What is Pixel Poi?
And how to choose one?

Pixel Poi is a type of programmable LED poi that can display images when you spin it, creating a visually striking spectacle. Let us introduce you to the Pixel Poi effect, the way it works and how to choose the best Pixel Poi for you!

How Pixel Poi works?

Pixel poi uses the persistence of vision effect (POV),

where the human eye retains a visual impression

for a fraction of a second.

By spinning a pixel poi, the LEDs flash in sequence

to create an illusion of the original image.

Pixel Poi is a device developed for the new age

of digital promotion. Your audience will be amazed

by images and logos appearing magically in the air.

Let the graphics flourish with the V5 CLASSICs

Thrill your audience with lifelike images

Display dazzling graphics all around you

Visual Poi V5 CLASSIC with amazing colors

Visual Poi MINI – great lifetime service included

Visual Poi MINI, controlled by PC or Mac

Visual Poi MAXI – programmable pixel poi by Pyroterra Lighttoys

Visual staff MINI – show thousands of pictures

Visual Poi Maxi by Pyroterra Lighttoys led pixel poi programmable lightshow

Visual Poi V5 MINI – your portable pixel poi

Visual staff MAXI – easy to build with staff connector

Visual Poi MINI, great size for all tricks

Video examples of Pixel Poi in action

Play video

Visual Poi V5 promo by Vincent Mezieres

🔥 Experience the future of performance art with Vincent Mezieres and his Firelight crew as they unveil the mesmerizing Visual Poi V5 Maxi! 🌟

Visual Poi V5 showcase

The Japanese poi master & visual artist Yuta Imamura presents all 3 models of the Visual Poi V5 family in this showcase video. Check it out! 🎉👏

VISUAL POI MAXI FT. RONAN MCLOUGHLIN

Visual Poi V4 MAXI in the spiritual performance of Ronan McLoughlin - a man, who surprised us all with what can be pulled off from the biggest Visual Poi on the market.

VISUAL STAFF MAXI DUO - SRIKANTA BAREFOOT

The famous performer Srikanta is doing his magic with Visual Poi V4 Maxi. This time two pairs of Maxi in staff - you can spin this size as a staff too!

VISUAL POI V4 SHOWCASE

Visual Poi V5 come in 3 different sizes, to perfectly suit the needs of various users. You can use the staff connector to turn poi into a staff.

VOJTA STOLBENKO VISUAL FLUX

When creativity, passion and technology unite, something beautiful can happen! An intense Visual Poi V4 act combining Vojta Stolbenko’s programming and poi dance skills.

VISUAL POI V4 DEMO BY YUTA

In this video Yuta Imamura from POI LAB demonstrates all 3 models of Visual Poi V4 in action, together with staff connector.

Visual Poi V5 features video

The next generation of Visual Poi V5 is here! 👍 With the new upgrades, the creative possibilities are pushed even higher! 💫 Check the new V5 features in this video.

A brief history of Pixel Poi

The first known Pixel Poi was developed by Feeding the fish company (UK) in 2006, strictly for their show use, not available for purchase.

In 2010, Pyroterra Lighttoys introduced its first publicly available Pixel Poi, under its brand name Visual Poi. It quickly gained a worldwide popularity with a demand so high, that a long waiting list had to be created for this impressive prop. Since then, technology and design of Visual Poi have advanced through several iterations, with the latest model V5 now available.

Over the years, other Pixel Poi manufacturers have come and gone, but Pyroterra Lighttoys Visual Poi has prevailed and continue to evolve and improve. Today, it is widely recognized by the global flow arts community and professional performers as the top performing Pixel Poi on the market.

Visual Pixel Poi over the years

Visual Poi V1

2010-2013

Visual Poi V2

2013-2014

Visual Poi V3

2014-2017

Visual Poi V4

2017-2024

Visual Poi V5

2024-Today

The evolution of Pixel Poi technology

2010

The earliest Pixel Poi devices could only display very simple programmed patterns and images, with limited colors and a vertical resolution of only 24-40 pixels. These devices had no additional functions beyond a simple on/off switch to start an uploaded show sequence.

Over time, Pixel Poi technology saw significant improvements. Resolution increased dramatically. Modern Pixel Pois can display even 256 pixels with full color depth. This advancement enabled the performers to showcase programmed images and photos in high quality, with impressive clarity and realism.

Faster main processors were introduced to handle the very high demands of rendering. These processors now refresh all LEDs up to 3,000 times per second, producing well-defined pixels for crisp imagery.

Improvements in wireless synchronization and compatibility with professional stage protocols - such as DMX, Art-Net and OSC greatly expanded integration options for performers and production teams.

