ARRI SkyPanel range grows with the double-length S120-C and new SkyPanel Remote and firmware update
Increases the flexibility and functionality of ARRI’s LED soft lights
SYDNEY, 14 September 2016 – ARRI has expanded its range of SkyPanel LED soft lights with the new S120-C, the biggest member of the SkyPanel family.
Images of the new S120-C and SkyPanel Remote are attached to this e-mail and embedded in the attached Word document.
The highly acclaimed ARRI SkyPanel series of LED soft lights is growing, with the new SkyPanel S120-C joining the S60 and S30 family of products. The S120 is twice as long as the S60, but weighs nearly the same. Its larger light aperture makes a great soft light even better. Retaining the same features and colour tuneability as its smaller counterparts, the S120 consumes less than 400 watts, yet it is slightly brighter than the S60-C and has an outstanding efficacy of 90 lumens per watt.
A large surface area is a crucial feature of a good soft light. With an aperture of 1290 mm x 300 mm (50.8” x 11.8”), the S120 outputs a beautifully soft, even beam of light that has a wide range of uses. The long aspect ratio wraps light around objects and is perfect for vertical lighting of people. In addition the S120 works well as an overhead light for large areas, with the increased dimensions meaning that fewer lights and less cables are required.
Released alongside the S120 are all the accessories needed for sculpting and controlling the light. Among the S120 accessories are honeycombs, eggcrates, barndoors, diffusion panels, the SkyBender and a new fabric barndoor called the FlexDoor. This wide range of accessories makes the S120 more versatile and easier to control.
Concurrent with its announcement of the new S120-C fixture, ARRI is extending the versatility of the SkyPanel family with a new handheld remote control unit and a firmware update that brings additional features.
SkyPanel Remote
Inspired by the requests of users, the SkyPanel Remote adds new flexibility and ease-of-use for the popular SkyPanel line of luminaires. This handheld remote connects to any SkyPanel via a USB cable and allows for full control of the fixture remotely. This is particularly useful if the SkyPanel is high up on a light stand or in a position where the on-board control panel is difficult to access.
SkyPanel Firmware 2.5
Alongside the release of the SkyPanel Remote comes a firmware update that brings new features to the SkyPanel, improves the experience of using the remote and adds various other enhancements. SkyPanel Firmware 2.5 introduces five key new features: master/slave mode, expanded gel library and DMX protocol, xy coordinate DMX protocol, battery low voltage warning and control panel lock.
The new master/slave mode allows for one SkyPanel to control several other SkyPanels via DMX. When this mode is enabled, any SkyPanel connected to the master fixture by DMX cable will mimic adjustments made to the master’s control panel. This is an ideal option for smaller applications where a large DMX network and lighting console are not practical. When coupled with the SkyPanel Remote, the master/slave mode becomes a powerful solution to control a small network of fixtures linked together.
Firmware 2.5 expands on the popular gel mode introduced in Firmware 2.0. LEE Filters 700 Series is now implemented in the SkyPanel, bringing 41 new colours into the SkyPanel gel library for an increased total of 318 colours. This expansive palette of well-known colours also has an updated DMX protocol, which allows users to fade between two different gel colours and also to select the way in which the transition between colours is carried out.
The xy coordinate DMX protocol provides a new way to select a colour with SkyPanel. Using the familiar CIE 1931 colour space chromaticity diagram, this protocol allows users to select x and y coordinates to produce a particular colour within that colour space. This new mode is useful for advanced applications where selecting a specific point in the CIE 1931 colour space is critical.
If using a battery to power the SkyPanel, Firmware 2.5 now gives a warning if the battery voltage has dropped below a user-defined value, taking the guesswork out of battery changes. A lock feature has also been implemented in the SkyPanel control panel, which is turned on and off by holding down the encoder for five seconds.
Other interface enhancements in Firmware 2.5 include large text during CCT or saturation adjustments, better menu layout, and voltage readout on the main screen when a battery is in use.