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If you're looking for the best laser software, with the most features, most
advanced technology, and most support -- Lasershow Designer 2000 is the one
for you. Here are some of the
features that set LD2000 apart from any other laser software. Click on
any topic to jump to specific information:
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 Pangolin's LD and LD2000 programs are used
by more people than any other laser system in the world. We
have over 10000 users, spread over 63 countries. Other
systems are far less popular, with fewer users and less of a
global reach. If you need to hire a programmer, or rent a system
in a far-off city, you have a smaller selection.
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Shows created using LD and LD2000 have won far
more international artistic
awards in recent years. Other systems
are far behind LD's record. Some systems have won few or no
awards, even after years of being on the market.
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The hardware and software in LD2000 has won far
more international technology
awards than any other system. This includes a 2000 ILDA
Technology Achievement Award for the QM2000 board that is the
heart of Lasershow Designer 2000. Other systems have only
a few, or no, technology awards.
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 LD2000 gives you an entirely new class of laser effects to work
with: photorealistic
raster frames. Pangolin, along with
Lightspeed Design, invented "laser photos" for
standard projectors in 1995. Since that time, we have increased the
resolution and number of colors possible. These improvements
give LD2000 even better-looking photos,
thanks to its full-color system and its highest-available laser
resolution. Most other
systems do not offer raster frames at all, and the systems that
have raster frames do not offer the truly photorealistic color
rendition that LD2000 offers.
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LD2000 has output up to 130,000 points per second. This
is especially important for raster (video) frames, and to
support any faster scanners that may be introduced.
Most other
systems have standard rates up to 50,000 pts/sec. --
166% slower.
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LD2000 can mix and match soft and hard line endings in
a single frame. You can draw a
hard-edge graphic such as a building, along with soft-edge
graphics such as wispy clouds, in the same frame. Most other systems do not offer soft line endings, or
they only let you choose between either hard
or soft -- but not at the same time.
-
 LD2000
has comprehensive
DMX512 capability, with the ability to easily
control intelligent lights and other DMX devices. Over 200
DMX fixture definitions are included so
you can get started right away. This is especially important
since DMX is the control system chosen by the International
Laser Display Association.
Most other systems either can't control DMX, or use a hard-to-program method that makes certain effects
impractical or impossible.
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LD2000 has realtime video tracing, either in raster or outline modes,
using the included Lasershow Video VST program.
Most other systems do not offer live video tracing.
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LD2000 has the broadest multimedia support including
CD audio, MP3, WAV, AVI, MPG, MOV, WMA, WMV and MIDI files.
Most other
systems only offer CD or WAV formats.
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LD2000 can synchronize the laser display to external
signals for video or film synchronization. This goes beyond
SMPTE timecode, to having the laser output trigger at the exact
same time that a video or film system begins showing a
frame. Most other
systems do not offer frame-accurate video
sync and some other systems do not even offer
SMPTE timecode support.
-
 LD2000
includes over 120 free
laser shows and demos. (Just the
shows alone are worth far more than the cost of an LD2000
system!) Many of these shows have won ILDA,
Brewster and Pangolin awards.
Most other systems have around
20 shows,
and only on their most expensive systems.
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LD2000 includes over 300,000 frames
including the entire Lightspeed Laser Animation Library.
(As with shows, the value of the frames far exceeds the cost of
an LD2000 system.) The total number counts frames
within shows, clip-art frames, and frames from
International
Laser Productions are also included with all LD2000 systems.
-
 Only
LD2000 has a clipart search function to help you find
the frame you need. You can browse through your entire
collection, or search for specific criteria such as frame notes,
frame type, or colors. No other laser system has such a
comprehensive way of quickly finding the frames you need.
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LD2000 has enhanced file dialog boxes to aid in show,
frame and image selection. As you select a file to load, you
can preview laser frames and bitmap files, and see descriptive
text for frames, and shows. Most other systems
do not have enhanced dialog boxes or any other way of previewing what you are loading.
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LD2000 lets you easily publish frames
and animations to Internet web pages. With just a few mouse
clicks, clients anywhere in the world can see storyboards of
their show, or you can show clipart frames that you're selling (click
here for an example). No other laser
systems have the ability to publish directly to web pages.
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 If you need to trace 2D artwork,
LD2000 has direct support
for pressure-sensitive digitizing tablets such as the Wacom
Intuos. With pressure-sensitivity, you can easily create soft
(faded) lines just by varying the pen pressure.
