Yorba Linda, CA. - March 27, 2000 - A new programmable turntable for the Orbiculight™ self-contained lighting system increases the productivity of photographing QuickTime VR or video images for websites, CD-ROMs and multimedia presentations.

The Operator can program a controller to rotate the turntable continuously at various speeds, or to move a certain number of degrees and hold for selected intervals while images are shot.  The turntable can also be operated manually.  In each mode, the system gives the photographer freedom to change lighting between exposures or synchronize with automatic camera exposures and video speeds.

        An assortment of clear disks from 1" to 16" in diameter support different sized products weighing up to 50 lbs.  The disks become virtually invisible to the camera which allows products to be lit underneath.  In addition, the Orbiculight's seamless lighting reduces post-production time by facilitating masking or creating drop-out shots.     

        Yorba Linda, Calif. -- The Orbiculight™ integrated lighting system allows professional photographers to light any tabletop product shot with a minimal time investment. The system eliminates the need to position separate lights, strobes, reflectors, soft boxes and power packs. The concept was developed by Astron Systems to increase the productivity, lighting control and image quality of digital and traditional photography.

        The Orbiculight system combines three lighting areas to form a fully-adjustable environment for photography. A bed, dome and cove create a 62-sq.-ft. light-surrounded area in which to place the item being photographed. The system features 16 light banks incorporating 32 fluorescent tubes that are 5000K daylight-color balanced and flicker-free. 

        A front-mounted control panel allows instant adjustment of each bank's light intensity from 0% to 100%. A photographer can easily preview countless lighting variations or simply duplicate a previous shot's lighting by dialing in the same values on the control panel. Lighting set-up takes only minutes, rather than the much lengthier time of traditional light sources.

        The overhead dome lights an object's front and sides. The rear cove provides rim light or top light, while the bed offers front, bottom and sidelighting. The Orbiculight's design gives shape and depth to product shots without hot spots, seams or unsightly incident reflections. The need for retouching is thereby reduced, and drop-out masks can be created without outlining each image in Photo Shop.

        Gel tubes allow the user to place color acetates over the light source in a specific bank, and add color to an image from behind the diffusion. Black scrims placed in the gel tubes can change the width of highlights or allow light to be directed in any shape or size from any angle. In addition, the bed, dome and cove are each adjustable for various range and shooting angles. 

        Reducing studio operational costs, the Orbiculight fluorescent tubes are rated for 10,000 hours of life, compared to the normal 500 hours for tungsten lights and 100 hours for HMI lamps. The fluorescent tubes also produce little heat, making them ideal for food, fine art or antiques.

        The standard Orbiculight system fits in a 5' 4" x 6' 10" area and operates on a 120 VAC 15 AMP circuit. The list price is $16,500, which includes shipping anywhere in the U.S.

Company Background

        Astron Systems is emerging as a specialized leader in the development of integrated lighting systems for the quickly-expanding digital imaging and photography industry. The company has developed a cutting-edge philosophy towards the next generation of professional lighting requirements -- in support of faster and more economical digital imaging -- without sacrificing quality. All products are constructed, assembled and tested to the highest quality levels, including ISO, UL and other worldwide standards.

Integrated Digital Lighting system: The Orbiculight Lighting System is a single circuited system with three independent and fully dimmable tungsten or daylight balanced fluorescent lighting components. Consisting of a Bed, Dome and Cove, the lighting can be controlled with one hand using the built-in Light Control Module. Individual component lighting or synchronized system lighting can be composed instantly for a virtual preview of the subject. Specialized design features facilitate simultaneous movements of the Bed, Dome and Cove in nearly endless combinations. Gas springs and locking struts facilitate positioning and locking in any positioning and locking in any position.

Astron Systems Orbiculight; Yorba Linda, CA-based Astron Systems has developed a one-of-its-kind, fully integrated lighting system for digital photographers. Three independent and fully dimmable daylight balance fluorescent lighting components-Bed, Dome and Cove-are united as a single circuited system. This system can the be controlled with one hand via the built-in Light Control Module. As a result, individual component lighting or synchronized system lighting can be composed instantly for a virtual preview of any subject. The Orbiculight system allows many different lighting, color, scrim, or position combinations to be created in minutes. Other features include Gel Tubes surrounding each light fixture to create a variety of different effects.

Astron Systems, Inc. presented a new system of illumination for digital photography. The name is “Orbiculight(TM)”, the product offers opportunities for illumination to the professionals of digital imaging that before required a lot more time and money.

The “Orbiculight” consists of a dome of illumination of easy control and artistic versatility providing variable combinations of illumination in just minutes. It also has the capacity of easy access to the light tubes for applying color filters and light diffusion.

The integrated lighting system operates on a 15AMP and 120 volts. For more information write or call Astron Systems, 22647 Old Canal Road, Yorba Linda, CA 92887 or phone 714-283-8820.

The Orbiculight System, new from Astron Systems, is “a one-of-kind, fully integrated lighting system for digital imaging.” The Orbiculight is a sweep light table with a dome top enclosure and parallel banks of color corrected, flicker-free fluorescent lighting tubes in both the dome and table. A total of 90,000 lumens of illumination can be generated using 1024 watts of electrical power from 16 separate tubes. The tubes within the dome and table are individually controlled, and the photographer makes adjustments from a central control panel. All lamps output a constant 5000 Kelvin light with a CRI rating of 85 and a “dimmable” range down to 5 percent of output. The Orbiculight stands approximately 5.7 foot high, 5.4 feet in width and is 6.9 feet deep.

BY DAVE HOWARD

“An item that made you just stop and stare in wonder was Astron Systems’ Orbiculight, a $14,000 futuristic, state of the art “tent” lighting system, designed for product photography via digital imaging. The unit measures 5’X7” tall, 5’X3.5” wide, and 6’X9.5” deep, and consists of a semicircular overhead dome, a base bed, and a coved sweep background, all of which deliver diffuse transmitted lighting. These elements can be tilted and raised in relation to each other, and the intensity of each of the 16 double fluorescent lamps can be controlled from the Light Control Module, which mounts to the front of the unit or can be operated remotely via extension cables. Gel tubes surround the lamps, allowing insertion of colored gels or scrim material for nearly infinite variations in lighting. Unique gas springs and locking struts position the components easily, and locking casters provide mobility around the studio. If you’re a product photographer and you want to impress your clients, the Orbiculight is a sure bet.”
 

“ Consistent Lighting” From Orbiculight

The Orbiculight by Astron Systems is a lighting tool for digital imaging. The bed, dome and cove are individual light sources that can also be used as a team; as a result, subjects can be surrounded by light at any angle. The Orbiculight’s dome and bed can be positioned in both up and down positions. The unit’s gel tubes allow the user to easily insert or remove standard colored gel or flexible scrim materials across individual light fixtures. Each fixture contains one standard gel tube, with access from either side of the bed, dome or cove.

The Orbiculight has a color temperature that remains broad spectrum at a constant 5000K. The lamp life is rated at 30,000 hours and is a flicker-free full spectrum output.