– New Animation Technique
– Endless Variety of Form, Colour, and Motion
– Educational Hands-on Art-Science
– Interactive Light Show & Animation
Spectrafocus is an innovative animation technique that allows home users to create and move multi-coloured spectral images on a nearby wall or screen.
A Spectrafocus device mounted in a sunny opening or in front of an artificial light source in a darkened area produces controlled spectral beams which are moved around and transformed using hand-held plastic mirrors and “Light Instruments” configured to project off floor and wall mirrors called “Effect Sheets”, or directly onto the wall or screen.
The colour, clarity, and intensity of sunlight makes it an ideal light source; however, Spectrafocus is easy to produce using artificial light sources called “SpectraProjectors” which range from battery powered flashlights to high-wattage sources that offer high quality optics and brightness.
The images can be choreographed to music, dance, theatre, and so on. They can be painted, photographed, videotaped, filmed, and computer modified. Spectrafocus images can be produced small or large, simple or complex, hand controlled or automated. Any spectral image can be combined with existing images.
Besides being great home entertainment, Spectrafocus can also be used for interactive art-science demonstrations and workshops, special effects. The concept, tools, and techniques are simple and inexpensive enough for children’s use worldwide.
Applications range from hand-held “SpectralViewers” to large scale lighting systems. Original spectral art prints of high quality result from processes such as “Helioprinting”.
“Light Painting” uses a hand-held optical fibre “brush” to direct colour onto positive photographic paper to produce visually 3D art prints via a distinctly new colour medium.
Spectral images could also be very small and projected directly onto large format (120+mm) Imax-type film for intensely clear images of unsurpassed colour if filmed at the ISS.
History of Spectrafocus
In 1980 Spectrafocus grew from ongoing research conducted by Paul Winstanley in Victoria British Columbia, Canada into the use of refracted sunlight and other natural stimuli as tools to explore the relationship between perception, consciousness, emotions, and behaviour.
During 1983-4, a collaboration with artist Eric J. Pittman resulted in the rapid development and public exposure of Spectrafocus, known then as Spectral Visions, at the “Unknown Gallery” in downtown Victoria. At the same time, a 6 month long Canada Council funded “Spectral Solarium” exhibit in Beacon Hill Park drew over 10,000 people whose enthusiastic participation demonstrated the value of further development.
Since 1985 Paul Winstanley has set up hands-on installations in five Art/Science Centres in Canada and the USA, produced animation for Disney and a David Foster film , produced art-science hands-on demonstrations and workshops at numerous local schools and hospitals, and provided interactive animation/lighting effects at public events.
Extensive in-house R&D has focused on low cost public applications and defined images and movement. The Solar Vision Society, founded in 1984, as a Charitable Educational Group promoting arts-science hands-on learning via user-friendly technologies. To achieve this, The Solar Vision Society promotes and facilitates the design and set up of exhibits and hands-on installations for schools, galleries, art-science centres and other public centres.
Spectrafocus Animations Group was founded in 1985 to provide consulting and services for producing Spectrafocus globally.
Contact: Paul Winstanley
Victoria, BC, Canada
paul@spectrafocus. ca
Spectrafocus Timeline
1980
Spectrafocus, a spectra focusing device, is conceived, designed , and built by Paul Winstanley. Extensive experimentation with solar spectra and the discovery of plastic mirror effect sheets, light instruments, and numerous other applications.
1983
Full scale installation at the Contemporary Art Show in the old Royal Bank, Govt. St., Victoria, B.C. during 10 day Swiftsure Festival. “Hands-on” concept pioneered.
Complete lab-studio setup at The Unknown Gallery, Douglas St., Victoria where “hands-on” participation in the research-development – presentation process was further developed.
Extensive experimentation, photography, Helioprinting, Light Painting, and videotaping.
Media coverage from Monday Magazine, Times Colonist, Vancouver Sun, Cable 10, Chek 6.
1984
6 month Canada Council funded “Spectral Solarium” in Victoria’s Beacon Hill Park presented free “hands-on” presentation to over 10,000 Victorians and visitors.
Various community interactions with institutions, local artists, and businesses. Extensive prototype testing, end user research, public response analysis, photography, videotaping and 16mm filming.
Media coverage from Times Colonist, Victoria Star, Cable 10, Chek 6.
Various Victoria elementary school hands-on presentations to Grades 3, 4, and 6 classes. Presented hands-on demonstrations to Glendale and Queen Alexandria Hospitals, Victoria
1985
Spectrafocus Studio Exhibit at Pembroke St. Victoria (6 month duration). Photographic techniques, various hand-held “Light Instruments” and the “all in one” hand-held “Spectral Viewer” developed.
Media Coverage: Monday Magazine, Times-Colonist, Vancouver Sun, Chek 6, CBC, CKVU 13.
Designed, constructed and supervised a large sunlight-artificial light hands-on installation for Sciexpo, a travelling art-science exposition (150 exhibits) in Tuscon, Arizona, USA. Photography, video tape, television and newspaper coverage of exhibit in Tuscon paper and TV station.
