How to Start Learning Laser Show Design (Without Owning a Laser Yet)

Anthony Garcia

Tue Jan 13

Question:

“Lasers have always blown my mind. I go to shows and always focus on the lasers: the patterns, the timing, the cues. I keep thinking about what I would do differently if I were designing the show. How do I actually start learning this?”

If this sounds like you, you’re already thinking like a laser designer.

At Nice Lasers, we hear this question constantly. From DJs, lighting designers, producers, and curious creatives who can’t stop watching the lasers instead of the stage.

We made this guide to break down how to start learning laser show design the right way, without overspending, rushing into hardware, or developing bad habits.

Can You Learn Laser Show Design Without Owning a Laser?

Yes. In most cases, you should start this way.

Professional laser software includes preview and simulation windows that allow you to:

Design cues and animations
Practice musical timing and phrasing
Learn live vs timeline workflows
Understand movement, color, and structure

This lets you build the most important skills first: taste, timing, and intention.

What you won’t fully learn without hardware:

Real beam appearance and brightness
Scan rate limitations
Flicker and blanking artifacts
Physical safety constraints

You can think of it like learning music production with headphones before playing a live venue. It’s valid, but slightly incomplete.

Is QuickShow a Good Place to Start?

Yes. QuickShow is one of the best places to begin.

It’s beginner-friendly, widely used, and shares its core engine with professional touring software. That matters because it means:

You’re learning transferable skills
Tutorials reflect real-world workflows
You won’t need to relearn everything later

QuickShow teaches you how to:

Build clean, readable cues
Control movement intentionally
Match lasers to musical structure instead of filling space

Many professional laser designers started exactly here.

You can check out QuickShow here. It’s free software that comes with the purchase of an FB3.

What Laser Projector Should a Beginner Buy?

This is where honesty matters.

If your budget is €100–150, it’s important to understand this clearly:

That price range does not represent professional laser hardware, or even the realistic minimum to get started properly.

At that level, most projectors:

Have poor scan quality
Lack proper RGB modulation or scanner control
Encourage overuse of effects
Teach habits that don’t translate well later

A healthier learning path:

Learn software first
Save for a quality ILDA-compatible RGB projector, such as the Unity Series
Buy once, and learn correctly

Lasers are unforgiving. Cheap gear exaggerates flaws instead of teaching fundamentals.

What Skills Matter More Than Gear?

This surprises most beginners.

Laser design is closer to playing an instrument than programming lights.

The most important skills are:

Musical phrasing
Timing and restraint
Knowing when not to fire lasers
Clean shapes before complex effects
Understanding emotional arcs in music

Great laser shows are less about complexity and more about pacing, contrast, and intention.

You can see an example in this show I designed: Laserface by Gareth Emery . Even in a fully laser-driven show, restraint and darkness play a huge role in making the bright moments hit harder.

Are There Books or Guides for Learning Laser Design?

There’s no single “laser bible.”

Most professionals learned by:

Rebuilding cues they admired
Watching the same shows repeatedly and analyzing choices
Practicing with intention
Getting feedback from other designers

Laser design is learned through doing, refining, and listening, not memorization.

If you’d like direct guidance, I also offer 1-on-1 laser design sessions, and I’m always happy to chat after you book.

Final Thoughts: You’re Starting in the Right Place

If you’re already:

Studying laser timing
Mentally redesigning shows
Asking why certain moments work

You’re right where you need to be.

Everyone begins with:

Too much movement
Too many colors
Too many effects

That’s normal: taste develops long before control.

At Nice Lasers, we believe learning lasers should be:

Honest
Structured
Grounded in real-world show design

If you stay curious, patient, and intentional, you’re on the right path.