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Projection selection guide

For applications involving corporate, education, worship and government venues

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Common concerns#1 – Addressing the cost myth A prevalent thought when reviewing projection technology is that you need a big budget for the best option. While a larger budget may give you more latitude for bells and whistles, that may not be what your project needs. There are numerous 3LCD, 1DLP® and 3DLP projection options that offer great image quality, reliable performance and efficient operation while being affordable and easy to use. Finding a cost-effective, best-fit solution involves considering a manufacturer’s full range of projection options, and where solutions overlap in terms of features, to find the most affordable and best value option for your dollars. You will also want to keep in mind scalability and the number of rooms that need to be outfitted, either immediately or over time. This will help you focus on a projection solution that will give you exactly what you need at an affordable price, without spending unnecessarily for extra features.

#2 – Performance and reliability Similar to the cost myth, a heavy-hitting projector does not have to come with a hefty price tag. There are affordable 3LCD and 1DLP options that offer high-brightness, wide aspect ratio and stellar image quality suitable for many applications. You can also find low-cost solutions that offer connectivity, integration with third-party systems and a variety of lens options. When choosing a reliable brand, your top consideration should be successful day-to-day operation followed closely by a manufacturer’s reputation and commitment to service for the life of the projector.

If we look at one of the newest projection solutions to hit the market, Christie® D Series is a high-performing yet affordable family of 3LCD projectors, backed by strong customer service. Christie D Series offers 6,000 to 8,000 lumens with multiple resolution options in a

single-lamp solution and quiet operation. A contrast ratio of 10,000:1 means that content will be displayed with precision for the viewing benefit of your audience. You’ll also be able to tap into the built-in warping and blending capabilities which make on-screen content manipulation quick and easy. If you’re looking for an even brighter option that works exceptionally well for images, video content and continuous operation, you may find that DLP technology, found in projectors such as Christie Q Series, meets your requirements. This option works really well in spaces with a lot of ambient light, like rooms with windows and translucent window screens. The High Dynamic Contrast Range (HDRC) embedded in Christie Q Series is also effective at offsetting the impact of a high ambient light environment and preserving the integrity of the content.

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The impact of environment and contentSetting up a new or existing space with projection technology can be overwhelming – there are different technologies and brands to compare, features to assess and benefits to understand. You also have to factor in the unique requirements and challenges of your particular venue. Likewise, the content to be displayed will influence technology selection and each audience will have specific needs for how they interact with the content. With all of these prerequisites in mind, how do you find affordable yet high-performing technology, and confirm whether or not projection is, in fact, the ideal solution?

In this guide, our goal is to help you feel confident as you work through the selection process for choosing the projection technology that will meet your requirements. We will review some common concerns, how to approach the selection process, along with the features that are typically compared across technologies. We will also spend a moment looking at other comparable display solutions to ensure you have all the relevant options in front of you.

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Projection technologies

3LCD projectors use three to four small liquid-crystal panels that are designed to transmit rather than reflect light. Optical filters split the light from the light source into red, green and blue colors, directing the colors through their respective panels, and then they are combined using a prism to make a full-color image. The on-screen image forms by varying an electrical signal sent to each pixel in quick succession.

DLP® projectors use a digital micromirror device (DMD) covered with microscopic mirrors – one for each pixel in an image. Each mirror flips or rotates between two angles – one reflects light from the screen for a bright pixel, and the other reflects light to the internal light absorber, away from the lens, for a dark pixel. Shades of grey are created by flipping the mirrors thousands of times per second. As the name suggests,

1DLP uses just one DLP chip and typically places a rapidly spinning color wheel between the DMD chip and a light source; however, this can also be achieved electronically if you’re using LEDs or RGB laser as the light source. 3DLP uses a DMD for each primary color – red, green and blue – which are optically converged to produce a single, full-color image.

LCD

LCD

LCD

Lens

YellowRed

GreenLCD

LCD

Lens

Red

LCD

Green

LCD

Blue

Blue

AR/UV filter

Integrator

Light absorber

Projected image

Heat sinkCold mirror

Relay and field lenses

6 segment color filter

Lamps (can be single

or double lamp)

DLP panel (sealed optics)

Complete optical layout of a typical, lamp-based, single-chip DLP projector. Laser-phosphor illumination is also available.

Image-formatting optics in a typical 3LCD projector.

#3 – The test of time While you may be able to find projectors with a low up-front cost, the real budget impact is cost of ownership over the life of the projector. Do you need a projector that can run 24/7? How long will your projector last based on your estimates for runtime? Are there consumables that you need to take into consideration, like lamps, filters or optical components? Or, would you prefer a solution that is lampless altogether? How much do the consumables cost and how frequently will they need to be replaced based on your plans for usage? In answering these questions, you will be better able to narrow your selection process to a particular technology category.

