Students Help Match SeaChanger Colors to Common Gel Filters
Ambitious school project yields color-match data for more than 1,500 gels
Dunedin, Florida (June 10, 2008) – Thanks to a group of enterprising young students from a Lakeland, Fla. high school, lighting designers and other users of the SeaChanger Color Engine (www.seachangeronline.com) by Ocean Optics can now more easily match the dichroic color changer’s extensive palette to gel colors from a variety of leading gel filter manufacturers.
Thirteen students from Santa Fe Catholic High School (www.santafecatholic.org) spent time before and after school hours analyzing more than 1,500 filter gels, which are commonly used in theatrical lighting to create colors. According to student Susan Ritchie, her classmates first collected optical transmission data for each gel using spectrometers and accessories from Ocean Optics, and then matched colors by setting up a stage light with gels and visually comparing the color for each gel with colors produced by the SeaChanger. The SeaChanger product uses dichroic optical filters, which split light into different wavelengths, to create lighting color.
“The students involved in the project came to learn the many different applications of light in addition to theatrical uses,” said Ritchie. “We not only gained experience working in research, but also the knowledge that the matched colors will light future Broadway productions.”
At a May 15, 2008 ice cream social sponsored by Ocean Optics at the high school, company president Rob Randelman presented the students and their project supervisor, fine arts teacher Scott Morris, with certificates of appreciation and a framed poster thanking the students for their work.
“It’s very gratifying to see these students so engaged in a science project that produced tangible, very useful data,” said Randelman. “We are very appreciative of their effort, which occurred on their own time and without the need for significant supervision. It’s nice to be able to continue our long tradition of supporting education with a group of students having such enthusiasm and curiosity about art and science.”
In addition to Ritchie, the students who participated in the project were A.J. Allemang, Eric Bodolay, Kiet Nguyen, Morgan Boatwright, Kathleen Whitfield, Nick Presiozi, Paul McNally, Emma Voithofer, Lindsey Held, Joseph Kedzuf, Desiree Hernandez and Amanda Marconi.
The SeaChanger by Ocean Optics is a CMYG color changer for ETC Source Four Ellipsoidals. Through unique, patented processes, the ESTA Award-winning SeaChanger yields the most robust and highest transmission dichroics available. Users control the color, intensity and saturation of theatrical and studio lighting with unprecedented levels of precision and ease. SeaChanger is available in Profile, Wash and “Studio Dichroics” (extra-saturation) versions.
To learn more, call +1 727.545.0741, send an e-mail to SeaChanger@OceanOptics.com, or visit the SeaChanger website at www.SeaChangerOnline.com.
