Lighting Equipment in the Lynda Lab

iPad

• There is an iPad with the Nanlink app for controlling Nanlite lights
• Please do not remove the iPad from the Lynda Lab.

Lights

Nanlite MixPanel

What’s included in the Nanlite MixPanel bag:

• Nanlite MixPanel 60

• Power cable
• DC15 Adapter
• Barn Doors

Set Up

For more specific guidance on the different settings, consult the instruction manual found in the Nanlite MixPanel bag.

• The Nanlite MixPanel fits on all the stands found in the Lynda Lab.
• The wheel located on the base of the MixPanel when loosened allows for the base to fit over the stud on each of the stands,
• Tighten said wheel to lock it back in place.
• If using the adapter:
  • Plug the power cable into an outlet on the wall, the other end of the cable plugs into the adapter itself.
  • This adapter plugs directly into the back of the light, and there is a v-mount on the back of the light above the inputs to attach the adapter to the MixPanel itself.
  • This is recommended to allow for the cable from the adapter to not be strained, and to save some space on the floor.
• If using a battery:
  • Found on the bench in the back corner, these batteries can simply slide into that v-mount on the back of the MixPanel.
  • Make sure to put the batteries back on the charger when you are finished using them.
• A set of barn doors can be found in MixPanel case.
  • These clip into the brackets on the edge of the front of the MixPanel. These allow you to change the direction of and shape the light.

Back Panel Controls

The back of the Nanlite MixPanel has 3 dials and 8 buttons on the back. Here is a quick overview as to what they do:

• CCT: This is your basic white light. Pressing the button allows you to switch between a hard and soft light. The left dial dims and brightens, the middle dial adjusts warmth, the right dial adjusts tint.
• HSI: This is your color light. The left dial dims and brightens, the middle dial adjusts hue, the right dial adjusts the saturation.
• RGB: Another color light. This one allows you to adjust the color using RGB values. The right dial allows you to select between red, green, blue, and white percentage. The middle dial allows for you to adjust those values.
• Gel: Another color light. This one is based around gel presets. The left dial dims and brightens, the middle adjusts warmth (3200k or 5600k), the right dial adjusts the color.
• Effect: This setting allows you to switch between different flashing and looping light effects. The left dial dims, the right dial allows you to select which setting you want to change, the center dial adjusts the setting selected by the right dial.
• Preset: This button allows you to save lighting presets. This makes it easier if you need to move the lights around and need to go back to previously used

• Menu: Allows you to adjust the general settings of the light itself. Most of the time this option will not be necessary for Lynda Lab use.

• Lock: Allows for you to lock in whatever light setting you have enabled. Long press the button lock/unlock. This setting ensures that even if a light gets bumped or moved, the setting won’t accidentally change.

Nanlite Tubes

Two sizes of Nanlite Tubes can be found in the Lynda Lab, 2 feet and 4 feet. Both sizes operate the exact same way.

Set Up

• These lights are rechargeable, meaning you do not need to worry about placing them near outlets.
• Before leaving the Lynda Lab, please make sure that Nanlite Tubes that have been used get plugged in, so they are ready for the next user.
• One end of the Nanlite tube has the input for the charger. The other side has two knobs, the on/off switch, a screen on the back of the light, and the Mode and Lock buttons.

Accessories

There are a few accessories in the Lynda Lab that are exclusively used with the Nanlite Tubes.

• The smaller 3’ Black Impact Stands are outfitted with clear brackets designed to hold onto one tube.
  • The smaller clear brackets have a clip built in them to make that the light is secure
• Found on the rack in the back of the room are larger brackets designed to hold more lights.
  • These can be screwed onto any of the stands found in the Lynda Lab.
  • The other, larger brackets do not have clips and require a small amount of extra force to be put in and removed from the bracket.

Mode and Lock Buttons

• Long pressing the Lock button allows you to lock or unlock the settings you have in place.
  • This makes it so the settings won’t get accidentally changed if you need to move the light.
• The Mode button switches between these 4 modes that the Nanlite tubes offer:
  • CCT: This is your basic white light. Offers a range of warm to cool tones of light.
  • HSI: A colored light. This light also has adjustable hue and saturation.
  • Effect: This mode lets you switch between multiple different looping and flashing effects.
  • Menu: This mode allows you to adjust the general setting of the light itself. You should not need to change these settings for general lab use.

