HSL is supplying all the LED lightsources for the current series of the X-Factor. Lighting director/designer for the show is Dave Davey, the set designer is Christopher George and it’s directed by Jonathan Bullen and recorded weekly for ITV at Fountain Studios in Wembley, London. It’s the first time HSL has supplied the popular series, and follows on from a busy year in the TV world for the Blackburn-based company. The kit comprises six 10 x 2.5 metre high resolution Soft-LED curtains and 180 Color Kinetics I-Color tiles which were purchased specially for the series. There’s also 130 JTE PixelLine 1044 battens and 120 lengths of Pulsar ChromaStrip from HSL.

Both Davey and George wanted to explore various LED concepts in the show visuals. They were looking for a single source supplier for all the LED products, which is where HSL stepped into the breach, supplying all this and requisite rigging for the Soft-LED. HSL’s Mike Oates says, “It’s our first time working with Dave and Christopher, and we’re really delighted to be working with new clients on such a high profile series”.

Both Davey and George wanted an LED floor, and they already had their eyes on the CK kit. When they discovered that they could remove the white plastic boxes covering the tiles and replace them with a very slightly frosted floor, so you could still see the definition of the LEDs through them, they decided that this was exactly the right fixture. The SoftLED was a George concept from the outset, and it’s used to wrap the whole back wall of the studio180 degrees.

The show relies on the three onstage LED screens as an integrated part of the design (supplied by CT). They are used for the X-Factor logos, for close ups of performers during their set and for assorted Catalyst material which is under the control of the lighting department. A machine running PixelMAD pixel-mapping software is outputting various video and digital images to the I-Color tiles and the SoftLED, so the images on screen and in the floor/around the perimeter of the viewing area can be independently controlled.

The PixelLines were also specified from the off. They are used to emphasise the shape of the large over-stage X, and George and Davey agreed that they would use them as a specific lighting effect. The 2 metre depth of the X already gives it a 3D feel, and so PixelLines are placed around the rear perimeter of the structure, kicking light onto the metalwork along the sides. The light also hits the Perspex border around the font edge of the X, creating a back-lit frosted bordered outline.

There’s more PixelLines around the front edge of the stage, which is white. The ChromaStrips are used for detailing the two walkways – left and right - down onto the stage and for bordering the left and right LED screens, matching them in colour and texture wise with the other LED lighting. Davey reports that it’s been excellent working with HSL “They are extremely on the case and very interested in ensuring I’m looked after”. X-Factor’s LED lighting and the Catalyst system is run from a Compulite Vector console run by Russell Grubbiak. The moving lights – all supplied by PRG - are run from another Vector operated by Bill Peachment.

Davey and his team are also working with digital animator Chris Plant, who makes animated graphics ‘live’ on site for them to trial during camera rehearsals, and then to use in the show if they work out. These are also run through all the LED sources. As Davey says, “It’s great for getting new looks aside from some of the standard digital media server effects, and is a really lively and energising way to work, creating media on the fly”.