COLOR KINETICS DRIVES ADOPTION OF LED ILLUMINATION IN SIGNAGE INDUSTRY
Color Kinetics' LED-based systems cost-effectively accentuate signage, storefronts, and
facades worldwide
Boston, MA - March 1, 2004 - Reflecting the many benefits of intelligent LED illumination in signage applications, Color Kinetics Incorporated today announced a string of notable installations for which its systems enable vibrant, visual effects - surpassing the limitations of conventionally illuminated signs. Most recently, Color Kinetics illuminated the high-profile Washington Mutual beanstalk sign in Times Square - an 80-foot-tall, three-dimensional sign whose fiberglass exterior shimmers in varying shades of green.
"The visual impact of the Washington Mutual beanstalk sign in Times Square is extraordinary, and Color Kinetics' LED lighting technology played a significant role in bringing our vision to life," said Mike McGraw, Director of Spectacular Development for Clear Channel Spectacolor, who designed the sign along with Washingon Mutual's advertising agency, Sedgwick Rd. "The ColorBlast® units have performed flawlessly, and the client is extremely happy with the results, as are we."
In today's ever-competitive marketplace, companies continually seek new and innovative ways to call attention to their
brands and physical spaces, while managing operation and maintenance costs. Color Kinetics' LED illumination
technology is widely used to enhance and distinguish the signage, storefronts, and facades of some of today's most
highly recognizable brands, including Brookstone, Jordan's Furniture, Esprit, Harrah's, Limited Too, Legal Sea Foods, Loews Theaters, Marriott, and Nine West, in addition to numerous schools, healthcare facilities,
restaurants and nightclubs, and smaller "mom and pop" shops.
Advertisers, sign builders, and designers are increasingly choosing LED illumination as a highly controllable, flexible,
and low maintenance alternative to conventional colored light sources, which are more costly over the lifetime of the
system, and lack the creative freedom of digital control. A recent study by the Lighting Research Center found that,
depending on the configuration, a red LED sign could use 20% to 60% less power than a neon sign at the same
light output.*
Color Kinetics' LED-based lighting systems are well suited for signage applications that call for highly
efficient, compact, rugged systems that can generate saturated color and allow for customizable, animated effects.
Unlike conventional light sources, Color Kinetics' systems require no gels or filters to produce color, and their
compact size allows for discrete installation - whether used to back- or front-light signs, illuminate channel
letters, or cast wall washing effects. Mitigating safety and installation concerns, the LED-based systems are low- vs.
high-voltage and don't use fragile glass like neon-based lights.
Color Kinetics offers a broad range of systems that exhibit both the practical and aesthetic benefits of LED
sources for signage applications. For example:
- iColor® Flex SL is a multi-purpose, LED-based strand comprised of 50 individually addressable, tri-color LED nodes -- allowing designers to innovatively light three-dimensional shapes, logos, images, and channel letters without the constraints of fixture size and shape. Rated for use in dry, wet and damp environments.
- iColor Tile FX is a sophisticated, 2' by 2' tile-like system that incorporates144 individually addressable, tri-color LED nodes to enable intricate designs - from morphing color waves, to animated objects, logos, emblems, text, and customized patterns. Versions will support applications in dry, wet and damp environments.
- The iColor Cove® product line brings color and dynamic lighting effects to alcoves and tight spaces, and is ideal for backlighting and edge-lighting frosted or etched glass, plastics, and acrylics. The newly introduced iColor Cove EC is an affordable 7" or 12" unit with a sleek, low profile and easy mounting options that facilitate the illumination of signs with limited space. For use in dry environments.
- iColor Accent is a direct-view linear light that enables seamless columns of color and customizable effects for architectural highlighting, providing a viable, flexible alternative to high-voltage, fragile, neon-based lights. Rated for use in dry, wet and damp environments.
- ColorBlast is a compact, rugged wall-washing light that generates rich, saturated color - as seen in the Washington Mutual beanstalk sign - and dynamic lighting effects. Rated for use in dry, wet and damp environments.
See a complete range of Color Kinetics' systems, including fixtures, controllers, power/data supplies, authoring systems, and other accessories, at the International Sign Expo, April 14-17, in Orlando, Florida (booth #2219).
Digital photos available upon request.
About Color Kinetics
Color Kinetics Incorporated is the pioneer of intelligent solid-state illumination technologies. The company designs, manufactures and markets an award-winning line of products that apply the practical and aesthetic benefits of LEDs to transcend the limits of traditional light sources for use in professional, consumer, and OEM and licensing applications. Its flagship line of technologies leverage a patented layer of digital intelligence, called Chromacore®, to generate and control millions of colors and dynamic lighting effects. Color Kinetics leads the industry in solid-state lighting innovation, including the custom engineered Chromasic® microchip, and holds a growing patent portfolio encompassing a number of emerging digital technologies. Founded in 1997, the company is privately held and is headquartered in Boston, MA with offices in the UK, China, and a joint venture in Japan. More information can be found at http://www.colorkinetics.com.
*Evaluation of LEDs for Outdoor Signage Applications, Lighting Research Center, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 2003
http://www.lrc.rpi.edu/programs/solidstate/completedProjects.asp
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