Infrared absorbtion

dbini

Hi @Fred - I've used IR for a few shows and workshops, usually lighting the dancers with profiles on floorstands, shuttered off the floor, providing a lovely contrast.

The problem I'm having with this show, though, is that the audience (children) sits in a circle around the floor, so i have nowhere to light from. I can't put lanterns near the kids, and lighting over their heads only catches the top half of the dancer, so can't be used for tracking floor work.

I've researched into thermal cameras, but that solution is going to be way over budget or have its own limitations (Flir One)

I'm a bit stuck. I thought that toplighting with the right costume might be my only answer.

Fred

Hhhmm, then this gets tricky. I also found consistently predicting IR reflectivity in customers is kind impossible. I once took battery powered I R lamps and a camera to the shops to test clothes. There are some 3M products that are super IR reflective, they are mostly tapes and strips for staying on clothing. If you don't need silhouettes then these can be helpful. Otherwise (I am guessing this is not possible), changing the floor to songbook that absorbs IR...

DusX

I was going to suggest treating the floor somehow as well.

dbini

yeah, it would be useful to find something that can create a 4.5m diameter circular floor/projection screen that absorbs IR, then make sure the costume reflects, but that's probably as difficult as the original option of making the costume out of a bunch of those absorby t-shirts.

Absorbing floor does have a distinct advantage though - at the end of the show I want to invite the kids onto the floor to play with a live drawing patch, and it seems that the majority of clothing will reflect IR. also we have the option of adding some of that 3M reflector into the costume for some special tracking/drawing effects.

Any ideas how to get an IR absorbant white floor?

cheers, john

Fred

Something like this may help http://kmichemicals.com/proShow.aspx?CateId=212&Id=216

fubbi

I remember using black duvetyne (molton) for to block reflection, we layed it on the floor and even used it for costumes. Maybe white duvetyne (molton) will work the opposite way if you are lucky. Easy to source and very tough.

dbini

thanks everyone. its a mission. white commando cloth glued to lino might be an option worth exploring.

i know a chap who works with industrial hyperspectral imaging cameras. i'll run these ideas past him, maybe he can help solve the problem.

dgaddy

If you have the right connections, possibly military, you might find this article interesting on the treatment of textiles.

http://www.innovationintextiles.com/hohenstein-develops-textiles-for-screening-against-ir-radiation-for-use-in-military-uniforms/

dbini

: ) - now i just need some indium tin oxide nanoparticles

dgaddy

Let me know when you source them. :^)