Returned to research in Victoria lab-studio where 1kw Spectraprojector designed and built. Bi-laterally symmetrical and remote controlled imagery produced.
1986
Presented “hands-on” demonstrations twice at the Arts, Science and Technology Centre in Vancouver, BC, to several hundred participants of two distinct versions of the animation-light show’s set-up.
Installation at the “Space Station” in New Westminster, presenting “hands-on” participation to thousands.
Another interactive installation at the Arts, Science and Technology Centre in Vancouver resulting in a permanent exhibit used by hundreds daily.
Produced animation for Disney T.V. movie “Hero in the Family” partially filmed in Vancouver. Shown on Disney Channel and CBC.
During Expo 86 produced large scale animation for B.C. Place’s “Halloween Show” as a backdrop to a theatre group.
Presented hands-on educational fun demonstrations at two Victoria elementary schools as part of gr. 5-6 physics curriculum. Photographs of students and effects.
1987
Hands-on installation at the interactive science centre in Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.
Hands-on installation at the “Impressions Five” Science Museum, Lansing, Michigan, USA
Hands-on installation at the Cumberland Science Museum, Nashville, Tennessee. Media coverage in Nashville newspaper and on television station.
Produced animation for David Foster’s “Symphony Sessions” video in Vancouver. Shown on CBC.
Set-up installation for prototype and end user analysis during 25 day live-in business plan workshop presented by University of Victoria’s Business and Industry Development Centre, Western Information Cooperative and the B.C. Youth Council. Produced business plans for Home Studio Kit and SpectralViewer.
1988
Hands-on demonstration for grades 1-6 at Beaver Creek Elementary School, Port Alberni, BC. Large scale lighting effects for fashion show, Tofino, BC. Large scale installation at Open Channel Gallery, Tofino, BC.
End user testing of Home Studio Kits and Spectralviewer.
Designed and built outdoor light laboratory for eight week summer program, Rainbow Adventures, presented by the Western Saanich Community Association.
Demonstrations for student teachers at UVIC pre-practicum workshop. Practicum presentation, hands-on, for grade 5+6 at Willows Elementary School relating to physics and optics curriculum.
1989-Present:
Hands-on demonstration to sixteen young children at day care centre, Victoria.
Extensive in-house research, development and design of prototypes for public use.
Add title
– New Animation Technique
– Endless Variety of Form, Colour, and Motion
– Educational Hands-on Art-Science
– Interactive Light Show & Animation
Spectrafocus is an innovative animation technique that allows home users to create and move multi-coloured spectral images on a nearby wall or screen.
A Spectrafocus device mounted in a sunny opening or in front of an artificial light source in a darkened area produces controlled spectral beams which are moved around and transformed using hand-held plastic mirrors and “Light Instruments” configured to project off floor and wall mirrors called “Effect Sheets”, or directly onto the wall or screen.
The colour, clarity, and intensity of sunlight makes it an ideal light source; however, Spectrafocus is easy to produce using artificial light sources called “SpectraProjectors” which range from battery powered flashlights to high-wattage sources that offer high quality optics and brightness.
The images can be choreographed to music, dance, theatre, and so on. They can be painted, photographed, videotaped, filmed, and computer modified. Spectrafocus images can be produced small or large, simple or complex, hand controlled or automated. Any spectral image can be combined with existing images.
Besides being great home entertainment, Spectrafocus can also be used for interactive art-science demonstrations and workshops, special effects. The concept, tools, and techniques are simple and inexpensive enough for children’s use worldwide.
Applications range from hand-held “SpectralViewers” to large scale lighting systems. Original spectral art prints of high quality made on large sheets of positive paper are a result of a simple process known as “Helioprinting”.
“Light Painting” uses a hand-held optical fibre “photon brush” to direct colours onto positive photographic paper to produce visually 3D art prints via a distinctly vivid colour medium.
Spectral images could also be very small and projected directly onto large format (120+mm) Imax-type film for intensely clear images of unsurpassed colour if filmed at the ISS or other satellite.
History of Spectrafocus
In 1980 Spectrafocus developed from ongoing research conducted by Paul Winstanley in Victoria British Columbia, Canada into the use of refracted sunlight and other natural stimuli as tools to explore the relationship between perception, consciousness, emotions, behaviour, and particularly the mind state Jamais-Vu: never seen, seeing as if for the first time, a childlike awareness.
During 1983-4, a collaboration with artist Eric J. Pittman resulted in the rapid development and public exposure of Spectrafocus, known then as Spectral Visions, at the “Unknown Gallery” in downtown Victoria. At the same time, a 6 month long Canada Council funded “Spectral Solarium” exhibit in Beacon Hill Park drew over 10,000 people whose enthusiastic participation demonstrated the value of further development.