Even though affordability is likely one of your highest priorities, weighing out the cost of a higher quality projector compared to less expensive options is important when you think about longevity of the technology. For instance, if you purchase three inexpensive projectors that last 18 months each, you could do just as well, if not better, to purchase a projector that offers better performance and reliability for a higher initial cost, and runs well for 3-4 years. Over time, the latter could end up being the more affordable or smarter investment option.

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Selection processThe impact of environment Before reviewing technology options, either with a consultant or on your own, spend some time on the requirements of your venue and the needs of your audience. Clearly defining room size, allowances for depth of display, viewing distance and how much ambient light is in the space (natural or artificial) will determine your specifications for brightness and projection screen selection. Assessing lens throw distance, resulting projector placement and ongoing maintenance access will also help solidify your requirements. It is also important to consider whether people will be walking up close to the projected image or sitting at a distance. Their proximity to and interaction with the content, along with potential obstructions to the light path will have an impact on projector set-up. What type of screen you’re working with will be an additional factor in figuring out which projector will give you the image you’re looking to achieve with your display. Screen consideration is equally as important and should not be left to the last minute.

Content assessment After reviewing the environment that you’ll be outfitting, your next consideration will be content. Will your content be mostly black and white spreadsheets, or will you be projecting brightly colored, artistic images? Will you need to view video or review graphics?

Beyond what the content does and how it needs to be displayed, another angle to consider is how you need to interact with the content. Do you need a projector that integrates with collaboration tools and does it need to interact with other devices? Who will create the projected content, and who will need to use the technology to project content on-screen? You may also need to consider where your content will be placed and what resolution may be required to have the image scaled and displayed correctly.

Working through the fine details Once you have assessed the nature of the content and how it fits into the environment of your venue, you may be at the point of zeroing in on a particular projection category – 3LCD, 1DLP® or 3DLP. Depending on your content, color reproduction variables will also be a significant determining factor in selecting the ideal projection solution. If you’re working with big images, bright colors and you’re looking for high-impact visuals, you may find yourself leaning toward 1DLP. If you’re setting up a smaller meeting room that will be used for presentations or reviewing documents like spreadsheets, you may find that 3LCD projectors are a good, budget-friendly fit.

This is also the stage where you’d start to compare projector options and features within a manufacturer’s projection line-up. For instance, if you decide that 1DLP will meet your budget and performance goals, you can start to differentiate between a manufacturer’s 1DLP options based on:

• Projector and lens combinations

• Lens position relative to the projector (centered or offset from center)

• Light source specifications

• Contrast ratio

• Size, shape and weight to fit your room’s infrastructure

Comparing noise levels between projectors will also be an important factor to ensure that the projector doesn’t increase the amount of noise already in the room or cause a distraction. Depending on who will be using the projector, whether it will be moved often and what types of content will be on display, you may want to look at technology that includes automatic alignment. For instance, if you need to move your projector in a room before

using it, built-in warping and blending capabilities would allow you to adjust the content on the fly so it appears as intended.

When you’re thinking about maintenance, beyond replacing parts over time, you can also compare how easy it will be to perform maintenance tasks on your projector without removing it from its installation. For instance, will you need to take your projector down in order to replace a filter, or can you access the filter while your projector is mounted? When you need to run diagnostic tests, will you be able to access controls easily? How easy are lamps to replace?

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Display alternatives to projectionWhen you’re assessing the environment surrounding where your display will be installed, you may determine that the scale and set-up require something other than projection. For example, if you’re creating a large display, your options for potential projector placement and obstructions to the light path may lead you to select a technology that will be better suited to your specifications. In this situation, you could research solid-state display technology such as rear-projection cubes, LED tiles or LCD

panels, evaluating each option using a similar selection process as we outlined for projection.

There are also times when you may have a couple of comparable options between projection and solid-state display solutions that could both work well for your installation. When this happens, the determining factor may come down to how easy the installation would be for each solution or other similar environmental factors.

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Additional supportThis guide is meant to be a starting point. Before you get to your final selection, there are many decision points that you’ll work through, and you’ll have a range of technology options to consider and choose from.

Connect with a consultantIf you require further consultation, please contact us. We have a network of industry specialists who can address your detailed questions and help you make your technology investment with confidence.

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Projection in actionTelstra Australia creates an impressive, modular presentation space to enhance their customers’ experience.

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Sources and acknowledgments

Richard Derbyshire, Consultant Relations Manager, Christie

Mike Garrido, Senior Product Manager, Christie

Jim Hall, Senior Product Manager, Christie

Curtis Lingard, Product Manager, Christie

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For the most current specification information, please visit www.christiedigital.com Copyright 2015 Christie Digital Systems USA, Inc. All rights reserved. All brand names and product names are trademarks, registered trademarks or tradenames of their respective holders. Christie Digital Systems Canada Inc.’s management system is registered to ISO 9001 and ISO 14001. Performance specifications are typical. Due to constant research, specifications are subject to change without notice. Printed in Canada on recycled paper. 4164 Nov 15