What's happening
Claypaky used PLASA 2026 to debut the new B-EYE multi-lens family with an IP66 rating and RGBL color engine (models K30, 12, 7), plus the Arolla Aqua outdoor series for gobo projections and long-throw beams. The Arolla Aqua HP hits over 66,000 lumens from a 1400 W LED with 3.5-55 degree zoom; the IP66 profile targets festivals, outdoor productions and permanent installs. The launch underscores the industry move toward sealed, weatherproof, optically flexible outdoor fixtures.
Why it matters for buyers
For a retailer, venue or signage buyer, the practical effect is simple: the unit that reads on your wall at your ambient light, with your artwork, beats the one with the bigger number on the box. Specification order — distance, image size, ambient, then brightness — decides the result.
It also changes lead-time risk. Custom gobos and certified outdoor builds need briefing before the date is fixed; the projector is rarely the long pole, the artwork and certification are.
The technical angle
Throw distance, not wattage, governs what you see on the wall. A 60 W unit aimed at 6 m reads very differently from the same unit at 15 m; specify the distance first, then let brightness follow.
What to specify
Before you request a quote, lock these down:
- Lead time on a custom gobo versus a stock pattern
- Ingress rating if it lives outdoors or gets washed down
- Gobo material: glass for longevity and colour, metal for cheap short runs
- Mounting surface and whether the bracket can hold aim