Most other systems do not directly support digitizing tablets
or pressure-sensitivity. In general, other systems can use tablets
only in "mouse" mode, which severely restricts the
drawing area resolution.
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If you need to create frames from existing
digital pictures, only LD2000 has the ability to auto-trace color pictures in
BMP, JPG and GIF format. And it is the only system where you can
choose between traditional outline traces, and new
photorealistic raster traces. No other system has color
tracing; one system has monochrome tracing.
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LD2000 has the most font and typeface
capabilities. First, it supports the most popular typefaces:
Windows' TrueType fonts -- there are thousands available.
Second, it supports most Windows characters, including Chinese
and other Far Eastern characters. Third, it comes with 26
special "laser" typefaces .
No other system has this range of support for fonts. Many do not
even support TrueType.
-
 If you need to create 3D frames,
LD2000 lets you "draw"
directly in 3D using the MicroScribe digitizing arm. Just
trace the optional MicroScribe arm around your 3D object or
model. Only one other system is MicroScribe compatible.
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LD2000 can import 10 different laser formats.
Most other systems can import about half this number, at best.
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LD2000 can export complete shows or parts of a show as a
series of ILDA frames. You can create a show on LD2000, and
then provide it to any system that imports ILDA frames.
Most other systems do not offer this capability, so you are locked into their
formats for show (or scene) production.
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LD2000 can export complete shows or parts
of a show as a Windows AVI media file. You can create a show on LD2000, and
then turn it into an AVI file to give to
non-laser clients for preview purposes. No
other system has this capability, so you are
must do the demo in laser and in person.
-
 Only
LD2000 includes a free plug-in for the popular
Winamp
media player for Windows. This AVS/Laser plug-in was written by
the author of Winamp himself: Justin Frankel. This plug-in allows you to
automatically generate abstracts, graphics and beam effects
which are precisely synchronized to any media file. For
an example of some of the effects possible,
click here. For a video
showing the Winamp plug-in in action,
click
here. No other laser
systems include a plug-in for Winamp.
-
 LD2000
is the most compatible with Windows-based hardware and software.
The QM2000 card plugs into any Windows computer with a
standard PCI connection. Alternatively, you can use the
QM2000.NET which attaches to any
notebook computer. The LD2000 software runs under Windows 95, 98, ME,
2000, XP and VISTA.
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Only LD2000 lets you program your own
applications. Using our LD2000
Software Development Kit (SDK),
you can expand the capabilities of the system. We provide access
to LD2000's deep-level functions. Clients around the world are
using this to create specialized programs and shows, with their own
control screens.
-
 Pangolin
gives you the lowest-cost, highest-function live controller:
Lasershow Performer. For less than $1700, you get a
professionally-built console, able to withstand disco-type
constant hard use. Other systems use the
computer keyboard, or have higher priced or lower-quality
consoles.
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 LD2000 comes with a 50-page user manual, and
eight help
files covering over 700 topics, including laser fundamentals
as well as program specifics and tips. The
help files alone total over 4MB of information. No other system has
such comprehensive documentation.
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LD2000 has lifetime free updates. You can always
download the latest version of your
software at no additional charge (or get the latest installation
CD/DVD for only a nominal shipping/handling fee).
Users of our older LD system had free updates for all eight years of
the product's lifespan. At least one other system charges for
updates.
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LD2000 has low-priced upgrades. For upgrades within the
LD2000 system (example: from Basic to Pro) you just pay the cost
difference. If Pangolin develops a whole new system, you can
usually upgrade for about half price during the first year. This
makes it easy and affordable to stay with Pangolin.
Other
systems may charge more for upgrades, or for new systems.
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Pangolin has comprehensive
phone and e-mail support, with a staff of
eight people dedicated to LD2000 hardware and software. We try to have
24-hour phone support, so you can get the answers you
need at just about any time, day or night. To help you, our staff speaks
English, Spanish, Dutch, German, Portuguese
and Russian. Other
companies may have
smaller staffs or may be harder to contact.
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Pangolin has the most extensive website of any laser
software company. There are over 700 webpages here at
Pangolin.com, covering our
products, free downloads, general laser information, and much
more. The site itself makes it easy to find the information you
need. Other companies provide much less information to
clients and potential users -- or may even have outdated
information.
NOTE: All information comparing LD2000 to other systems is
to the best of our knowledge; it is based on public
information, user comments, etc. Please
contact Pangolin
if you have any changes or updates to this information. This
comparison is ©2007, Pangolin Laser Systems Inc. All rights
reserved.
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