IDEA AND APPROACH
COLOREDGE CS3200X
Made by people. For people.
Handcrafted light art meets Japanese engineering.
A look behind the scenes.
Generative AI is changing the way visual content is created. This trend is here to stay, and AI tools can be an immense help. For us as monitor manufacturers, one thing remains certain: precision is essential, whether an image was photographed, filmed, drawn, or generated using a prompt. However, we’re also convinced that true creativity comes only from humans.
That’s why we made a conscious decision regarding the key visuals for our new ColorEdge CS3200X: We wanted real images that no algorithm can create—one-of-a-kind works born in reality, through ideas, light, and skill, created by a real artist.
In Olaf Schieche, also known as ZOLAQ, we found the artist who embodies all of this, and we invited him to the studio.
Making of CS3200X Key Visual
The Path to the Subjects
THE ARTIST
ZOLAQ – Olaf Schieche
Olaf Schieche discovered light painting in 2011 and has since dedicated himself entirely to it. Under his stage name ZOLAQ, he is now one of the best-known light painting artists in the German-speaking world.
Light painting is the art of painting with light. In a single long-exposure shot, fantastical worlds come to life—without any image manipulation or compositing. He paints using anything that produces light: flashlights, light tubes, fire, or pyrotechnic effects, as well as numerous light modifiers, tools, and Plexiglas elements built by ZOLAQ himself. Vibrant colors and strong contrasts play a crucial role in ZOLAQ’s works. So it’s no surprise that he also relies on our ColorEdge monitors for his work.
Olaf Schieche shares his expertise in numerous workshops and seminars.
→ Learn moreabout ZOLAQ: www.zolaq.de
Interview with ZOLAQ
Putting the Idea into Practice
When a Monitor Becomes Part of a Work of Art
For the shoot, we rented the Darkhall Film Studio in Kamen, which can be completely darkened. Ideal conditions for light painting. We placed the ColorEdge CS3200X on a pedestal in the center of the room. Then ZOLAQ took over and created fantastic worlds around the monitor.
At the same time, the camera’s live feed was fed directly back into the CS3200X. The resulting artwork appeared on the screen in real time and, through the repeated incorporation of the monitor view, became an integral part of the composition multiple times.
The EIZO team was able to follow the work in progress live on another ColorEdge CG2700X and provide immediate feedback. This allowed us to work together, step by step, to achieve the perfect images.
In addition, the creation of the light paintings was documented using two additional cameras. One camera captured the light painting as it was being created, while the other filmed ZOLAQ in action. When the two clips are layered on top of each other, the result is a fascinating video in which you can witness the creation of the images in fast motion.
THE RESULTS
Paintings Made of Light
A dimly lit studio, with cameras and lighting as the only tools. The result is a series of images that tell the story of our brand’s origins, the essence of our products, and the power of true creativity. One-of-a-kind pieces—created not by a prompt, but through ideas, craftsmanship, and skill.
Our Main Motivation
Koi & Red Sun
The main motif embodies EIZO’s DNA: the red, swirling sun symbolizes our Japanese heritage. In Japanese mythology, the two koi carp represent courage, perseverance, and success. These are qualities that our monitors are also designed to embody. Because, just like a good koi, a ColorEdge delivers on its promise—for a long time.
The Creation of the Koi Motif in Fast Motion
Our Color Principle
Red, Green, Blue
These colors are no coincidence: The three trails of light and the fog in red, green, and blue correspond to the EIZO logo colors and, at the same time, to the fundamental principle behind every monitor. After all, all colors are created by mixing red, green, and blue. It’s a motif that visualizes the essence of our products and our brand itself.
The Creation of the RGB Motif in Fast Motion
Japan in Light
Cherry Blossoms, Bamboo & the Moon
Other visuals also draw on Japanese motifs: delicate cherry blossoms, upright bamboo, and a silver crescent moon. These are symbols of transience, endurance, and clarity—three qualities that are held in just as high regard in Japanese culture as they are in the science of color.
Abstract Light Painting
Colors, Energy, and Dynamism
In addition, purely abstract compositions were created. Flowing curves and intertwining trails of light in bold colors convey the pure energy and dynamism of light painting, without any symbolic meaning. Movement as image.
POST-PRODUCTION AND RETOUCHING
The Invisible Finishing Touch
A powerful key visual isn’t created with the final click of the shutter. As with any professional advertising production, perfection also requires post-production—work that shouldn’t be seen, but is immediately noticeable when it’s missing.
For the retouching, we collaborated with Jan Wischermann, one of the most renowned high-end retouch artists in the German-speaking world, whose work appears in magazines such as Vogue and TUSH. His motto: “We’re like ninjas. If no one notices we were there and we leave no traces behind, we’ve done everything right.”
In our production process, this means: cleaning up the studio background, adjusting light and shadow, enhancing the monitor stand, optimizing the picture-in-picture effect, and ensuring in the print files that all the colors in the light paintings are actually printable and look exactly as we envisioned them. Jan’s work requires the utmost precision and a monitor you can trust implicitly. That’s why Jan relies on a ColorEdge CG3100X.
More about Jan Wischermann: Case studies
