About this project
UPDATE:
Here we show a photo shoot using the Hue Bar and Tru Bar.
Here, we explain why there's nothing out there like the Lumenator™. It is a modular system, not a single light. You can stack light bars on top of each other expanding your light source, and there are different types of light bars available.
LISTEN TO WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING:
Audio Testimonial of Prototype User
Brandon O'Neal - Wedding Photographer
Video Testimonial of Prototype User
Jamie - Dark Roux Photography
"A lightsaber for photographers...You can bet I will certainly have one."
"Now this looks like a product worth backing at Kickstarter!...I gotta have one of these!"
"Cool!"
-Roger Duck, Digital Duck Inc.
LA LED
At LA LED we’ve been making quality LED lighting solutions for years. We make flashlights, dimmable LED bulbs, LED "fluorescent style" tubes, stadium lights, street lights and more. Now we’ve come up with a new innovative light for photographers and videographers that’s portable, expandable, affordable and easy to use.
THE PROBLEM
There aren’t many offerings out there for on-the-go photographers.
Lights are either big and bulky and require large battery packs or work like a flash. If you want soft light that can spread and feather well, there aren't many options.
You need a light you can stuff in a bag and take with you. You can use it handheld or on a stand. You want it to be versatile for a variety of situations. You want built-in rechargeable batteries or to power it straight from the wall or car. Maybe you want a different color light as well.
Enter THE LUMENATOR™:
The Lumenator™ can fulfill all of those needs and more. It gives you choices. That’s what separates the Lumenator™ from anything on the market.
The idea is to have a controller base, then you can stack 12" light bars on the top or bottom of the controller. That gives you the choice of 1-6 light bars depending on your needs.
We started with the concept that there should be a better way to light scenes on-the- go. So, we went to our offices and came up with the first working prototype.
The Lumenator™ will output 1200 lumens per light bar, have a built in dimmer and can work off battery or plugged in.
The kickstarter campaign will help us put all of this power and technology into a better looking body. We have all of the components ready to go. We have the designs for the body too.
It is based on a modular design that can be expanded based on your lighting needs. Light bars can be added to the top and bottom of the control unit and to the ends of the light bars themselves. So, there’s more light and you can spread it how you want it. Also, we have rechargeable batteries inside.
It is going to have two 1/4-inch mounting holes on it. You can use it on a tripod with a quick boot or a traditional lighting stand with the 1/4-inch holes.
There are three different types of Light Bars we’ll offer.
The TRU Bar™ is daylight balanced and comes with the standard Lumenator™ Kit. These output 1200 lumens per bar.
Our TAILOR Bar™ can select whatever white balance you like with a kelvin selector. You can go cool white to warm white.
And the HUE Bar™ is an RGB module that allows you to change colors with an onboard controller.
So, the Lumenator™ is:
Expandable
Portable
and Customizable
THE TEST SHOTS
THE CONCEPT
We've made concept drawings:
THE FUNDING
The $60,000 we’re trying to raise will go into making the polycarbonate, LED dies and all of the molds necessary to offer you the final product and the mass production.
THE PRODUCTION
We have existing relationships with vendors and factories in China we work with every day. We have done this before and have the process pretty streamlined. It goes like this:
(IN LAFAYETTE, LA)- We send the designs and specifications over to our contacts in China.
- We pay for the molds. Create test molds (includes us visiting the factory in China to oversee quality control).
- Make circuit boards for LEDs (in bulk).
- Make batteries (in bulk)
- We'll ship components here for first assembly (10 pieces done here).
- Tests & certifications with the 10 prototypes. (submersion test, durability test, drop test, as well as necessary certifications to go to market).
- Go back and tweak components to make sure everything is up to snuff.
- >(Repeat until final product is completely up to our standards)
(IN CHINA AND LAFAYETTE, LA)
- Begin mass production. Pull 10 of every 100 to ensure quality control.
- Final product ships here and then to the clients.
TOTAL PRODUCTION TIME: 6 months
THE SHIRT
Risks and challenges
ENSURING QUALITY CONTROL
One thing that gets lost in translation from American companies and factories in China is quality control. That's why we have developed close relationships with our factories in China. We'll travel to Asia to oversee manufacturing practices and make sure finished products are up to our high standards. We'll work with managers to see what is best to get the Lumenator™ correct.
TESTING
The testing phase is critical to make sure everything works like we said it would. So we drop it, put it under water, shake it up, send it off for third party testing and more. During this process, it's possible to run into some problems. If we find something isn't good enough, we'll have to go back and change something to fix it. That takes time, but is worth it in the end.
Questions about this project? Check out the FAQ
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Funding period
- (30 days)