Last Updated 2 days ago
Overview
The LiteGear LiteMat Plus 1 is a very thin variable-white LED head rated at 50 W and weighing 1.13 kg. It is useful for close interview keys, fills, vehicle interiors and lighting positions where the depth and weight of a conventional panel are awkward.
The Plus generation uses PL7 connections and CineMitter emitters. It is distinct from an original 12 V LiteMat 1, a LiteMat Spectrum 1 and a foldable LiteTile. The Plus head needs a compatible external controller and power source; it is not a complete mains-powered panel by itself.
Key specifications
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Fixture class | Thin variable-white LED head, LiteMat Plus generation |
| Head model | LM-PLUS-ONE-HY-MAT |
| Nominal head power | 50 W |
| Head input | 24 V DC through the matching Plus system |
| Specified current | 2.08 A at 24 V DC |
| LED quantity | 576 |
| Head dimensions | 292 × 533 × 23 mm / 11.5 × 21 × 0.9 in |
| Head mass | 1.13 kg / 2.5 lb, head only |
| White range reference | 2600–6200 K in the family catalogue; archival photometry at 2600 / 4300 / 6000 K |
| Colour rendering | CRI / TLCI 95+ in the identified white-light data |
| Connection | PL7 locking head connection |
| Mounting | Compatible removable LiteMount / centre-mount arrangement for the specified head |
| Control | Through compatible LiteDimmer; DMX/radio depend on controller and accessories |
Strengths and limitations
Strengths
- A thin emitting head fits low-profile soft-light rigs.
- Separate power and controls allow accessible placement.
Limitations
- Head-only mass excludes support, diffusion, controller and cables.
- Use the matching dimmer, connector system and approved battery arrangement.
Practical uses
The 11.5 × 21 inch head fits modest spaces while making a broader close source than a small bare COB. It can work near an interviewer’s eyeline, above a practical interior or as a low-profile fill. The working depth grows when a PolySkirt and diffusion are fitted, so check the complete assembly against the available clearance.
For a face or reflective product, position the mat while watching the actual highlight and shadow. The small Plus 1 is portable, but its apparent size decreases as it moves away. Choose a larger source when coverage or softness at the required distance matters more than the small head’s convenience.
| Setup | Working approach |
|---|---|
| Low-profile overhead | Support the mat and controller separately with the correct frame and retention. |
| Soft key | Build diffusion before metering and use a skirt or grid for spill. |
Output and colour
The following lux values are from LiteGear’s 2019 model-specific data sheet. The distances are the sheet’s nominal 48 and 72 inch positions, labelled 122 and 183 cm. These are manufacturer laboratory figures for the named head, not a new comparison test against a modern colour mat.
The sheet identifies measurements from sample heads under laboratory conditions with no diffusion. Added diffusion, a louver or grid changes the usable output and spill; these bare-head figures should not be presented as a complete softbox setup.
Photometric results in a general family catalogue may use another test arrangement or controller/output approach. The named sheet is kept separate here so that a reader can trace the numbers rather than combining incompatible rows from several revisions.
| CCT in the sheet | 122 cm, lux | 183 cm, lux |
|---|---|---|
| 2600 K | 1,152 | 512 |
| 4300 K | 1,518 | 675 |
| 6000 K | 1,324 | 588 |
Power and batteries
The archived data sheet lists 50 W at 24 V DC and the LiteDimmer Plus Duo DC200 as a matching controller. It also lists approved 12 V and 24 V supply options in the system. That does not make the head a raw 12 V light: any battery or lower-voltage source must go through the specified compatible controller and interconnect.
PL7 is the Plus system’s locking head connection. It is not interchangeable with a Spectrum PDX connection, and an adapter should never be improvised from a similar-looking connector. Identify the head, controller, supply, battery-mount option and extension cable as one compatible system.
The nominal head load is not the complete AC draw or the weight of a ready-to-use kit. Circuit and battery planning must include the specified controller/supply arrangement and adequate cable capacity. Support the power/control unit separately and provide slack for aiming without loading the head connector.
Control, cooling and camera operation
LiteGear’s Plus family catalogue describes CineMitter variable white from 2600 to 6200 K. The archival model tables test the daylight setting at 6000 K. State the document and controller revision when comparing a kit; a 6000 K test row should not be rewritten as a measurement at 6200 K.
The model sheets publish CRI/TLCI of at least 95 for the listed white settings, with some individual rows higher. The Plus engine mixes warm and cool white emitters; it does not provide the Spectrum family’s independent saturated RGB colour or its pixel-mapping feature set.
Dimming, CCT handling, DMX resolution, curves and any radio feature depend on the installed LiteDimmer. The current smaller-head kit pages identify Duo DMX packages, while non-DMX Plus kits and different AC400 versions also exist. A bare head is not itself a wireless-DMX receiver: verify the exact controller and any added receiver.
Modifiers, rigging and the working package
A Plus 1 PolySkirt supports model-specific quarter, half or full diffusion. The sheet also lists a Parasquare louver, PolyGrids and a 40° Snapgrid. Check what is actually included in a used or rental package; a bare head and a complete kit have very different working capabilities.
The distributed emitters make a broad source, but visible point reflections or multiple shadows can still matter on a close or glossy subject. Choose the diffuser while looking through the camera. More diffusion can improve the appearance of the face at the cost of working level.
A grid or louver controls off-axis emission; it does not produce the hard optical cut of a spotlight projector. Record the exact diffuser and grid along with CCT and intensity when a setup must be recreated.
Treat the thin head as a supported panel, not a flexible fabric. Use the specified removable mount, engage it fully and match the stand or overhead support to the complete load and leverage. Elevated placement needs appropriate secondary retention. Protect the face and connector during transport and store the head without bending it.
Inspect the clear protective layer, hook-and-loop border, emitter uniformity, rear mounting hardware and PL7 lead. Check that every warm and cool section responds evenly, that the controller fades cleanly and that the intended DMX/battery arrangement works. A cheap head without its proper controller, cable, mount or skirt can be an incomplete working package.
The checked archival specifications do not establish unrestricted weather protection. Keep the head and power electronics within the matching instructions, protect them from moisture and provide ventilation. Claims for a weatherproof LiteTile or newer Spectrum product do not transfer to this Plus head.
Alternatives and related fixtures
The long Plus 2L gives approximately forty inches of head width, while the Plus 3 increases both area and load. The LiteMat 4 Plus is a larger variable-white option already covered on the site. Choose the Plus 1 when compact placement and low head mass are the priority.
| Fixture | Choose it for |
|---|---|
| LiteMat Spectrum | A full-colour LiteMat family; verify generation and controller. |
| LiteMat Plus | A variable-white family with a different power and connector system. |
What people are saying
Alan Steinheimer: LiteMat Plus
Alan Steinheimer discusses the LiteMat 4 Plus’s strengths and compromises. The comparison concerns a related size in the Plus family. View the discussion.
Videos
Meet the Gaffer: LiteMat 4 Plus
Related-model discussion; output and weight remain size-specific.
Rental and used-fixture checks
Check the exact model, matching power components and control leads. Inspect the emitting surface, protective parts, mounts and connectors. Test the intended operating mode, low-level control and camera settings before rigging.
Documentation and specifications
current manufacturer model information, 2019 model-specific data sheet and LiteMat Plus family catalogue.
September 2026: LiteGear product lines join the Kino Flo portfolio
Product photograph: LiteGear product photograph, hosted by Kino Flo.
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