An LED Installation for "The Barn" at UIUC
For this project, I decided that I wanted to create a unique and styled background design that featured LED's in it's build for a music venue in Champaign-Urbana, IL. With low ceilings and a small budget, I had to get creative. This design utilizes 11 panels, each with its own DMX controlled channel of LED tape inside as the light source. The inner framing and backing is faced with a reflective contact-paper to bounce the light out and create the brightest effect possible while maintaining appeal. This entire project took 5 days to complete and has been up and running successfully since it's install.
First Testing:
Live with an Audience:
The main guideline for this project that I gave myself was that it had to be mobile and transportable. To achieve this, each panel is easily removable with 2 screws, each section of framing separates from one another, and there are wire connectors behind each panel, and at the control unit allowing me to completely dismantle this project. The framing of each panel has a dado cut into the back side allowing the LED tape to sit further in and out of sight. In hindsight, I would consider that the reflective backing would show the reflection of the LED tape, revealing them altogether... The main framing and support of this wall are from 2x4's with bolted-through brackets at the joints.
To control the lights, I used a hard case as the housing to contain the DMX decoders needed for the system. Included in the case are 2 cooling fans, 2 work lights, 3 dmx decoders with 4 channels each, and a 12v 30a power supply. The fans were included to make sure the equipment could run efficiently while the box was closed and not have the slightest worry about heat. I also included 3 power switches in the case to control the master power in, and the lights and fans separately. The last level of protection I included was a 12v digital read out so I could monitor the power draw. Although I am not near the max draw of the system, I figured it would not hurt to be thorough.
To maintain a slim profile and create something that was still secure, I decided to use pressure and friction to hold this structure in place. With a 3/8" bolt, nut, and fender washer, the foot is pressing out allowing for a tight connection between the bottom cabinet and the ceiling drywall. This made sure the design stayed slim and clean and allowed for an easy install.
To ensure the contact paper stuck to all of the material surfaces, I painted all of the 1x and sheet material first. I then laid out the contact paper on each panel, trimmed it, and rolled it on using a rubber roller typically used for vinyl to squeeze out any bubble and work out any wrinkles. By applying it to the backing early I had full access with the roller and the edges of the paper would be pinched between the framing keeping it tight for a longer time.
Running the lights requires 2 programs in my case. Owning a Gadget II prior to the start of this project made it easy to decide that I wanted to control the system through DMX. Tying into Nomad is a program called Luminosus. This allows me to take input from a MIDI device, in this case a keyboard, and turn that into OSC commands for Nomad to respond to. This makes it easy to recall presets as you move through the show, and allows for hot buttons to be used during the sets.
This was the first time I had roughly laid the LED tape in the frame. The reason I decided on the wrinkled texture on the contact paper was to hide wrinkles and seems. This product proved to be useful and in the future, I would most likely use Super 77 on this as well to ensure a long term stick, especially for a permanent install.