The VL3500 Spot fixtures share the same performance standards set by the original Vari*Lite Series 3000 Spot luminaires. The shutter system consists of four shutters on two planes, which allows the blades to be operated independently or in unison on the two planes. This, combined with the opposing chamfers, allows designers a clear, crisp focus on all four blades at once.
"Designers will be pleased with this product," said Vari-Lite product manager George Masek. "No other competitor can provide the 6-to-1 zoom range we do in a 'Q' version, silent-running 1200W fixture with shutters."
The VL3500 Spot fixtures have 11 total gobos - five rotating and six static. With its shutter configuration, the fixtures have just three fewer gobos than the original VL3000 lights. Gobos and carriers are interchangeable with all Series 3000 fixtures, which should please rental houses. The fixtures are available in the popular 'Q' version, which has a 50% less audible fan noise. "Designers become comfortable with the tools they're used to and the way they work," Masek said. "Rather than giving them a completely new fixture that they have to become acquainted with the nuances of, we are expanding the capabilities of a fixture they are familiar with. This is crucial because when a designer is beginning a new production, the last thing they want is to commit to a light that has unfamiliar characteristics. They know how the VL3500 Spot fixtures will perform because they are already familiar with the VL3000 Spot units."
Vari-Lite expects the VL3500 luminaires to be extremely popular in the theatrical, television, houses of worship, corporate event and trade show markets. The core instrument used to light practically every theatrical production is the ellipsoidal reflector spotlight, which almost always features shutters. Designers rely on the shutters to harness control of light beams - shuttering off a doorframe or a set piece, for example. "The basic concept is that designers need to light this stage piece very well without dumping light all over the stage area next to it," Masek explained. "And they need to do it with a shape that isn't necessarily a circular beam of light."
(Lee Baldock)