Since 1985 Paul Winstanley has set up hands-on installations in five Art/Science Centres in Canada and the USA, produced animation for Disney and a David Foster film , produced art-science hands-on demonstrations and workshops at numerous local schools and hospitals, and provided interactive animation/lighting effects at public events.
Extensive in-house R&D has focused on low cost public applications and defined images and movement. The Solar Vision Society, founded in 1984, as a Charitable Educational Group promoting arts-science hands-on learning via user-friendly technologies. To achieve this, The Solar Vision Society promotes and facilitates the design and set up of exhibits and hands-on installations for schools, galleries, art-science centres and other public centres.
Spectrafocus Animations Group was founded in 1985 to provide consulting and services for producing Spectrafocus globally.
Contact: Paul Winstanley
Victoria, BC, Canada
paul@spectrafocus.ca
Spectrafocus Timeline
1980
Spectrafocus, a spectra focusing device, is conceived, designed, and built by Paul Winstanley . Extensive experimentation with solar spectra and the discovery of plastic mirror effect sheets, light instruments, and numerous other applications.
1983
Full scale installation at the Contemporary Art Show in the old Royal Bank, Govt. St., Victoria, B.C. during 10 day Swiftsure Festival. “Hands-on” concept pioneered.
Complete lab-studio setup at The Unknown Gallery, Douglas St., Victoria where “hands-on” participation in the research-development – presentation process was further developed.
Extensive experimentation, photography, Helioprinting, Light Painting, and videotaping.
Media coverage from Monday Magazine, Times Colonist, Vancouver Sun, Cable 10, Chek 6.
1984
6 month Canada Council funded “Spectral Solarium” in Victoria’s Beacon Hill Park presented free “hands-on” presentation to over 10,000 Victorians and visitors.
Various community interactions with institutions, local artists, and businesses. Extensive prototype testing, end user research, public response analysis, photography, videotaping and 16mm filming.
Media coverage from Times Colonist, Victoria Star, Cable 10, Chek 6.
Various Victoria elementary school hands-on presentations to Grades 3, 4, and 6 classes. Presented hands-on demonstrations to Glendale and Queen Alexandria Hospitals, Victoria
1985
Spectrafocus Studio Exhibit at Pembroke St. Victoria (6 month duration). Photographic techniques, various hand-held “Light Instruments” and the “all in one” hand-held “Spectral Viewer” developed.
Media Coverage: Monday Magazine, Times-Colonist, Vancouver Sun, Chek 6, CBC, CKVU 13.
Designed, constructed and supervised a large sunlight-artificial light hands-on installation for Sciexpo, a travelling art-science exposition (150 exhibits) in Tuscon, Arizona, USA. Photography, video tape, television and newspaper coverage of exhibit in Tuscon paper and TV station.
Returned to research in Victoria lab-studio where 1kw Spectraprojector designed and built. Bi-laterally symmetrical and remote controlled imagery produced.
1986
Presented “hands-on” demonstrations twice at the Arts, Science and Technology Centre in Vancouver, BC, to several hundred participants of two distinct versions of the animation-light show’s set-up.
Installation at the “Space Station” in New Westminster, presenting “hands-on” participation to thousands.
Another interactive installation at the Arts, Science and Technology Centre in Vancouver resulting in a permanent exhibit used by hundreds daily.
Produced animation for Disney T.V. movie “Hero in the Family” partially filmed in Vancouver. Shown on Disney Channel and CBC.
During Expo 86 produced large scale animation for B.C. Place’s “Halloween Show” as a backdrop to a theatre group.
Presented hands-on educational fun demonstrations at two Victoria elementary schools as part of gr. 5-6 physics curriculum. Photographs of students and effects.
1987
Hands-on installation at the interactive science centre in Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.
Hands-on installation at the “Impressions Five” Science Museum, Lansing, Michigan, USA
Hands-on installation at the Cumberland Science Museum, Nashville, Tennessee. Media coverage in Nashville newspaper and on television station.
Produced animation for David Foster’s “Symphony Sessions” video in Vancouver. Shown on CBC.
Set-up installation for prototype and end user analysis during 25 day live-in business plan workshop presented by University of Victoria’s Business and Industry Development Centre, Western Information Cooperative and the B.C. Youth Council. Produced business plans for Home Studio Kit and SpectralViewer.
1988
Hands-on demonstration for grades 1-6 at Beaver Creek Elementary School, Port Alberni, BC. Large scale lighting effects for fashion show, Tofino, BC. Large scale installation at Open Channel Gallery, Tofino, BC.
End user testing of Home Studio Kits and Spectralviewer.
Designed and built outdoor light laboratory for eight week summer program, Rainbow Adventures, presented by the Western Saanich Community Association.
Demonstrations for student teachers at UVIC pre-practicum workshop. Practicum presentation, hands-on, for grade 5+6 at Willows Elementary School relating to physics and optics curriculum.
1989-Present:
Hands-on demonstration to sixteen young children at day care centre, Victoria.
Extensive in-house research, development and design of prototypes for public use.