Over the past few years, we’ve been approached repeatedly by production professionals looking for better ways to control LED-based candles on film and television sets. Traditional wax candles may look beautiful on camera, but they present practical challenges: as they burn down their heights change, their light output shifts, and most importantly, they pose a fire risk if knocked over or placed too close to other set pieces.

Recognising these challenges, we set out to develop a solution tailored to the needs of the industry — the Candelair: a radio-controlled LED candle system designed specifically for cinematic use.

Building upon quality off-the-shelf candle bodies, we engineered a compact, integrated electronic module with Radio DMX control. This module fits neatly inside the candle shell, turning it into a fully controllable lighting element that can be positioned anywhere on set. Whether used individually or in large groups, the Candelair can be addressed and triggered remotely, giving lighting designers the freedom to create effects that would be difficult or impossible with traditional candles.

In practice, this opens up exciting creative possibilities. Arrays of candles in candelabras in vast halls can be driven as a single coordinated fixture. For example, a lighting director could programme candles to flicker as if a ghost were passing through a scene — but with perfect repeatability and precise control via lighting desks and Radio DMX.

The result is a practical, safe, and highly adaptable system that combines the warmth and aesthetic appeal of candlelight with the precision and flexibility of modern lighting control.