Litepanels LED panel (576 LEDs, 30×30 cm, 100W max, continuously dimmable) widely used for key light and close-up facial illumination.
Technical Details
The Velvet Light system is based on a matrix of 576 individual LEDs (a combination of daylight and tungsten LEDs) in a 30 x 30 cm panel. Power consumption is a maximum of 100 watts at full output, with passive cooling via aluminum fins. The beam angle is 70 degrees, and dimming is stepless from 0-100%. Three main variants are available: Velvet Light 1 (56W), Velvet Light 2 (100W), and the Velvet Light Mini (25W, 15 x 15 cm). All models support DMX control and offer a battery interface for V-Mount or Gold-Mount batteries.
History & Development
Litepanels introduced the first Velvet Light generation in 2016 in response to the growing demand for high-quality LED panels for professional film productions. Development was led by Pat Grosswendt after Vitec Group acquired Litepanels in 2013. The Velvet Light 2 followed in 2018 with improved color rendering and expanded control options. The Velvet Light 3, introduced in 2020, integrated Bluetooth connectivity and app control.
Practical Use in Film
Velvet Lights quickly established themselves as the standard for facial lighting in interviews and close-ups. Roger Deakins used arrays of Velvet Light 2 panels for diffuse room lighting in "Blade Runner 2049" (2017). In the Netflix series "Ozark," cinematographer Armando Salas systematically used Velvet Lights as key lights for interior shots to achieve the characteristic bluish color temperature. Their low power consumption makes them particularly attractive for location shoots without generators. The uniform light distribution eliminates multiple shadow effects that occur with point light sources.
Comparison & Alternatives
Competitor products such as ARRI SkyPanels or Kino Flo Celeb LEDs offer similar functionality but differ in size and light output. SkyPanels achieve higher luminous efficacy (up to 15,000 lux) but are significantly larger and heavier. Modern alternatives like ARRI Orbiter or Astera Titan Tubes additionally offer RGB color mixing, while Velvet Lights remain limited to bi-color technology. For budget productions, Aputure AL-M9 or Godox LED panels represent cost-effective alternatives but do not achieve the color quality of the Velvet Light series.