Yes as one of dem "theatrical lighting designers" I do agree with Leslie's
advice, we do do this type of thing all the time in theatre (funny in
scanning the 150 e-mails I get a day I missed the orig post but DID catch
the theatre reference on reply!).

Leslie is also right about the basic equipment but it is spelled Leco -
actually now a defunct brand name from the inventor and business manager
at the time of Century Lighting (Levy and Ed Cook). The generic name is
Ellipsoidal reflector spotlight, which works like a slide projector
without a fan. In place of the slide, three stainless steel devices are
traditionally substituted at the "gate", an iris to make circles of
various sizes (as in a follow spot), shutters to make angular shapes, or a
"gobo" or "template" of cut out stainless steel.

There are also many motorized fancy attachments that could help achieve
that "dancing feeling. Costs of the effect could vary greatly depending on
how many projections you'd require and the degree and/or complexity of the
"dancing" you'd require, but indeed most any area college theatre
department would be able too refer you to someone who could help.

Richard Finkelstein
Boulder, Colorado

On Mon, 23 Mar 1998, Leslie Munro wrote:

> Ask a local theatrical lighting designer. Likos are used to create the
> effect you are describing. Although it is usually a stationary
> technique, your local designer will be able to make it dynamic.
>
> Best wishes,
>
> Leslie Munro.
>
> Infodisc wrote:
> >
> > We wish to construct a light show and project it on to a high ceiling and high
> > side walls in the main lobby of a museum. The graphics will be silhouettes of
> > Chinese characters and dragons. We wish these to "dance" over the heads of
> > viewers.
> > I know that there are expensive ways to do this with computers, etc..
> > But does anybody know of a simpler manner that would consist of a stencil cut
> > out revolving around a light source?
> >
> > Doug Powles
> > [log in to unmask]
>