Electroluminescent foil/wire distributors in europe

Looking to purchase some EL in the EU? This is a run down of a bunch specifically a search for German distributors. If I missed something please let me know. I am still looking for details on variable luminance EL foil (meaning, being able to dim).

Stores:
el-light.de
el-technik.de
industryshop.at (too expensive so i didn't detail, but store has a good collection of lighting solutions)
smart-inspiration.biz
coolneon.ch
zigan dislays
el-kabel.de
leuchtfolie.net (larger collection of other luminous options)


Foil Multi-contact:
provides the benefit that many smaller displays can be created by cutting out pieces (with the extra contacts).
* el-light a5/a4 = 24/44€
* zigan a4 = 75€

Foil single contact:
inverter costs 6eu to 25eu
* el-light a6/a5/a4 = 8/15/25€
* el-technik a5/a4 = 40/70€ (20 for inverter)
* zigan a5/a4 = 28/55€
* leuchtfolie a5/a4 = 30/45€

Wire:
* el-light 0,9/1,4/2,2/5,0mm = 7/7/7/9€ per meter 3-10€ for inverter (1.5m kit 12eu)
* el-technik 2,3mm 9€ per meter (25 for inverter)
* smart-inspiration 2,3/2,5/3,2/5mm = 5/6/6/7€ (inverter 10€)
* coolneon 2,5bright/2,3norm/5mm = 6/3/7€ (inverter 10€)
* el-kabel 1,2/2,3/2,5/3,2 = 6/6/6/6€ (inverter 15€)
* leuchtfolie 2,3/2,5/3,2 = 6/6/6€ (have all the contacts)

Flat stripes:
* el-technik 6,5/11/22/50/100/150mm = 15/22/40/80/125/165€ per meter (around 25 for inverter)

Biometric heart monitors, Wireless communications, Fabric Illumination

Im in the middle of working on a product for class which explores two fields: 1. The use of light for sleep induction similar to sound and motion. 2. Games for remote intimacy. Sometime later I will show designs and describe the product in more detail. Here and now I want to describe some of the technology im exploring to be used in the product. I believe that good industrial design requires exploring various materials before finding the right application. There are 3 distinct work modules for this project that each have different possible solutions.

Sensor: Biometric interface to monitor heart rate
Connectivity: Wireless communication
Feedback: Illuminated fabric


1. Biometric interface to monitor heart rate
I've had experience with pulling apart an ECG for reuse in a similar project. The work on this project cannot be easily replicated for future projects since it depends on the ECG found and requires a great deal of reverse engineering. Hence I wanted to build from schematic this time around.

1.1 ECG schematic a
Using an ECG requires 3 points of contact on the users body. The previous project i worked on pulled this off using just the two hands. This might cause problems for my use. The AD620 amp datasheet provides a basic schematic:


1.2 ECG schematic b
Wright State University class and lab notes for and ECG, starting with the basics, explaining the basics of amplification, filter and the full ECG schematic also based on the AD620: Lab 1 2 3 4


1.3 IR pulse monitor a
I forget where I found this schematic. There was no documentation so I would like to find another reference somewhere:


1.4 IR pulse monitor b
Full schematic and firmware for MCU provided. I cant remember from where and cannot upload the firmware files here so, if you need them, email me. I will probably swap the PIC MCU for an Atmel and port the firmware.


1.5 Piezoelectric film pulse monitor
One is described here includes filter and amplification schematics, gerber files and firmware. My preference is to avoid this method as it requires firm contact with a vein in the wrist or neck.



2. Wireless communications The prototype will based on Arduino and I found references for the following methods:

2.1 Zbee wireless modules
These modules do not provide a TCP stack but can be used to communicate to each other. This is fine for exhibition and prototyping but would need to be replaced or a TCP stack would need to be built on top of. They are discussed extensively in relation to the arduino. References: 1, 2


2.2 Radio
At 434 or 314 Mhz.
References: KLP Walktrhough from Sparkfun, Arduino Thread 1 2 3



2.3 Bluetooth with BlueSMiRF
These modules come in several packages. Ive back ordered the BlueSMiRF2 DIP. There are various tutorials and projects hooking these up with Arduino: 1, 2, teamawear project(see other blog posts in his project for additional details)



2.4 Bluetooth using ArduinoBT
There are discussions showing how to using one ArduinoBT bluetooth board to communicate to another (here and here). This would be a nice option for prototyping a bluetooth solution but will make swapping either the bluetooth or arduino modules for something cheaper or with a smaller footprint more difficult.


