Last Updated 2 days ago
Overview
The LiteGear LiteMat Plus 8 is a large square variable-white LED head rated at 400 W. Its 40-inch-square emitting assembly is useful for broad interview keys, group coverage, overhead soft light and substantial product reflections while keeping the head itself relatively thin and light.
Some descriptions call it a self-lit “4 × 4,” but the published physical size is 40 × 40 inches, not 48 × 48. This is the 24 V Plus model with a 4.72 kg bare head, distinct from the 48 V full-colour LiteMat Spectrum 8 and from fabric LiteTile products.
Key specifications
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Fixture class | Thin variable-white LED head, LiteMat Plus generation |
| Head model | LM-PLUS-EIGHT-HY-MAT |
| Nominal head power | 400 W |
| Head input | 24 V DC through the matching Plus system |
| Specified current | 16.67 A at 24 V DC |
| LED quantity | 4,608 in the technical data sheet |
| Head dimensions | 1016 × 1016 × 23 mm / 40 × 40 × 0.9 in |
| Head mass | 4.72 kg / 10.4 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 | LiteMount XL / approved model-specific support |
| 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 larger square head is useful when a small mat would appear too small at the required distance. It can create a broad portrait key, a larger reflected highlight or an overhead source with meaningful width and height. Use a grid or external flags if the broad emission would lift walls or backgrounds that should stay darker.
Its 4.72 kg head mass helps rigging compared with a heavy integrated panel, but a metre-square face creates leverage and a significant wind-catching area. The complete support, mount, skirt, grid and cable need to be considered together. A light head is not automatically a suitable sail outdoors.
The head is transported flat in its protective system. It is not a textile mat that can be folded into a small pouch. Verify the case, doorway and vehicle access dimensions before choosing it for a location with tight access.
| 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 a laboratory test through a LiteDimmer Plus but does not explicitly name the diffuser state in its photometric footnote. Treat the table as the documented archival configuration, not as verified output through a full diffuser and Snapgrid.
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 | 5,352 | 2,379 |
| 4300 K | 5,764 | 2,562 |
| 6000 K | 5,931 | 2,637 |
Power and batteries
The technical sheet specifies 24 V DC, 16.67 A and 400 W for the head and lists LiteDimmer Plus AC400 variants. It needs an approved system capable of the full load; the smaller Plus Duo DC200 is not a full-output 400 W solution. Keep the head’s low-voltage PL7 connection separate from the AC input of the matching controller.
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
The archived sheet lists the Plus 8 PolySkirt, quarter/half/full diffusion, 40° Snapgrid and LiteMount XL. Use the eight-size accessories and the correct support, rather than a smaller mat’s skirt or centre mount merely because it is available. The technical sheet lists 4,608 LEDs; a reused 1,152-LED sentence on the current marketing page conflicts with that model-specific table.
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 LiteMat 4 Plus reduces size, supported load and electrical demand. The Spectrum family offers full colour with a different power/control system. Choose the Plus 8 when its large variable-white source is useful and the correct 400 W controller package is available.
| 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 (manufacturer-authored copy hosted by Greenkit) 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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