An apparatus for a theatrical lighting instrument including a light source, which emits light in a light path; a lens located in the light path, and which receives light from the light source and projects light from the light source; a computer memory; and a computer processor. The apparatus may also include first pluralities and second pluralities of cyan, magenta and yellow color filters, each filter including a variable density color filter operated upon by a motor configured to traverse each filter in and out of the light path. Each variable density color filter of the first pluralities of filters may include a high saturation color pallet. Each variable density color filter of the second pluralities of filters may include a low saturation color pallet. The computer memory may include software to multiplex the traversing of the first and the second pluralities of filters to one or more control channels.