X-Laser supplied the laser projectors and custom content to create a 20-by-40ft outdoor digital laser sign visible throughout the city. "Lasers are uniquely suited for long-distance, high-contrast projections and can render very large, high-visibility content quite easily," Dan Goldsmith, president of X-Laser, said. "The organizers of Baltimore's first ball drop were able to achieve their vision at a cost 75 percent lower than if they had gone with video boards. The cost made the client very happy, and we are proud that our lasers were part of this special event."
The goal was to project laser images visible all the way from Interstates 95 and 395, with each highway more than a mile away from the venue. X-Laser achieved this goal by using one Skywriter HPX unit and one 6-watt Defiant unit. X-Laser used the 6-watt Defiant to create big, bold text effects, while the Skywriter HPX created complementary texture and fill effects.
The projection setup included current time and midnight countdown clocks, various thematic content, advertisements for the venue and the event, and a colourful laser fireworks show in sync with the fireworks shot over Baltimore's iconic Inner Harbour once the clock struck midnight. The laser designs easily projected from more than 200 feet away and required no attachments to the building, very little equipment and a simple overall setup.
The event, attended by hundreds, was sponsored by Z104.3, Baltimore's pop music station. Similar to Times Square but in unique Baltimore fashion, crowds blocked the roads and revellers cheered as the clock counted down. Flanked by X-Laser's projections, the glowing ball descended from 100 feet above to welcome 2016.
(Jim Evans)
