X-Laser LD Challenge: Watch LD Steve Kosiba Bring Laser Effects to Life

The X-Laser LD Challenge: Creativity Takes the Spotlight

Earlier this year, we invited lighting designers to get creative and submit ideas as part of the X-Laser LD Challenge. LDs sent in their favorite moving light effects, challenging us to recreate them using lasers; first to prove it could be done, and second to show just how much Mercury can deliver.

Now, those concepts are coming to life through a five-part YouTube series, where lighting programmer Steve Kosiba and X-Laser guru Gabby Camassar take on the challenge and brings these ideas to life with Mercury. Throughout the series, Steve and Gabby break down how these effects are programmed using Mercury on grandMA2, Onyx, and Avolites.

It’s a behind-the-scenes look at real-world laser programming, creative problem solving, and the full versatility Mercury brings to the table.

Programming a Ballyhoo with Lasers: Steve and Gabby’s First Challenge

To kick off the X-Laser LD Challenge, Steve Kosiba and Gabby Camassar take on a backstage staple: the ballyhoo. Using the Mercury control platform, they rebuild the sweeping, kinetic energy of a traditional moving light ballyhoo — but this time, it’s 100% laser-driven. It’s the perfect proof that with the right tools, even the classics can hit harder, sharper, and smarter.

Programming Color Scrolls On Lasers

On the next episode of LD Challenge, Gabby and Steve take on the chaos of programming color scrolls.

They dive into MA2, Avolites, and Obsidian—proving that even with lasers, color can be clean. Watch them dial it in.

Creating A Flower Effect With Lasers

Think the Robe Spiider’s flower effect is just for movers? Think again. With X-Laser’s Mercury control system and a little console creativity, you can dial in a laser version of the iconic look. In this tutorial, we’ll show you how to build the effect step-by-step on Avolites Titan and Obsidian Onyx.

Weekly Drops You Won’t Want to Miss

New videos are set to drop every week. Each segment will feature a different community-submitted laser effect, with Steve and Gabby programming and executing them using X-Laser’s Mercury firmware on your favorite consoles.

With five parts in total, this series is packed with ideas you can steal, adapt, and make your own. Whether you're looking to load fresh laser effects into your show file or just want to spark new programming ideas, each drop is designed to get your gears turning. From classic looks to creative twists, Steve Kosiba and the X-Laser team show how far you can push lasers when you have the right tools — and the right mindset.

Plug In To The Updates

Each week, as a new installment of the X-Laser LD Challenge goes live, we’ll update this page with the new video and our take on the programming goodness. Or to get it straight from the source, be sure to subscribe to X-Laser’s YouTube Channel so you catch every new drop the moment it goes live. The full playlist of the series can be found here.

From Us

At @LimeLightWired, we’re all about pushing what’s possible — and the X-Laser LD Challenge hits that right on the head. Real ideas from real LDs, turned into real programming — all powered by lasers that feel like part of the rig. While Mercury’s library of prebuilt looks is impressive, it’s the engine’s flexibility — from beam shaping to cue stacking — that unlocks true custom programming for any design.

We’re hyped to be part of showcasing how much creativity, precision, and pure fun Mercury unlocks when you put it in the right hands.

Stay Tuned for More Laser Innovation

The X-Laser LD Challenge series is just getting started. Tune in each week to see what LD Steve Kosiba and X-Laser guru Gabby Camassar bring community-sourced laser effects to life using Mercury.