Nanlite Forza 60C

There is a set of 3 Nanlite Forza 60C lights with some accessories. These can be found in the larger black hard case. These lights are a bit more directional than the other lights mentioned previously. Despite this, they are still highly versatile.

Set Up

• Each light can be screwed on to any of the stands that are in the Lynda Lab.
• They each have a protective cap on the front of them. This cap also acts as a mild diffuser.
• To remove this cap as well as any other attachments, press the button found directly above where the light comes out of. This is the release, which will allow you to screw out the attachment.
• This cap must be removed to put on other attachments like the softboxes or the projection attachment.
• When putting on attachments, you should hear a click when it is in place.

Back Panel Controls

The back of the Nanlite Forza 60C has 2 dials and 1 button on the back.

• The Nanlite Forza 60C lights have 4 modes that can be switched between using the Mode button:
  • CCT: This is your basic white light. Offers a range of warm to cool tones of light.
  • HSI: A colored light. This light also has adjustable hue and saturation.
  • Effect: This mode lets you switch between multiple different looping and flashing effects.
  • Menu: This mode allows you to adjust the general setting of the light itself. You should not need to change these settings for general lab use.

To adjust these settings, each of these lights has two dials on the back of them, right below the screen.

• The dial on the left, with the blue accent, is used to adjust whichever setting you have selected.
• The dial on the right changes which setting you have selected.

Attachments

• If you would like to add more shape or texture to the Forza 60C we have a projection attachment, the PJ-FMM-19.
• This lens screws onto the front of the Forza and allows for the use of 4 different gobos.
• These add different textures to your light like a foliage or blinds effect.
• Each gobo can be slid into the mount, and the mount can slide into the slot just in front of the cutters.
• The gobos are labeled with their effect and can be found in the same bag as the lens.
• This attachment comes with built-in cutters which allow you to shape the light for whatever your shoot needs.
• The black knob towards the front of the attachment allows you to focus and unfocus the light.
• When using this attachment, it is recommended to mount the attachment to the stand rather than the light. This should help with balance, as this attachment will make it front heavy.

Nanlite PavoBulb 10C

The Lynda Lab has a set of 4 Nanlite PavoBulbs. These lights are quite a lot of fun, but more situational than some of the other lights in this space.

Set Up

• The easiest way to power these lights in this space is by using their magnetic bases (AS-MBA-E27) and a power cable.
• This way these lights can stick to anything magnetic in the lab, or anything that you potentially bring with you for shooting.
• The lights can also be powered through a USB-C connection. A few USB-C cables are included in the kit.

Button Controls

• Three buttons can be found on the PavoBulb itself. Dim, Mode, CCT/HUE
• These buttons allow you to change the brightness, and color of the lights.
• If you want a bit more control over the settings and feedback from the light, use one of the controllers found in the kit.
• The controller allows for exact control over the PavoBulb like you would get from any of the other Nanlite options:
  • CCT: This is your basic white light. Offers a range of warm to cool tones of light.
  • HSI: A colored light. This light also has adjustable hue and saturation.
  • Effect: This mode lets you switch between multiple different looping and flashing effects.
  • Menu: This mode allows you to adjust the general setting of the light itself. You should not need to change these settings for general lab use.

The PavoBulbs also come with some plastic diffusion disc which has a suction cup that can be applied directly to the bulb. You can spin the topmost disc to adjust the diffusion and tighten the central knob to stop the disc from accidentally moving.

Here is an in-depth tutorial as to how our PavoBulb kit works.

