Ben Nye Foundation SALE!

SALE! Just a heads up to you makeup lovers!
We have a bit of overstock and need to pare down our inventory.
What does this mean? You save!

PNTA has marked down ALL of its Ben Nye Matte Foundation, both online and in its retail store! This is an overstock reduction, so hurry while supplies last!

June - PNTA and Rosco Paint Sale

PNTA is having a Paint sale!

All Rosco paints, coatings, varnishes, primers and tints are 10% off through the end of June '09

• Flourescents
• Iddings Deep Colors
• Off Broadway Paint
• Primers & Acrylics
• SuperSaturated Paints
• Video Paints

Limited to stock on hand; not to be combined with any other discounts or offers.

This sales is valid both in our retail store and online store.

Face Painting Your Favorite Sports Teams Colors

Its no secret that theatre folk are very resourceful.

Recently we've had a few requests for finding face and body paints for showing support for your favorite sports team; specifically for MLS and NFL where fans want to stand out.

We recommend Ben Nye's MagiColor Liquid Paints. They're highly pigmented and dry quickly and are fairly smudge resistant. You can apply with a brush or a sponge.

For Seattle fans:
Seattle Seahawks (NFL) - Green and Blue
Seattle Sounders FC (MLS) - Lime Green and Blue

Lighting Equipment Maintenance

ANNUAL OVERHAUL

ELLIPSOIDALS

1) EXAMINE CONNECTOR

• Is it installed properly?
• Strain Relief?
• Proper wiring? (green wired to green = ground, black wired to gold = hot, white wired to silver = neutral. Hot separated from ground and neutral.)
• Need replacement connectors? Edison/PBG? Stagepin/GSP? Twistlock/TLG?
  

2) EXAMINE WIRE LEADS

• Check for cuts and abrasions. If wire is cut or damaged, replace it. For a quick fix, isolate wires carefully with electrical tape.
• Does wire have a protective sleeve? Consider adding a nylon sleeve.

3) REMOVE LAMP BASE (lamp housing)

• Remove lamp from socket
• Don't touch glass with bare hands. Use a clean cloth.
• Need new lamps?
  

Check for:

• Corrosion in socket? replace socket.
• Very mild corrosion can be treated with Cramolin.
• Loose connections to socket? tighten them.
• Ground attached?
• Signs of heat/arcing damage? Look for the cause, a loose connection, stray wires, and repair.
• Is the lamp the correct one for the fixture?
• Reinsert lamp and set base aside someplace safe and clean.
• Need new sockets?
  

4) REMOVE OR OPEN LENS BARREL

• Remove lenses and clean with glass cleaner and paper towels.
• Make sure you have the correct lenses for the fixture.
• Replace broken or badly chipped lenses.
• Dust out lens tube.
• Reassemble lens barrel.
• Make sure appropriate clips, retaining rings, fieldstops, etc., are in proper places.
• Tip: If lenses are broken, check that the new lenses are a little loose in the housing, to allow for heat expansion.

5) CHECK SHUTTERS

• Insulating knobs on all shutters? Replace knob or shutter if they are missing.
• Too tight? Try graphite spray lubricant or 4-Tec DryMoly (no oil lubricants allowed)
• Too loose? See if there is a way to add tension to the assembly, or tear apart shutter assembly and see if any plates are missing.
• If you do tear apart shutter assembly, keep track of what order the parts belong in.
• Too warped? Hammer against a steel plate, or replace.

6) VISUALLY INSPECT EXTERIOR

Can it use a bit of paint? High heat stove paint works well. Do painting while fixture is disassembled to avoid getting paint on lenses.

7) CLEAN REFLECTOR

Use a soft cloth and water or very diluted glass cleaner (ammonia).

8) CHECK ALL MOUNTING HARDWARE

Yoke bolts, handles, etc., all present and working?

Anything stripped, worn or not 'holding'. Replace bad hardware.

Check main c-clamp bolt: does it move freely by hand, or do you need a wrench? Replace bolt if bent or stripped. Lubricate clamp bolts with WD40.

9) REASSEMBLE INSTRUMENT

10) ALIGN INSTRUMENT

Adjust the relationship between the lamp and the reflector for maximum even light output. Method varies by manufacturer, but all adjust both the lamp's depth and its angle in the reflector.

Note: Always compare instruments with others of the same type to tell what parts are needed.

FOR FRESNELS

Same as above, but skip section 5, and you won't need to remove lens to clean it.

On fresnels, check the lens train (spot to flood adjustment) for smooth operation and proper locking (or friction) hold of flood position.

RECOMMENDED TOOL LIST

• crescent wrench
• screwdrivers
• stand for aligning
• paper towels
• glass cleaner
• gloves (to protect hands from heat while aligning)
• pop riveter (useful for repairing some instruments, and for replacing insulating knobs on shutters)
• "Rocco Wrench" lens ring pliers (or long-nosed pliers) for removing and replacing lens rings
• Pin Splitter (for maintaining male stage pin connectors)
• 4-Tec Dry Moly or Graphite Spray for shutters
• Cramolin De-Oxidizer for treating mildly damaged
• sockets
• GamCheck

SeaChanger Demo!

PNTA invites to you see check out the SeaChanger from Ocean Optics.

Join us for our demo on:
Wednesday, May 13th, 10am - 12pm, 2pm - 4pm
Thursday, May 14th, 10am - 12pm, 2pm - 4pm
615 S. Alaska St, Seattle WA 98108

The SeaChanger is a milestone in the evolution of theatrical lighting -- SeaChanger is the CYMG color changer for ETC Source Four Ellipsoidals. Through unique, patented processes, the ESTA Award winning SeaChanger yields the most robust and highest transmission dichroics available. You control the color, intensity and saturation of theatrical and studio lighting with unprecedented levels of precision and ease.

Some great features are:
- Near-silent operation with superior dichroic color technology
- Seamless color transitions in < 1 second

Learn more about the SeaChanger from Ocean Optics.

Testing Scenic Paints

How can I test colors before buying gallons and gallons of paint?

Rosco and Sculptural Arts both make test kits that include 1-ounce samples of the colors they make. Rosco offers a Scenic Paint Kit Sampler, Off-Broadway Kit, Iddings Deep Color Kit, Supersaturated Kit and Vivid FX Special Effects Kit. Sculptural Arts offers a Starter Kit for their Artist's Choice line.

3rd Saturdays!

Hey everyone!
PNTA is going to be open on the 3rd Saturday of the month, starting this Saturday March 21st!

Come down and get your tape, paint, gel, or any other essentials!