3. Illuminated fabric
The Electroluminescence Wire I've found for sale online is a bit on the neon/indigo side. I'd like to find something softer. Perhaps diffusion will suffice. I also need to find a place that I can purchase either designs (factory cut foil) or foil which i can cut at home. The Fiber Optic wire lighting solutions I've seen also appear either neon, not well documented, or just not readily available. I havent given up on either of these options, but I'm certain I can find or create a better solution.

References:
Design inSight smart materials page (see "Light emitting materials")

3.1 Electroluminescence wire:
Coolight (EL $1.45 per foot. US. Referenced in the Make tutorial)
EL Wire (around $1.25 per foot. in the US)
Livewire ($35 for 10" but comes with driver, US)
Instructable for soldering EL wire



3.2 Electroluminesence Foil:

E-Light (the film can be ordered directly at $7.50 for 9^2inch, or as a kit that includes a power inverter for $25. The inverter doesnt support variable brightness. $55 kit at 36^2 does)
TCMLight (in .de., crazy expensive)
Electroluminescence Inc (US, $47 for A4. Inverter costs $25)
Allelectronics.com has Strips around $3.50, 3x5" for $6.75 as well as others
There are two projects which detail their experiances with EL here and here.

1.4 Other lighted fabric projects or materials:

Loop.PH EL Pillow (note for sale)

Lumalive (luminous cloth from Philips, cant find dealer)

LumiGram clothes

Dianalindesign LED based pillow ($150)

Hexgram shirt using EL foil (not for sale)

LED Dress (note for sale)

LED Tanktop (by Leah Buechley, Lilypad maker. Also see code and samples in Craft magazine)

LED bracelet diy tutorial (using Velcro strap as switch)

Concept bag (using EL strips, concept detail)

Interactive Pillow (using EL wire, concept detail)

Americas Army is an recruitment advertisement. It is actually a fun game and there was a time i was quite addicted to it. Just noticed a new version was released that has features developed by a Christian University. I suppose it isn't ironic that religion is always so vehemently nationalistic, and that Church/State separation was one sided?

AMERICA`S ARMY V2.8.1 RELEASED!
Listen up Soldiers, the latest release of America's Army: Special Forces (Overmatch) (SMU GH Map Pack) V2.8.1 is now available! Featuring four (4) new maps created by students of The Guildhall at Southern Methodist University in partnership with our [DEV]elopment Team!

how deep does the rabbit hole go?

I want to know. The other title for this post was "videographer porn" because seriously people, once you dig into any form of camera you start looking at all the junk you need to add in order to do other crap it was never meant to do out of the box... such as timelapse shots or massive data storage I mean, you do want 720PN not just 720P, right?? everyones doing it. And all I really wanted was to find a good NG Filter for the sunrise shots running through my head, just to keep my beautiful lens from getting hazed. Let me explain, this is a simple filter that reduces all the light waveforms. See. So how did I get from that to looking the newest datastorage that gives me native format 720 or 1080 but starts at $3k!! Forget it, I'm just going to carry a laptop.

But lets take a small break to see some beautiful timelapsing:
A
B
C
and the endless thread of more. Most of the above examples were made using still slr cameras with long shutter speeds. Compare this to something on video camera like an HVX and you can see why everyone takes reducing noise on dark shots so seriously.

