Laser Photography and Digital Art
Laser photography with LaserCube: camera settings for laser beams, light art in haze and on walls, and creative tools for digital artists in LaserOS.
Laser photography and digital art with LaserCube
LaserCube is a creative tool for laser photography, light art and digital art. It draws beams, shapes, text and animations from red, green and blue lasers combined into one beam, with colors that fade smoothly, and it runs on battery for shoots on location.
In the free LaserOS app you can draw your own shapes, import artwork as SVG files, make a logo draw itself with the Trace effect and build beam patterns in Beam Creator. Digital artists can also drive any LaserCube from MadMapper, and the Pro and Ultra MK2 from TouchDesigner.
At a glance:
- 16.7 million colors with full analog modulation on every model
- Draw, Text, Trace, Beam Creator and the Timeline in the free LaserOS app
- Battery-powered and portable for shoots on location
Laser beam photography: camera tips
- Keep the camera out of the projection area: a beam straight into the lens can damage its sensor. A keep-out safety zone can keep the beams away from the camera.
- Slower shutter speeds record more of each beam. At 25 frames per second, a 1/500 shutter shows short dashes, 1/50 longer pieces and 1/25 whole beams.
- For video, set the camera to 25 or 30 frames per second and adjust the exposure to the room light.
- Laser banding, the ribbon look from music videos, comes from matching the laser’s scanning speed to the camera: in MadMapper, adjust the scan speed for each pattern, with a 1/50 shutter at 25 frames per second.
- Haze or fog makes the beams visible on camera. Thin haze gives the clearest beams, with sharp edges and every color; too much turns them into a glow.
- Avoid aiming the laser at reflective surfaces.
Keep people out of the beams
Nobody should stand in front of an active laser, so never pose a model in the beams, across their face or body, or project onto a person. For a laser photoshoot, light a wall, a backdrop or haze with nobody between it and the cube, keep everyone at least 3 m (10 ft) away, on all sides, from where the beams land, and keep every beam at least 3 m (10 ft) above the floor wherever people may be.
A safety zone doesn’t change this: it keeps beams off cameras, projectors and objects, or inside a target area, and it never protects people.
LaserCube is a professional show laser, not a toy: never aim it at people’s eyes, at audiences or at aircraft, and never at anything flammable. More in our safety tips.
Which LaserCube for photography and art?
Every model draws in 16.7 million colors. The Pro and Ultra MK2 add a screen, standalone playback from microSD, ILDA and DMX, and Ether Dream mode for TouchDesigner. The Pro is the compact one and isn’t sold in the USA yet. The WiFi is the budget option, played from a phone, tablet or computer.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q01How do I photograph laser beams?
Use a little haze or fog so the beams show, keep the camera out of the projection area, and pick the shutter speed for the look you want: at 25 frames per second, 1/500 shows short dashes, 1/50 longer pieces and 1/25 whole beams.
Q02Can I use a LaserCube for a laser photoshoot with a model?
Keep people out of the beams. Nobody should be in front of an active laser, so never aim the beams at a model or at anyone’s eyes. Project onto a wall or a backdrop with nobody between it and the cube, and keep everyone at least 3 m (10 ft) away, on all sides, from where the beams land. Or keep the beams in haze at least 3 m (10 ft) above the floor wherever people may be. A safety zone doesn’t make this OK: it keeps beams off cameras and objects, and it never protects people.
Q03Can LaserCube draw my own artwork?
Yes. LaserOS imports your artwork as SVG (best), PNG, JPG or BMP and draws it as outlines; it doesn’t project video or photos. Vector images with pure outlines work best. A LaserCube draws up to about 600 to 650 points well, and more detail flickers, so simplify complex art.
Q04What is the Trace effect?
Trace makes a logo, an image or an animation draw itself, often with sparks. It works on SVG or ILD logos and on LaserOS’s own images and animations; on a PNG or JPG logo, text or a Draw drawing its switch is grayed out.
Q05Does LaserCube work with TouchDesigner, MadMapper and other creative software?
MadMapper, Resolume, Liberation, LaserShowGen and Modulaser work with every LaserCube. TouchDesigner works with the Ultra MK2 and Pro, in their Ether Dream control mode. Our open API is on GitHub for your own apps.
See it for yourself
LaserCube is a portable, battery-powered RGB laser projector, and its show software, LaserOS, is free.
Explore the LaserCube lineup