SkyPanel Classic - FAQs

With the latest Firmware version FW4.4, SkyPanel supports six color modes: CCT (correlated color temperature), RGBW (individual channels control), HSI (hue saturation intensity), x,y Coordinates, Source Matching and Gel Selection. 
Furthermore SkyPanel has a wide range of lighting effects. With SkyPanel Lighting Effects users can choose and manipulate 17 effects without the need for a lighting console or hours of programming. Each effect has several parameters that allow for customization of the effect to fit your needs. 
 

In calibrated RGBW mode, color mixing is used to ensure that SkyPanels match each other, even if they were manufactured years apart and with different LEDs. In direct RGBW mode, the user has control over each individual color channel, without any calibration. A wider gamut of saturated colors is possible, but there will be less unit to unit consistency.

The aim of calibration is to have uniformed performance between different fixtures. The fixtures are built from different LED chips, they are not all exactly the same in color or output behavior. By calibrating, the LED chips are driven slightly different to ensure uniform color and output performances within all fixtures.

ANSI/ESTA E1.54 standard color space is used as calibration standard. It is a PLASA standard for color communication in entertainment lighting. This standard specifies a standardized color space, and defines the locations of the RGB primaries for the purpose of facilitating the communications between lighting controllers and color changing luminaires.

Material recorded in Rec 709 (short for ITU-Recommendation BT.709) has a display specific encoding or a, in other words, "what you see is what you get" characteristic. The purpose of a display specific encoding is to immediately provide a visually correct representation of the camera material, when it is screened on a certain display device. This is achieved by mapping the actual contrast range of the scene into the contrast range that a display device can reproduce. Examples of display specific encodings are Rec 709 for HDTV screens or DCI P3 for digital cinema projectors. On the downside, a display specific encoding puts some limits on the options for a colorist.

Rec 2020 is a wider color space than Rec 709, which is the current industry standard for HD. Rec 2020 promises more brilliant images, though only new display technology is able to show these. Traditional Rec 709 displays (like TVs or ordinary computer displays) can’t display Rec 2020.
While Rec 709 (short for Recommendation ITU-R BT.709) is the encoding color space for HDTV, Rec 2020 is the encoding color space for UHD. The primary colors lie on the spectral locus and it is thus possible to have more saturated colors in images. (It does not mean, however, that all colors look more saturated. When properly converted, a Rec 709 image will look exactly the same when displayed on a Rec 2020 display.)
Rec 2020 is an encoding standard. A TV or display may not support the full gamut. Nevertheless, it will correctly display the colors within its physical gamut. To get the “Premium” logo of the UHD Alliance, for example, a TV needs to support a minimum of 90% of the P3 gamut.

Like all ARRI LED fixtures, the SkyPanel does not emit any infrared or UV radiation and thus does not forward heat, making actors feel comfortable in the light beam. No need to add any protective UV filters on the LED fixtures.

The SkyPanel does not produce any “black light”. Black light is considered ultraviolet light which the SkyPanel does not emit. However, you can create a black light-like output using the blue LED. Many phosphors and neon colors will act very similar under the very saturated blue LED color. It is not as good as a true black light, but it might work well enough for some applications. 
 

The S360 has built-in wireless CRMX. The latest SkyPanel Firmware V4.4 includes an update to support Lumen Radio’s new CRMX2 protocol. Please keep in mind that after updating a SkyPanel, an 8-digit “linking key” will be required in order to connect with a CRMX transmitter. More information about CRMX2 can be found here.  The S30, S60, S120, and S360 have +5V USB ports that can provide power to external wireless control devices.

For typical shots with 200 fps the standard mode works without flicker.  
For higher frame rates or extreme shutter angle settings, the High Speed Mode is an option to control the pulsing of the SkyPanel. With this mode activated, the customer can shoot at practically any frame rate or shuttle angle. The only limitation is that dimming is not possible. If dimming is still required, frequency selection is another option on the SkyPanel to fulfill high frame rate shooting. 10 frequency choices can be checked out, to find the one that fits the specific shooting condition.

The SkyPanel supports four dimming curves. The dimming curves are global: They affect both the intensity control via the fixture menu or DMX, wireless DMX, Art-Net and sACN.
• Exponential: This is the default setting. The resolution is high at lower intensity levels and low at higher intensity levels. Use this dimming curve when you need a high resolution at low intensity levels. 
• Linear: The intensity changes proportional to the encoder or the channel value.
• Logarithmic: The resolution is low at lower intensity levels and high at higher intensity levels. Use this
dimming curve when you need a high resolution at high intensity levels.
• „S“ curve: The resolution is both high at lower and higher intensity levels and low at intensity levels in
between. Use this dimming curve, when you need a high resolution at low and high intensity levels.
 

