Airstar

Overview

Airstar is a French manufacturer of balloon lights, also known as lighting balloons. The company is considered the inventor and pioneer of balloon lighting for film production and has been active in this field for over 30 years. A balloon light consists of a diffuser envelope made of translucent fabric, equipped with light sources, which is filled with air or helium. The light source inside shines through the envelope, producing very soft, uniform light that illuminates the space almost shadow-free and all around (360 degrees). The brand is also represented in the North American market through Airstar America (with locations in Orlando, Florida, and Sylmar, California).

Product Families

Airstar offers several series specifically for film, video, and photography. The envelope determines the light's characteristics, while the light source determines its intensity and color temperature.

• Sphere / Ellipse – spherical or elliptical balloons for all-around diffuse ambient light.
• Tube – elongated, tube-shaped light source.
• Pad and Grip Pad – flat balloon softlights for directed, soft area lighting.
• NEO Film / NEO Pad – more compact LED series for film and video.
• Infinity – newer LED generation with RGB color mixing and control via DMX/CRMX as well as app.

Depending on the model, light sources used include Tungsten (incandescent), HMI (daylight discharge lamps), or LED. Inflation is model-dependent, using air (self-supporting due to internal pressure) or helium (floating).

On-Set Usage

Airstar balloon lights are primarily used where conventional spotlights are difficult to position: for night exterior shoots, in rooms that are hard to light, at historically protected locations, and in the studio. Advantages include soft, glare-free all-around light, low weight, and flexible positioning – for example, hanging from a crane or rig, on a stand, or, when filled with helium, freely floating above the scene. According to the manufacturer, the technology has been used in productions such as Titanic, Mission: Impossible, and Pirates of the Caribbean, among others.