STOP ME! I just wanted a simple $2 filter! Okay, maybe a $200 motorized pan mount.

microphones - shotgun, lav, hypercardioid

God, I dont want to get into the HVX100's internal amp's. Nor do I want to hack the internal mic to death like some crazy nutcases . I just want some decent audio to start with. I dont even mind the ambient noise of a room or out door. Though this thread does cover the most important pitfalls: avoid dialog in spaces with lots of hard surfaces that will reflect sound. Place your mic to point away from things that reflect where possible. Outdoors, obviously up. Get mic 2ft within audio source. Frame for this. (all this is debatable, and debated in formentioned thread).

shotgun microphones are generally used for outdoor. They are more directional. Different mic's work for different ranges. Pictures should be framed with this in mind. The recommended models range from $200 to $600. This is outside my budget for the time being but some i will note for the future are Rode NTG-2 $300, Audio Technica AT4073A $600 or AT835b $250. Lucky for me almost all my shots will be indoor so the shotgun is not something im digging into yet. If I have to Ill get a cheap ATR55 for $50. In all cases one needs a boom, shockmount (some recommend the K-SSM $20 which works with most of the shotguns i just listed ) and perhaps a wind screen.

Hypercardioid microphones are less directional and used indoors. Pretty much everyone seems to be convinced on the Oktava MK012 $200. And that appears to be what I'm going for.

Lav mics are for situations where the other two wont do. these are the clip on mics. not going there for now.

So my kit, a MK012 $200, Shockmount $20 and boom pole $80. Sound blankets. So $300.

3 point lighting

with camera in hand I have to start dealing with the other two important components, audio and lighting. im doing this using homebrewed equipment and have been looking around at both the typical needs with lighting (this is all new to me) and good kit suggestions. One has to start somewhere and I feel best working off a staple lighting technique and will make certain my kit at least covers this.

3 point lighting - Key Light, Fill Light, Back/Edge Light:

Key "Light is the primary illumination for your subject. If you want a side look, the key light will be to the side. " Front, scary bottom lighting, etc. This is the dominant light source but should be diffused either with a gel or by reflecting it off. All other lights align in a T formation, with the key being at the bottom edge of the T.

Fill lights are meant to diffuse the specular highlights. From what I gather they are meant to slightly diffuse harsh shadows from keylight. (Specular means "light reflecting off a smooth shiny surface is specular." Example: dealing with specular light when subject is in a glass jar)

Back lights (aka Edge lights) offset the subject from the scene in the background by giving it a small highlight or edge. Adds a border. At times this light might be brighter than even the key.

All of the above provides 3 point lighting using separate lights. But in a scenario where the back/edge light is strong enough one could use a reflective screen on the other side to serve as a fill light, as discussed here. They also suggest this model applies to outdoor, with Sun (unmodified) as edge, ambient as fill and use a white matte board or aluminum foil to reflect the sun for key light.

What I want in my first kit

2 to hol. 3 lights, 1 nice spot light, a reflector. 1 or 2 Fomecore's to keep light from reflecting where I do not want it , dimmers, diffusion gel's for the fill lights to make them less harsh and more even where dimmers do not do the job, additional reflectors should I want to use existing or natural lighting. I can bring along car sunshields, aluminum foil+cardboard to use for rogue reflection. Would also like a Lastolite reflector ("silver/white and gold/white (the gold is good for warming up flesh tones"). Clips, both big and small. Loads of gaf tape. White and black cloth. A c stand and some extendable piping for hanging cloth. Several standard light bulbs (200watt) to replace and use existing lighting where possible. Power extensions with built in fuses to avoid blowing the main power. A light board (a board filled with LED's) would be nice instead of one of the lights as it takes less power.

All of the above serve for indoor and interview lighting. Next I will look at what modifications i need to make for outdoor shots and scenic highlights.

This and this were also helpful.

camera obsession

purchasing a camera for a short film and other video projects we are working on. i am certain of the choice but i cant help continuing to compare. sometimes interesting things turn up: redrock m2 lens adapter. They have some nice sample footage from films that used the adapter.

Some of the techniques i am thinking of using for the short scare me after seeing other films that seem to use them. An example is "The Letter" film pictured here. Strong contrast with lighting, close focus of objects. I want to use some similar techniques but here they appear to go overboard. I feel completely disconnected from the emotion and character. Perhaps in full context of the rest of the film the connection would exist. Regardless, it is a nice warning.

And then there is Busgirl. I want to see this film simply for the Amelie Poulain like spunk of the main character, but anytime you have a trailer with two separate soundtracks, it means the editor is too attached to their film and doesnt know when to sacrifice.

Of all the m2 samples the most beautiful turns out to be someones home video from their vacation: