Glass gobos are made from transparent glass with a partial mirror coating that blocks light to create “black” areas in the projected image. This innovative design eliminates the need for bridging, as the glass itself provides support, enabling the production of highly intricate and detailed images.
Key Features of Glass Gobos
- Intricacy and Precision:
- Glass gobos excel in creating intricate designs due to their ability to support detailed patterns without the need for bridging. This allows for more complex and refined images to be projected.
- Durability and Heat Resistance:
- Glass gobos are known for their durability and resistance to high temperatures, making them suitable for prolonged use without the risk of distortion or damage.
- Color Options:
- Glass gobos can include colored sections, similar to stained glass windows. This can be achieved through multiple methods:
- Dichroic Glass Layers: Multiple layers of dichroic glass, each representing a different color, are glued onto an aluminum or chrome-coated black-and-white gobo.
- Advanced Coating Techniques: Newer technologies allow for the controlled variation of the dichroic coating’s thickness on a single piece of glass. This enables the transformation of a color photo into a glass gobo, offering vibrant and precise color projections.
- Glass gobos can include colored sections, similar to stained glass windows. This can be achieved through multiple methods:
- Versatility:
- The versatility of glass gobos makes them ideal for various applications, including theatrical productions, concerts, corporate events, and architectural lighting. Their ability to project sharp, colorful images enhances the visual impact and overall experience.
Practical Considerations
- Artwork Submission:
- For the best results, submit artwork in EPS or Adobe Illustrator (AI) formats, which retain artwork as line-art instead of pixel-based bitmap images like JPG, GIF, or BMP. This ensures that shapes and text remain crisp and free from pixilation when enlarged.
- Photographic images are also accepted, and it is recommended to provide the highest resolution available, ideally 1200 dpi. Lower resolutions can work, but images with very low resolution may need to be redrawn to avoid pixilation.
- Maintenance:
- Proper maintenance is crucial for preserving the quality and longevity of glass gobos. Regular cleaning and careful handling can prevent scratches and other damage that may affect the projection quality.
Conclusion
By choosing glass gobos, you can achieve stunning visual effects with intricate designs, vibrant colors, and reliable performance. Whether you are looking to enhance a theatrical production, create a captivating ambiance at an event, or add artistic lighting to an architectural project, glass gobos offer a superior solution for your projection needs.