Which Laser Is Right For Me? (Our Flowchart Will Help You Choose)

If you’re curious about lasers and perhaps unsure which projector will provide the effects you need, we’ve put together this helpful flowchart and guide to lead you through the selection process.

The most important questions to ask when picking a laser light show projector system are: 

1. What kind of laser user or lighting pro are you?

2. What do you want the laser to do for you and your events?

3. What would you like to use to control the laser?

With those questions as a guide, we’ll include our handy graphic below. If you prefer, keep reading through each question set below for a bit more detail that can help you know you’re making the right choice in laser. Note that these recommendations are based on our current lineup as of mid-late 2025, and we'll try to update the flowchart and blog post as our lineup evolves.

Flowchart: CLICK HERE OR ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE

PDF Flowchart download link HERE.

Q1A: What kind of laser user or lighting pro are you?

“I am a professional lighting designer or production company owner…”

If you find yourself regularly designing light shows for touring bands, music festivals or venue integrations, we designed our production-grade lasers, Skywriter and Triton, for you. 

“I am a mobile DJ, multimedia artist, private party host, hobbyist, nightclub or small venue owner, or holiday decorator…”

[SKIP TO *** BELOW]

 

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Q2A: What do you prefer to control lights and lasers with?

“I use a professional lighting console such as grandMA, Avolites, Obsidian, ChamSys, etc.”

Perhaps the best part is that all of our Skywriter and Triton models come standard with our Mercury Laser Control firmware integrated, which lets you patch and program the lasers using the lighting console and control protocols you already know and use (sACN, DMX+RDM, etc.).

“I am familiar with ‘legacy’ laser control options and the hardware and software requirements.”

If you have some familiarity with pro-grade lasers already, perhaps using “legacy” software by Pangolin (Beyond or Quickshow), we can make Skywriter or Triton systems that have FB4 integrated into them. Contact our sales team for more information on those.

 

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Q3A: Are most of the events you do indoors or outdoors?

“Most of the events we do are indoors. Small concert halls, nightclubs, corporate events, ballrooms, etc.”

Our Skywriter systems generally comply with IP62/IP63 standards (light to moderate rain tolerance) and are suitable for occasional outdoor use. Check them out here.

“We do a mix of indoor and outdoor (stadiums, festivals, parks, etc.), and don’t want to worry about weather affecting our lasers.”

Our Triton lasers are IP65 and ready for the most demanding outdoor installs and weather conditions. Check them out here.

 

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Q4A: What size venues (in terms of audience members) do you typically work in?

Whether you choose a Skywriter or Triton projector, here is a chart that covers some general guidelines for what power level of projector(s) would be best:

Remember that laser impact has a lot to do with ambient lighting and the amount of haze or fog in the venue, so the darker the environment is and the more haze you can disperse, the better. 

It’s also typically more impactful to have a higher number of less-powerful laser fixtures instead of a smaller number of higher-powered fixtures. For example, we’d recommend a setup of four (4) 10W lasers and two (2) 20W lasers instead of a setup with just two (2) 40W lasers. Although the total combined laser power is the same in that scenario (80W), having more fixtures will produce a more visually impactful and better-balanced performance design.

Get a free, no obligation quote on production-grade laser systems at this link.

 

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***Continued from above, Q1B: “What kind of laser user or lighting pro are you?

“I am a mobile DJ, multimedia artist, private party host, hobbyist, nightclub or small venue owner, or holiday decorator…”

If you fit any of the descriptions in the quote above, we’ve got several suitable entry-level and budget-friendly options available. These include the LaserCube by Wicked Lasers as well as our own Aurora series systems, plus some other tools and gear depending on your needs.

 

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Q2B: What kind of laser effects are you looking to create?

“I want to project my company logo, custom text or themed animations for parties, weddings, events, and holidays.”

For anyone seeking to project laser graphics, you’ll need a control solution that typically includes a computer running laser-specific software. Here’s a brief rundown.

Our most popular recommendation for folks seeking to make custom laser graphics displays is the LaserCube by Wicked Lasers. It comes in a variety of power levels and feature sets, and operates using the super simple (and free) LaserOS software that runs on any PC or Mac, as well as most mobile devices. LaserOS includes hundreds of pre-installed animations and patterns while giving you the ability to create your own, too. The "cube" is battery-operated for portability (3-4 hour battery life) and can be operated wirelessly via WiFi, although we recommend connecting it to the control device via RJ45/Ethernet cable for maximum signal stability.

Another solution for graphics projections is to use a more traditional laser controller using ILDA connections and laser-specific software such as Pangolin Quickshow. The LaserCube Ultra has ILDA ports, as do our Skywriter HPX M-2 and Mobile Beat Mercury systems, so they work well for graphics displays due to their high-speed galvanometer scanners. You can also experiment with other software and control solutions such as Liberation, and connect using DACs such as the Ether Dream 4 by Jacob Potter.

“I want to make bold and impactful liquid sky and beam effects in the air.”

Laser software such as LaserOS and Quickshow also include built-in patterns and designs for aerial beam and colorful “liquid sky” effects, so you can achieve those effects using a computer-based “control station.” However, if you want simple liquid sky or beam effects and want to control the laser(s) using only a simple DMX controller, you’re still in luck.

Our Aurora series is the simplest and most cost-effective way to create eye-catching liquid sky laser effects. These five affordable models can be controlled by any simple DMX board or wing that allows for control of 9 or more channels, and all Aurora series models include sound-active and automatic modes via DMX, as well. Here’s a quick breakdown of those models:

• Aurora 4C: 4-aperture static colors, red, green, blue, magenta

• Aurora Emerald: 4-aperture, all green

• Aurora Cobalt: 4-aperture, all blue

• Aurora Crimson: 4-aperture, all red

• Caliente Aurora: Single aperture with RGBCMYW mixing functionality
  
  

“I want to create complex abstract effects like lissajous and nearly infinite kaleidoscopic patterns from my fingertips.”

In this case, your best bet is to control the laser(s) with a Radiator by Neon Captain, which is a powerful, portable laser synthesizer. For these types of effects, we’d recommend a laser projector with fast galvanometer scanners such as the Mobile Beat Mercury or Skywriter HPX M-2.

 

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Q3B: What kinds of venues do you typically set up in?

For the entry-level laser user, hobbyist or mobile entertainer, here is a version of the chart above with recommendations for laser power level based on venue size. Remember that ambient lighting and the amount of haze or fog in the venue are key, so these recommendations assume a fairly dark setting with sufficient atmospheric material (haze or fog).

We understand that a conversation can also be the best guide of them all, so we’re here to help consult on the best laser system for your event, install or tour. Call us at 866-702-7768 for a no-pressure chat with our expert team of laser fanatics, or simply email sales@x-laser.com anytime. We look forward to hearing from you!