Elation Professional has announced that it has entered into an agreement with Capture Visualization AB, based in Sweden, to distribute their Capture virtual lighting design and documentation software.
Virtual lighting design software is used to create lighting plans and atmosphere visualizations in a virtual 3D environment. This makes drafting a lighting plot easier with much more accuracy as you can see exactly what the light would do from almost any angle. With visualization software, you can see if the lighting fixture you choose will have the correct photometrics for that particular throw, if the light will accidentally hit any masking or scenery, and if the angle of light is correct.
In addition, you can create lighting cues and export the cues to your lighting controller. This is very useful when on-stage time is limited. You can set lighting cues on a remote computer, then have the lighting controller play back the cues in the performance space. Similar visualization software is used in the most advanced theaters in the world and throughout the entertainment industry.
The Elation Capture software is particularly interesting because it seems to be extremely user friendly. Visualization programs are usually quite complicated and require a steep learning curve. This is why I rarely specify these programs for the worship market. If Elation's claims prove true, this may become a groundbreaking product for the worship market.
Elation Capture lighting design and documentation software comes in three versions so you can customize it for your own personal requirements. The most affordable Solo version ($599.95) allows for connection to any DMX source, real-time lighting design and visualization, working with layers and scenes, creation of custom gobos, customization of wheel and strings, import/export CSV files, 3D mouse support, full fixture library, LED panel visualization, and free software upgrades. The Basic version ($2399.95) adds plot and documentation printing capabilities, and the Extended version ($3799.95) offers the additional features of importing DWG, 3DS and OBJ files; exporting DWG files; video from local files; video from CITP media servers; laser animation laser visualization; DMX controlled cameras; DMX controlled scenery; Kinesys K2 controlled scenery; and creation of Windows.exe movie presentations of a design.
Capture is available for both Mac and Windows operating systems. We hope to be testing this software in an upcoming issue.
