Last Updated 29 minutes ago
Filmmaking Dictionary: Letter Q / Quasar Tubes (Quasar Science)
Definition
Quasar tubes is an informal name for tube-shaped LED lighting products made by Quasar Science. Film crews use them as compact light sources, visible practicals and building blocks for larger lighting arrangements. The name identifies a brand family, not one standard fixture.
A request for “a Quasar” needs a model, length and quantity. Different products have different colour controls, power arrangements, mounting accessories and methods of dimming. Do not assume that a tube can produce saturated colours or run on an internal battery simply because another Quasar product can.
Why the Model Matters
Quasar Science’s product families include white-light tubes and more complex colour-controllable fixtures. Its Rainbow 2 and Double Rainbow systems support features such as colour control and pixel-based operation, while other families serve different needs. Firmware, control profiles and accessories also matter when preparing a package.
For a rental or lighting plan, identify:
- The exact fixture model and physical length.
- The required white-light or colour capability.
- Power supply, cable and battery requirements.
- Onboard, wired or wireless control needed for the shot.
- Compatible mounts, light-control accessories and transport protection.
Product-family names are more useful than a generic brand request when the crew needs interchangeable units.
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Common Uses in Filmmaking
A tube can sit just outside frame as a small eye light, form a visible line of light in a set, or join other tubes in an array. Its long, narrow shape can also produce a distinctive reflection in glass, polished metal or a vehicle.
A single tube is large along one axis and relatively small along the other. Shadow softness depends on its apparent size from the subject, its distance and any diffusion. The word “tube” does not guarantee broad, wraparound soft light.
Visible tubes may need a different level from tubes lighting faces. Balance those jobs separately, checking the actual camera image and the intended exposure.
Control, Mounting and Testing
Use the manufacturer’s compatible mounting hardware and a securing method appropriate to the position. A tube-shaped housing should not be treated as a structural pipe. Cable routing and strain relief matter, especially when the light is hidden in dressing or close to moving performers.
For pixel-controlled tubes, a lighting console must use the intended fixture profile and pixel mode. The same fixture can require different numbers of control channels depending on the mode. Check the patch before relying on a programmed effect.
Test at the shoot’s frame rate, shutter setting and dimming levels. Also check reflections, colour matching and whether controls or cables appear in frame. A test under ordinary room light is not a substitute for seeing the tube in the actual setup.
Practical Example
An art department wants three visible tubes behind an actor. The gaffer confirms whether they need only adjustable white light or a colour chase. That answer determines the fixture family, control plan and power accessories before the order reaches the rental house.
See the lighting department guide for the crew roles involved.
Related Terms
Browse terms beginning with Q or return to the filmmaking dictionary.