High End Systems, Inc. and Projected Image Digital (PID) recently co-hosted the latest installment of the popular Digital Lighting University program (DLU). The program is designed to help professionals learn to use digital lighting in their work using a hands-on approach. DLU was held at the Cochrane Theatre, part of the Central St. Martins College of Art and Design in London, UK. A mix of lighting designers, operators, video technicians and other professionals in the lighting, video and special events industries spent two days at DLU, listening to case studies, practicing techniques, and networking over coffee and lunches. A Thursday evening event included a live band and a party at London’s Sway Bar.
Keynote speakers included Peter Canning, Scott Chmielewski, Raoul Simpson, Hugh Davies-Webb and Rolf Wenzel, who shared case studies, new techniques and guidance through specific exercises such as loading content and edge blending.
“The program is not intended as a sales pitch,” says David March, Managing Director of PID. “In fact, we represented a variety of manufacturers so that attendees got good exposure to the many tools available today.”
“The idea of DLU is to raise the comfort level for using this type of technology,” continues Mark Leahy, Regional Sales Manager for High End Systems. “People will agree that the results of digital lighting techniques are attractive, but if they are unsure as to how they can achieve those results, it can be risky to specify or purchase those products.”
Attendee Barry Conway of Avcom Ltd. in Dublin, comments, “I can say that after this seminar I am confident I could put together and pitch a show with a large digital lighting element. Before this I knew it was a valuable tool but I was unsure how I would be able to use it successfully. Using presenters discussing real experiences provided a great deal of useful information and I found them all very good.”
“That is always one of the more fascinating aspects of this program,” says Rolf Wenzel, who has spoken at DLU in Germany in the past. “I see this mix of people from such different backgrounds, but they have this common interest in that they see digital lighting as a very important trend in our industry. Many cards were exchanged and a good time was had by all.”