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Fluorescent Flicker Effect


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I'm DP'ing an upcoming commercial spot and need to create a fluorescent flicker effect. I'm trying to recreate the look of an overhead fluorescent source that will be flicking above the frame . The source will not be seen in camera. 

My first thought was to replicate it with Astera Tubes but I'm looking for another more cost-effective option. 

 

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated! 

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Well, you could always get a fluorescent tube with a conventional switch starter, and put it on a variac. Or just wiggle the plug in and out.

Bear in mind this may create unpleasant rolling shutter artefacts on at least some cameras; there aren't many lights out there that fix it.

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A few times I had some Quasar crossfades flicker unexpectedly. It turns out it was the hand dimmer they were plugged into.

This article says that X10 or Power Line Carrier (PLC) dimmers can flicker LEDs, because the loads are so small.

The hand dimmer I was using was a rotary style. If you can test some dimmers with Quasars, you'll have cheap flicker.

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