Technology updates also brought accelerometers for image stabilization, ensuring visual accuracy & position during spinning movement. Naturally, enhancements like USB-C connectivity, fast charging and increased durability have also been addressed to meet customer needs.

2024

How to choose the best Pixel Poi for you

Important criteria to consider before you buy one

Pixel Poi device is quite a bit more than just several LEDs connected to a processor and a battery. Several essential aspects relate to a high quality Pixel Poi device that buyers should carefully consider. For example: who is the company behind the product? Is it reputable and transparent, with reliable customer service?

Key technical features to evaluate include: high quality LEDs with wide-angle visibility, optimal pixel density, processor speed, memory capacity, durability and battery life. It’s also worth checking whether the Pixel Poi supports wireless control and options to sync with other stage software, enhancing its integration and versatility for professional use.

Choosing the company

Buying a Pixel Poi product is definitely an investment. You want to know you are buying from a trusted company with a good customer support and reputation. It is a good idea to check the country of origin of the company regarding the future product service. Is there a standard warranty on their products, how long it is, and is an after warranty service offered?

Be cautious - some companies on the internet use misleading claims, presenting inflated specifications or false information to attract customers. They may offer discounts to pressure quick sales. Verify these details before making a purchase.

You can search online for the company's name and reviews (like TRUSTPILOT), or check social media and forums - e.g. Poi Chat on Facebook (large international community of spinning performers). There you can raise a question about the brand and products you are interested in.

Screenshot

Pyroterra lighttoys review valid company

Screenshot

Pixel Poi control software

Crucial part of Pixel Poi technology is the control software, which brings the effects and your artistic intent to life. The software should be intuitive and easy to use, support all major OS platforms and offer advanced editing capabilities like image manipulation, realistic preview, transitions and multi-track editing.

Optional connectivity to other stage software (using OSC, Art-Net or DMX512) is a must for any professional setup.

These are the features LtComposer software by Pyroterra Lighttoys offers.

Pixel poi size

Start by selecting the size of Pixel Poi that best fit your needs. The small ones under 30cm length are good for spinning flow tricks without any limitations. They are typically also the most affordable option.

Medium sized Pixel Poi around 40-50cm is a good all‑rounder option - offering a decent display area for crisp image display while still allowing to spin a lot of flow tricks with minimal limitations.

Large Pixel Poi over 60cm in length offers the biggest display area and the most breathtaking visual effect. However, you are limited to the basic spinning style and shorter performers might struggle with their length a bit.

Pixels - density, colors, viewing angle

This topic is related to the Pixel Poi size and viewing distance. A high resolution Pixel Poi will be beneficial for very short viewing distances (under 1-2 meters). However, its increased resolution will be imperceptible at a greater distance, as the pixels tend to blur together.

That's the reason why longer Pixel Poi models exist. With a bigger display area you get an overall bigger image size that can be recognized over longer distances.

To achieve great visual fidelity and lifelike colors, only top-tier LEDs for screen displays should be used. Some brands like Pyroterra Lighttoys even calibrate their LEDs with a spectrometer device, to guarantee utmost color clarity and consistency.

Having a true 360° viewing angle ensures the LEDs can be seen from all directions, no mater the orientation of the Pixel Poi. Without a uniform 360° viewing angle, the image will appear with black vertical stripes or smears, greatly disturbing the perception of the pixel effect.

Battery life in pixel poi

taking care of batteries and electronics

Battery life is an important parameter of any Pixel Poi device, ensuring you can perform many shows undisturbed.

On the other hand, battery capacity (mAh) is not a good guideline. This number is inflated by the lower-reputation manufacturers. Also the efficiency of the LED driver circuits plays a big role in the overall power consumption.

Therefore you should check for battery life (duration) instead - how long the Pixel Poi device lasts during actual use. Either in full white mode - which is the worst case scenario for the product, or playing standard images - which more accurately represents the standard use.

Durability and Customer service

Pixel Poi producers often emphasize the durability of their products and indeed, some of them are made very durable. However, Pixel Pois are electronic devices that rotate at high speeds, so impacts and the resulting damage is always a possibility.

You should check the seller's warranty period, after sales support, location & availability of service centers.

For example, in the case of Pyroterra Lighttoys Visual Poi:

2 years global warranty
lifetime service - after warranty has ended
upgrade options - 30% discount for a returned old product
2 service centers - EU and USA

Thanks for your time!

We hope you now better understand the amazing world of Pixel Poi devices. We wish you many wonderful moments and a thrilled audience with this stunning piece of technology.

Visual Poi options

If you want to choose the very one Pixel poi!

pyroterra_lighttoys_led_visual_poi_programmable

Visual Poi V5 - Mini

Visual Poi V5 - Classic

Visual Poi V5 - Maxi

Visual Wand V5

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