This was a stage design created for FBC Lafayette‘s Youth DiscipleNow. Using 10′ wide Taipei Silk from Dazian Fabrics, they created an awesome backdrop flown from their 40′ ceiling. Although you cant see it very well in the photos, they used 4′x8′ sheets of white coroplast hung in a random pattern used as an additional projection screen/backdrop.
For the light pillars they used 4′X8′ sheets of natural coroplast scored on one side, every foot and folded into a 1′ square column. Then set atop an LED wash light and voila! an awesome LED column.
Talk to Noble Mosby if you have questions about the design and post your questions here!
noblemosby.com – noble.mosby@fbclaf.org
I write and speak about the creative process – especially for churches. Call me a resource for the church creative wanting to make their ministry better.
Do you have a recommended Coroplast supplier?
I’d suggest finding a local supplier…they can provide you with free samples and help you with getting the right sizes.
I just picked up a free sample of Natural Coroplast this morning. :)
This site is AMAZING!
What’s the best way to drape fabric (that is 124″ wide) from a horizontal truss? Not just from one point using griff clips, but from all the way across the width of the fabric?
Your picture above looks like the fabric is held from multiple places, or all the way across. (stage left)
Please Help!
I have done this before. I had a channel sewn into the fabric along its entire length. Then I slid in a pole onto the channel. I then attached to pole to the truss using c-clamps. I have used this method for many school graduation ceremonies.
Hey Dave,
The Griff Clips are amazing! Thats what we used to attach the fabric in this design. One way is to put griff clips every 1-2 feet, then push the clips closer together letting the fabric sag in-between each clip. Thus, giving some ripples in the fabric. You could also stretch it tight if thats the look you’re going for. If you don’t want to use the Griff Clips, you can either get your fabric pre-finished when you buy it or, you can use duct tape to add stability to the top of your fabric for the grommets.
One note. In our sanctuary, the bottom of our catwalks is about 8 feet ABOVE the bottom of the cloth “cloud” where you see the fabric starting. So, it starts as a point but there is room there for it to widen before you actually see it. Also, the only fabric in the design that is 10′ wide are the two pieces in the front. The ones in the back, hanging straight down, are regular 60″ bolts you’d buy from your local fabric store.
Hope this answers your question. If not, let me know.
Thanks!
If you are looking for a Coroplast Distributor. We used Piedmont Plastics for our Christmas Design. They have warehouses all over the US. For this design we only needed white coloplast so, I went to our local sign shop and bought blanks from there. Most sign shops get free shipping on all their coroplast and a lot of times that will be cheaper depending on the quantity of sheets you need.
Hey Noble, thank you for this picture! What LED wash lights are you using for the pillars?
Jamie,
The lights we had underneath the columns were Robe LED REDBlinder 2-48. It was really cool because the column actually fit perfectly on these lights. The area around the lights and inside the outer “frame” is exactly 1 foot which, if you have a 4×8 sheet of coroplast.. it works great… Let me know if I can help you in any other way.
What did you use to attach the pieces of coroplast to create the box’s that high up? Also what is the difference in natural coroplast and normal coroplast?
Thanks your design looked awesome!
We used regular clear packing tape. I was in a hurry when making these so I dont recommend that for a long term solution. You could possibly use some type of glue, maybe hot glue or something like that to run down the edge. Also, if you order extra coroplast you need to put a top on the column to keep the light inside or else it will shoot up to the ceiling. It helps it glow better.
Natural coroplast is just the "color" that is Translucent.
I know this is an old post, but what thickness of Coroplast do you use for this? The local place that carries it doesn't have 2mm thick, but they have 4mm and 10mm.
I tried to recreate it myself…and I used the standard kind that's used for real estate signs. Probably the 4mm. Probably the thinner the material the better it will glow.
what is cheaper lighting that can be uses i realised the Robe LED REDBlinder 2-48. is quite an expensive light way aboove budget.
check cheaplights.com. they are cheaper quality but if your budget is limited it might be a good option for you
When you say you scored the coroplast on one side are you used a razor blade or are you just creating a crease and bending it? Sorry we plan on making a few of these for a youth event at the end of the month and dont want to mess them up.
how much would the columns cost, about a roundabout figure. Thanks
the columns (without lights) would probably be about $12 each. Coroplast sells for about that much. The lights would be anywhere from $100-$300 each.
Is the natural color the same as white? Also, what mm did you use?
Natural is actually semi translucent. While white is opaque. The thinner the better if you want the light to shine through. Hope that helps.
I made 4 pillars in one evening. It was quite easy. Used the Natural coroplast, but had to trim the ends of the sheets, which are typically cut back and forth as the sheets move through the machines, so one side is about 1 inch longer than the other. If you don’t trim them square, you will get an unlevel pillar. You only score the one side or the sheet will separate. I used packing tape and hot glue. I just need to find LED lights to go inside. We have never used LED’s so I have to do some research. Have already checked out cheaplights.com, not sure if they ship to Canada.
I found some Chauvet SlimPar 56 lights for the pillars. They fit inside perfectly and produce a really nice glow. Got a ton of compliments on them.
Hi Noble,
I was just admiring your handy work here. It looks beautiful!
Can you tell me more about the fabric used? How do you light it up? Is the fabric expensive? Does it have to be silk?
Thanks, doug