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For 50 years, ETC has developed professional lighting tools that are accessible to everyone. From small venues like schools, restaurants, and churches to large-scale environments such as theatres, casinos, and opera houses, our products have empowered artists, designers, and technicians worldwide. Whether in a local theatre or a grand performance venue, ETC lighting solutions are trusted to help bring creative visions to life. As we mark this milestone, we celebrate the collaborations and values that continue to shape our work.
At ETC, we’ve always seen light as more than just illumination. It’s a medium for artistic expression – something that can evoke emotion, tell stories, and transport audiences.
Lighting Consoles: A Legacy of Innovation
Our story began with a vision. On Christmas Eve, 1975, an 18-year-old college student proposed the idea of creating a state-of-the-art lighting console, one that could transform lighting control. By the following year, this idea led to the Mega Cue, the first product from ETC and the beginning of our journey in lighting technology.
Over time, we’ve continued to develop consoles that empower designers to focus on their creative process without being restricted by technical limitations. The Eos console family, launched in 2006, was a major milestone in this effort. With its intuitive interface, advanced color control, and seamless integration with LED fixtures, Eos revolutionized the way lighting designers approach productions. Since then, we’ve refined and expanded the Eos platform to meet the needs of increasingly complex and diverse productions. Today, the Eos family includes consoles for every venue size and type, from compact models for small theatres to flagship systems for world-class productions.
Lighting Fixtures: Supporting Artistic Expression
The Source Four, introduced in 1992, marked a pivotal moment in ETC's fixture development. Offering 40% more brightness than traditional 1000W lamps while consuming only 575W of power, it quickly became a favorite for its energy efficiency and versatility. With its precision optics and rotating barrel, designers could sculpt light in innovative ways. With over 3.5 million fixtures sold and numerous variations introduced, the Source Four continues to evolve, including the Source Four LED Series 3, which features enhanced color mixing and advanced LED technology. Additionally, we've expanded our fixture lineup to offer lighting designers a diverse range of options for theatrical, architectural, and broadcast applications.
Expanding Our Horizons
In 2017, we took another important step by acquiring High End Systems, adding the Hog series of consoles and a range of cutting-edge automated lighting technology to our portfolio. This acquisition allowed us to offer even greater creative flexibility and technical power, supporting both theatrical and live event lighting needs. The Hog series continues to be an important tool in concerts, festivals, and broadcasts, renowned for its robust performance and user-friendly interface.
Our recent innovations in automated lighting fixtures, like the SolaPix, Zeo, and Halcyon Series, have expanded the possibilities for designers to create powerful, intricate effects and precise lighting solutions. These fixtures offer advanced capabilities that make it easier than ever to craft dynamic, expressive lighting effects for both large-scale productions and intimate performances.
Illuminating Architecture
While ETC has long been associated with theatrical lighting, we’ve also expanded into architectural lighting, providing solutions like the Mosaic system to help designers transform entire buildings and public spaces into living works of art. Mosaic allows for the creation of lighting experiences that respond to time, movement, and sound, adding layers of dynamic light to museums, urban installations, and even landmarks.
Empowering Creatives Everywhere
As part of our commitment to empowering creativity at all levels, ETC has also made education and accessibility central to our mission. We support aspiring lighting professionals with training and mentorship opportunities, helping to bring new ideas to life in theatres and communities worldwide. Whether for a Broadway production, a community theatre, or an art installation, we strive to provide the tools and resources that help creative projects thrive.
Behind the Curtain: The People of ETC
None of this would be possible without the dedicated people behind ETC. Our team is made up of engineers, designers, customer support specialists, and many others who are united by a shared passion for lighting. It’s this spirit of collaboration and innovation that has enabled us to develop products that truly support the needs of artists and designers.
At ETC, creativity is not just about what we create but how we work. The Factory Art initiative, for example, brings creative expression into our Wisconsin headquarters, with installations that inspire the same sense of imagination and innovation that drives our product development.
Thank You for 50 Years – Here’s to Many More
As we look back on 50 years of helping artists, designers, and creators bring their visions to life, we are proud of our legacy and grateful for the opportunities we’ve had to contribute to the lighting industry. From the Source Four to the Eos console, and from theatrical lighting to architectural solutions, our journey has been about more than just technology – it’s been about empowering creativity.
We’re excited to continue to support the creative community and provide the tools that help designers and artists push the boundaries of what’s possible with light. We look forward to another 50 years of imagining, creating, and illuminating the world of light. Thank you for being part of this journey.
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