Overview
The slash tool / in Blackout is a powerful percentage-based tool that allows you to proportionally adjust the intensity of multiple lights while maintaining their relative ratios. This is essential when you need to make exposure adjustments (going up or down stops) without losing the carefully balanced relationships between your fixtures.
Why Use the Slash Tool?
When you have multiple lights at different intensity levels and need to adjust them all by the same amount (like going up one stop or down half a stop), using the fixture controls will unify all values to the same level, destroying your carefully crafted lighting ratios. The slash tool solves this by applying percentage-based adjustments that preserve relative relationships.
Basic Syntax
The slash tool uses this syntax:
AT / [percentage]
Think of the slash tool as a percentage multiplier:
200 = 200% (doubles the values)
50 = 50% (halves the values)
125 = 125% (increases by 25%)
Common Intensity Adjustments
Going Up One Stop
To double your light values (one stop up):
AT /200
Going Down One Stop
To halve your light values (one stop down):
AT /50
Going Up a Quarter
To increase by 25%:
AT /125
"Bring everything up a stop" Step-by-Step Process
Access Live Summary - Go into Live Summary view to see only the lights that are currently active
Select Your Fixtures - Select the first fixture through the last fixture you want to adjust
Apply the Command - Type
AT /followed by your desired percentageExecute - Press Enter to apply the adjustment
Creating a Macro for Repeated Use
Since exposure adjustments are common requests during shoots, creating macros for frequently used adjustments saves time and ensures consistency.
Creating a "One Stop Up" Macro
Open Macro Tab - Navigate to your macro section
Add New Macro - Click "Add" and label it something like "One Stop Up"
Add Command Button - Start by pressing the Command button
Add Slash Syntax - Enter:
AT /200Save - Save your macro
Important: [Command] = Selection. This tells the macro to apply to whatever fixtures you have currently selected
Using Your Macro
Select Fixtures - Choose the lights you want to adjust
Execute Macro - Find and click your "One Stop Up" macro
Instant Results - Your selected fixtures will immediately go up one stop while maintaining their relative ratio
Tips
Fine-Tuning with Master Scroll Wheel
If your stop adjustment is too dramatic, you can use the master scroll wheel on the right side of the fixture tab to fine-tune the intensity levels up or down while preserving the relative values between fixtures.
Organizing Macros
In the macros expanded tab, you can drag and rearrange your macros using the lines next to each macro for better organization and quicker access.
Real-World Applications
This technique is invaluable when:
The director asks for exposure adjustments during filming
Camera settings change (switching to high speed, different lens with varying speeds)
You need to match lighting levels across different setups
Making quick adjustments while maintaining the lighting designer's intended ratios
Quick Reference
Adjustment | Percentage | Command |
10% Up | 110% |
|
10% Down | 90% |
|
Double (1 stop up) | 200% |
|
Half (1 stop down) | 50% |
|
Quarter stop up | 125% |
|
Three-quarter stop up | 175% |
|
TIP: If you have syntax like
101 AT /50
You can keep hitting the ENTER key to keep reapplying the command, so in this case Fixture 101 would keep cutting its intensity in half