you are looking for.
 
Or a couple of 3 watt cree led's mounted back to back on a piece aluminum to act as a heat sink , easily battery powered with a couple of cr123 batteries like the flashlights use and they put out a ton of light. Some one else suggested putting led's in a ping pong ball for diffusion. This might work, but they do get pretty hot.
 
ping pong balls can be pretty nasty. When i was young i decided to melt a hole in some balls with a lighter . The first one was ok (probably plastic, or just lucky).
The 2nd one was celluloid, highly flamable. It burned immediately , spitting hot drop of melted materials. I heavily burned several fingers.
I would definitely go for the easy experience using maglite bulbes.
 
nosys70 said:
ping pong balls can be pretty nasty. When i was young i decided to melt a hole in some balls with a lighter . The first one was ok (probably plastic, or just lucky).
The 2nd one was celluloid, highly flamable. It burned immediately , spitting hot drop of melted materials. I heavily burned several fingers.
I would definitely go for the easy experience using maglite bulbes.
Click to expand...
The LED's don't get flaming hot, but they do get hot enough to sometimes make the glue that holds their plastic lens on fail. When that happens the color of the led will go from a white color to a purple.
 
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