When used as decorative lights in events, exhibition or live shows, SkyPanels can perform for the eyes of the audience as well as for the camera by using the recommend settings below:
• Use a calibrated color mode such as HSI or CCT mode. RGBW mode can also be used if "RGBW Calibrated Color" is turned on. 
• In case low intensity output is needed, we recommend to activate Low End Mode or Stage Mode, for a smoother and stable Low End performance. Please be noted that Stage Mode is only for live audience's eyes but not for cameras. 
• Intensity levels above 1% will yield better results. This applies to all above mentioned modes and all dimming curves.

S30, S60 and S120 can be powered by battery. The SkyPanel S60 and S120 draw half the power when using a battery adapter instead of a power supply unit. The maximum brightness is lower with the battery adapter compared to using a power supply unit. The S360 cannot be powered by battery. It uses a higher voltage and has a much higher power consumption than other SkyPanels. It's therefore not as flexible as them but much more powerful. 
 

ARRI has always been trying to update our products with the latest LED technology and offer highest performance. This is why different SkyPanels can be equipped with different generations of light engine. To date there are SkyPanel light engine generation 1 and light engine generation 2 versions on the market. From FW4.2  the light engine generation information of the fixture can be read out in the menu by open “fixture setting” ->"LE Compensation" -> "Light Engine Status".

From FW4.2 the light engine generation information of device can be read out, and for higher generation (Gen2) a light engine compensation can be activated or deactivated. When light engine compensation is activated, the final brightness of devices with brighter light engines is limited, to ensure the match of brightness for all devices in one installation. Light engine compensation can also be activated or deactivated via web portal, ALSM, or RDM. When using on board control or web portal access, it will be found in the menu “fixture settings”.
Make sure that all SkyPanels in the setup are updated to the same firmware version and all fixture settings are set the same. A factory reset can help.

SkyPanels are not weatherproof, they are rated IP20. Protect the SkyPanel in shootings with wet conditions such as rain and snow. When using a rain cover make sure that the ventilation of the fixture and the PSU is not affected. Special effects like sand, snow, foam, confetti, holy powder, dust, fog, haze, and pyrotechnical effects can also lead to damages of the SkyPanel and its parts.

ARRI is measuring the photobiological safety according to DIN EN 62471:2009 (IEC 62471:2006 modified), "Photobiological safety of lamps and lamp systems". In a measuring distance of 1 m SkyPanel S30 and S60 are rated risk group 1, S120 and S360 are rated risk group 0.

Along with other LED lights, ARRI SkyPanel and Orbiter support a calibrated mode for RBGW, individual channels control, to ensure that the same colors are created - including white. The white can be selected to combine color and white perfectly. In a mixed lighting fixture setup HSI will help to avoid color mismatch if consoles are used. The white point cannot be changed, it is 5000 K.

DMX & RDM: ESTA DMX 512-A
ArtNet: Version 4.0
sACN: ANSI E1.31
 

SkyPanel is an ultra-bright LED soft light, with changeable diffusion panel which gives different level of light quality. In additional, SkyPanel comes with dozens of lighting accessory options, to control, transform, refocus the light beam or make the lighting aperture even larger. 
 

We recommend the ARRI Photometrics App to get the photometrics data for all ARRI lighting products. The App is free of charge and available for iOS or Android mobile devices.  
https://www.arri.com/en/learn-help/lighting/tools-apps/apps/arri-photometrics

Or you can download the Data Sheet, Technical Specifications Poster or Photometrics Files (IES/ldt) files from the SkyPanel product page on the ARRI website.
https://www.arri.com/en/lighting/led/skypanel
 

On each of the fixtures a label with product number, product name and serial number should be found. This is the unique identity each ARRI fixture gets. This product and serial number should be able to be tracked in previous purchasing documents.
Another easy way to distinguish a counterfeit unit is to try updating the fixture with the latest firmware. That will facilitate the fixture with the latest features and easily find out if it is a counterfeit unit. Counterfeit units cannot be updated by ARRI firmware. So far the counterfeit units and "look-alike" units are very different to real ones, from design to quality level.