Stands

9.5’ Impact Black Stand

This is a great one size fits all kind of stand. It extends up to 9.5 feet and can hold up to 22 pounds. This stand also has air-cushioning in the telescoping pole, meaning when the locking knobs are loosened, the risers will descend slowly which protects both the gear and the grip! This stand is also quite simple to use. There are 5 knobs that can be found on this stand. The lowest knob on this stand is unnecessary for most Lynda Lab applications. Do not loosen it (it is labeled with an orange tag). When the second knob from the bottom is loosened, the legs can be spread out balanced and on the ground. Tighten the knob when balanced to lock the legs in place. The next two knobs up the stand allow for you to increase or decrease the height of the stand by telescoping the pole up or down. Loosen these knobs to increase or decrease the height of the stand before tightening this knob again locking it in place. The final and topmost knob allows for the removal of the double-sided stud in the top of this stud. Between both sides of this stud, this stand should be able to accommodate most gear.

3’ Impact Black Stand

This stand is a great choice for lighting things closer to the ground or getting rid of shadows. The legs from this stand operate a bit differently than the other stands that you will find in the Lynda Lab. Rather than loosening a knob to make them spread out, you can simply spin each individual leg into a place that guarantees stability for whatever application that you need. The bottommost knob on this stand is used to remove the pole from the base. The next knob up when loosened allows you to telescope this stand up or down. The topmost knob when loosened allows for the addition or removal of attachments. Most often, these stands are fitted with clear brackets that are made to hold one of the Nanlite Tube.

Avenger Roller Column Stand

This stand is a bit heavier duty than the ones listed before. It is also on wheels which make it easy to move around set if necessary. The base and lower column of this stand are made of steel, and the double risers are made from aluminum. When loosened, the bottommost knob allows for the legs of this stand to spread. For maximum stability legs should be spread as far out as they can go, and the lower central column should go as far down as it can go. Moving up the stand, the next two knobs control the height of the risers. Unlike the black Impact stand, this one does not have air cushioning in the risers, meaning you should be careful when lowering this stand.

Large C-Stand

These stands come with a large gobo arm where lights can be attached. This allows for lights to be positioned directly above subjects, or if you simply want to be able to move the light and up down throughout your shoot. The bottommost knob on this stand unlocks the legs, allowing them to spin out 120 degrees. Each will leg has a divot that it will stick into and then you can tighten the knob, locking the legs in their place. You should arrange the legs and the arm of the stand so that the arm is on the same side as the furthest out leg. This results in the greatest balance when attaching lights to the arm. It is good practice to place a sandbag on that furthest out leg to help with ensure this stand stays balanced. It is also recommended to use the smaller orange sandbags on the opposite end of the gobo arm to avoid it tipping. Like the roller column stand, this stand does not have air cushioning, be careful when lowering this stand.

Accessories

Flags

Flags can be used for controlling the various lighting instruments that we have here in the Lynda Lab. Flags can be mounted onto stands and positioned in front of lights for various effects. We have multiple different types of flags here in the Lynda Lab.

• Cutter (Black flag): This completely blocks light. Great for intentionally shaping light.
• Silk (Off white flag, yellow trim):  Diffuses and reduces the amount of light.
• Double Scrim (Black net, red trim): Reduced amount of light by one stop.
• Wooden Cucoloris (a.k.a. Cookie): Kind of like a stencil for light, it can be used to add shapes in light (e.g. foliage effect)

Lanterns and Softboxes

Lanterns and softboxes can be used to shape and diffuse light. Most of the lanterns and softboxes that can be found in the Lynda Lab are compatible with the Nanlite Forzas, with only one fitting the Nanlite MixPanel. The adapters for the lanterns should already be attached. This allows them to be simply screwed on to the Forzas. The softbox for the MixPanel can clip into the same brackets that the barn doors would use.

Paper Rollers

The paper rollers are found hanging from the ceiling near the door to the Lynda Lab. They have colored pulleys next to them to roll/unroll them. These paper rollers are great for creating solid color backgrounds, perfect for filming interviews.

Additional Grip Gear

• Apple boxes: These can be used to prop objects up or increase the height of a subject that you are filming/photographing.
• Clamps: Used for various reasons, such as to attach gear to a stand.
• Sandbags: Can be placed on the base of a stand, helping to ensure that it does not tip over.
• Extension cords: Allows you the flexibility to place lights wherever you need in the Lynda Lab.
• Tape: Useful for taping cords down to avoid tripping.