Mike Zinman from ZinmanCo - the guy who brought you great iPhone lighting products like GelCalc, iSwitch DMX, and PocketLD has updated PocketLD to version 1.1 - updated fixture libraries, manufacturer links, and all kinds of other great stuff.

Check out Mike’s iPhone Lighting Apps store, and get PocketLD 1.1 here (direct iTunes Store link).

I had a chance to sit down and interview Mike at LDI this year - more on that soon, as I get some time to transcribe the interview.

Mike Zinman, creator of iSwitch (the dipswitch calculator), GelCalc (the color filter calculator), and excellent titles like AutoBlock for AutoCAD has released yet another awesome iPhone program - Pocket LD for iPhone.  First and foremost, if you’re an LD and need touch-of-the-finger photometrics calculations and fixture database info, just go buy it right now.  It’s ten bucks.

The official release:

I just discovered an AWESOME tool at Cablepick.com - the Gobo Visualizer.

The Gobo Visualizer allows you to simulate a dual-gobo rotator with a static gobo behind, and either a solid sheet of color, no color, or split color.  Speeds are adjustable in either direction, from 0 to 30 RPM, and has gobos from Apollo, Rosco, GAM, Goboman, and Goboland.  You can also alter the projected focus of the gobo pair.  This is a great tool!  I hope it lasts!

Sometimes you can surprise yourself with two gobos that look like they do not belong rotating together.  For example, try Goboland #2100000 (5-pointed star) and Goboland #2100001 (5-pointed dancing star) rotating each a different direction.  Amazing!  It’s not always easy to visualize rotating templates before you order 50 of them for your rig, so this is an excellent place to visit if you have some rotating gobos designed into your upcoming rig.

Color fader users, attention:  Wybron has an iPhone program that is made to correctly calculate the percentages for their CXI-IT color fader - you know, the one with two CMY rolls that mixes 432 “distinct” colors.  It’s also the fader that has the photometric sensor to detect if the lamp’s on, heat sensors, and all the bells and whistles that come with Wybron’s InfoTrace system - the remote device management system Wybron wrote.

Ok, enough of that - this post is about their CXI calculator for the iPhone and iPod.  Wybron’s CXI Calculator gives you the ability to mix the two CMY strongs together and find the specific colors you want to create.  From Wybron’s website:

Mix the perfect color for your CXI IT dual-gelstring color changer with Wybron’s CXI Color Calculator for the iPhone and iPod touch.

Using the Color Calculator’s simple interface, scroll through two overlapping gelstrings of cyan, magenta, and yellow to find the perfect color out of nearly 500 different shades. Then plug its numerical values – either decimals or percentages – into your control console to create the color on stage.

Or find the values necessary to replicate popular GAM, Lee, and Rosco gels.

The Color Calculator replaces the plastic color wheel lighting pros have carried since the CXI came into existence in 1998. But now, with all that information on your iPhone or iPod, you can fit a wealth of knowledge in your pocket.

And the devices’ illuminated screens let you mix and match colors even in the darkest theater.

The Color Calculator runs on any iPhone and iPod touch and can be purchased through Apple’s App Store. Just click on the App Store icon from the main screen of each device, or access the App Store through iTunes.

You can get this program either from the iTunes Store or by clicking the direct link here.

Wybron, Inc (the scroller people) has released the Gel Swatch Library for the iPhone/iPod generation of lighting folk - a program that has the Lee, Rosco, and GAM catalogues, complete with spectral curves and other pertinent information.  From the Wybron product website:

The Gel Swatch Library gives you multiple ways to find the perfect color for your production. Scroll through lists of gels made by each manufacturer, or search for a specific gel name.

Spectral Energy Distribution curves and CMY/RGB percentages listed for each color provide the vital data you need to create breathtaking scenes on stage.

Examine similar shades with the Gel Swatch Library’s side-by-side comparison window, where you can also compare complementary colors to find different shades that go together perfectly.

The library’s easy-to-use interface condenses the swatch books that lighting pros have used for years – putting a wealth of knowledge onto a device that fits in your pocket.

The Gel Swatch Library runs on any iPhone and iPod touch and can be purchased through Apple’s App Store. Just click on the App Store icon from the main screen of each device, or access the App Store through iTunes.

Get a copy of the Gel Swatch Library from Wybron in the iTunes store, or by clicking here.

Well, just as a guy gets working with Lightwright 4 (yeah, I’m a bit behind the times, as I was on LW3 for years and years), John McKernon is going to be showing Lightwright 5 at LDI in Vegas this year.

Some new features from McKernon’s website:

There is no release date yet for Lightwright 5, but it is likely to be December 2008 or very early 2009.

Anyone who registers a new or upgrade Individual or Institutional license for Lightwright 4 after September 14, 2008 will be eligible for a free upgrade to Lightwright 5 when it is released.

All other users of Lightwright 4 (except students) will be able to purchase upgrades to version 5 at low upgrade-only rates. The status of student licenses is still undetermined.

Easy to use Vectorworks™ Spotlight 2009 Data Exchange - No more import/export/merge hassles!

Any number of show files can be open at the same time!

Completely rethought and reconceived worknote capabilities, including printing, emailing, and transmitting via network connections!

Multiple-user file history and reconciliation!

We were first inundated with Mike Zinman’s code-creating antics with AutoBlock for AutoCAD.  Then Mike teased our palate with iSwitch DMX, which I just used this weekend to address a bunch of old Lightwave Research gear.  Now Mike Zinman is up to it again with his new lighting-related iPhone app, GelCalc. This application is geared towards us folk in the lighting industry, and takes away the reason to ask the age-old question, “what the hell size color frame does that old beam projector take?”

Behold:  GelCalc from The Zinman Co!  $5.99 was never better spent.  Thanks Mike!

A bit of info from Mike’s website:

For about the price of a sheet of gel, Gel Calc can save you hundreds of dollars each year from wasteful cuts.

Gel Calc is a calculation app for stage lighting designers, electricians, and stage hands.

With Gel Calc, quickly calculate number of sheets, best cutting direction to yield the most frames per/sheet and pricing.

Gel Calc includes a frame picker with over 60 common frame sizes for easy and quick entry, or you can manually enter any frame size using the text fields.

A lookup list, sorted by manufacturer, features over 100 popular frame sizes AND sheet/roll sizes for reference.

No more “What is the frame size for a Selecon Pacific Zoomspot” or “What roll sizes are available for Roscolux color?” This information is ready at your finger tips, just press the LOOKUP button underneath the frame picker.

KEY FEATURES:
-Determine total sheets needed for any frame size and qty.
-Determine total yield per sheet.
-Determine the best cutting direction for rectangular frames.
-Use Gel Calc to determine pricing information, including sales tax.
-Use as a reference tool to lookup popular frame, sheet and roll sizes, sorted by manufacturer.
-Imperial and metric units supported.