Christie's award-winning RGB pure laser projector, the D4K40-RGB, has been installed at the LEGOLAND Windsor Resort, the UK's favorite children's theme park. With almost 2.5 million annual visitors the park regularly evolves its offering and the Christie D4K40-RGB is a key part of the technology set-up for the resort's newest attraction, The Flight of the Sky Lion.

[Christie Laser Projectors Illuminate India's Newly Inaugurated Statue of Equality]

The Flight of the Sky Lion is the U.K.'s first "flying theatre" ride and is the main attraction in LEGOLAND's new £20 million ($27M USD) imaginary land "Mythica: World of Mythical Creatures." Inspired by the ideas of children, the focal point is the Sky Lion that is created out of 685,530 Lego bricks. The ride itself stands 25m (82 feet) tall and visitors are transported below the Sky Lion's wing to Mythica, where Lego creatures, such as the two-headed Hydra and Fire and Ice Bird, come to life. The adventure is projected onto a 20m (65 feet) high concave screen, and the gondola, in which the audience sits, is capable of a 30-degree swing, 23-degree pitch and a few degrees sideways movement. The ride was created by Brogent Technologies.

[With Christie Solutions Abundant, Deloitte Corporate Event is an Immersive and Memorable Occasion]

Merlin Entertainments, LEGOLAND's parent company, commissioned Brogent, a world leader in media-based attractions, to create the Windsor ride incorporating interactive AR elements with a combined creative and educational philosophy. The ride is encased in a huge 20m x 20m (65 x 65 foot) spherical dome which has a cut-out at the top through which content is projected onto the concave screen.

"It was clear from the design of the dome that we needed a single projector solution," said Stefan Rothaug, Marketing & Sales, Brogent Technologies. "It was all we had room for. As such we needed the best possible unit we could find, and that turned out to be the Christie D4K40-RGB. We were blown away by the vibrant color reproduction, and the advantages of laser over lamp projection have come into their own in a theme park setting. With rides operating 10 plus hours a day, and almost 365 days a year, maintenance costs can be considerable but with laser there are no costly lamp changes every two to three months. It was our first time using laser projection and it won't be our last."

[Christie Projections Dazzle Visitors to South Korea's First Permanent Lighting Park]

During the design and specification phase of the project, Brogent was able to draw on the help of Christie Professional Services, one of the audiovisual industry's most trusted advisors in designing, manufacturing, deploying and supporting professional AV display systems. Professional Services helped Brogent with modelling lifetime costs for various projection solutions as well as calculating total number of lumens required for the dome space. "We were delighted with the help we received from Christie Professional Services," said Rothaug, "and we will definitely be drawing on their help in the future."

Christie laser projectors are illuminating various exhibits in the new Chongqing Open Port History Museum with impeccable visuals that highlight the rise and development of the biggest river port in southwest China.

Located in the Nan'an district of Chongqing city, the museum is established upon the grounds of a 125-year-old cultural relic site formerly known as Little Firm, a trading company founded by British businessman and adventurer Archibald John Little in 1896. The two-story building occupies a total area of 800 square meters and is recognized for its unique Chinese and foreign architectural features.

[Christie Helps Tell the Story of Canada--In Miniature]

Among the highlights of the museum are fascinating projections accomplished by nine Christie LWU900-DS 3LCD laser projectors supplied by Christie's trusted partner Dicction (Beijing) Science and Technology Development Co., Ltd. Deployed across several exhibition zones, the projectors complement a variety of interactive showpieces, and are used to showcase the rich history and cultural aspects of Chongqing as an open port and municipality.

Christie DS Series 'Ticks All the Right Boxes'

"The museum was looking for a bright, reliable and cost-effective laser projection solution for various zones. The Christie DS Series, with its sleek appearance and versatility, ticks all the right boxes," said Dicction CEO Leo Zhang. "With a suite of features such as built-in edge blending and warping with color adjustment, the DS Series delivered in all aspects and exceeded the client's expectations. We are very pleased with how the projectors have brought the exhibition zones to life."

[Christie Laser Projectors Bring Enduring Korean Folk Tales to Life at Seoul Museum]

Fitted with 0.8:1 short throw lens, the 9,000-lumen LWU900-DS projectors are installed discretely above the display areas to deliver sharp and lifelike images that heighten the vibrancy and realism of the exhibits. In particular, two projectors are used for a gauze screen projection measuring 6.5 meters by 3 meters (21 feet by 10 feet) that highlights the port's opening in the early days, while a 6.9-by-4.25-meter (23 feet by 14 feet) sand table projection achieved with three LWU900-DS projectors brilliantly demonstrates how Chongqing and its surrounding regions were transformed over the years following the port's rapid expansion. 

[Christie Adds Immersive Touch to New Museum Dedicated to Portugal's Legendary Cyclist]

Zhang noted that the general contractor of this project led the testing of all Christie LWU900-DS projectors prior to installation and was very pleased with the outcome. "The team is impressed with the projectors' stable brightness output and excellent image quality offered by the short throw lens," he said. "On top of that, the projectors' omnidirectional capabilities are a huge plus as this greatly reduces the complexity of installing them. Besides providing great color reproduction and high stability, the Christie laser projectors also come with a five-year warranty that gives customers a peace of mind."

Expo 2020 Dubai, the first World Expo to be held in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) region, is off to a great start. The event has registered more than three million visits with attendees from 185 nationalities--a figure that almost equals the 192 countries with a dedicated pavilion at the event. As official projection and display partner for the Expo 2020 Dubai, Christie technology is used to display content and provide experiences across the event site. Creative Technology Middle East was the AV integrator for the centerpiece Al Wasl Plaza dome.

A worldwide audience of millions tuned into the opening ceremony to be thrilled by some extraordinary and technologically advanced performances from a 1,000-strong cast and crew. The 90-minute immersive spectacular showcased Al Wasl Plaza’s dome—touted as the world’s largest 360-degree projection surface and an unprecedented feat of engineering--which features 252 Christie D4K40-RGB RGB pure laser projectors. Working in close collaboration throughout the entire design, supply and installation process with its local integrator Creative Technology Middle East, the projectors are located in pods around the inside perimeter of the dome, the projectors displayed scenes on the 130-meter-wide projection surface, which could be seen from both inside and outside the dome. The projectors use a reduced power output for energy-efficient operation and deliver rich and crisp visuals that raise the bar in terms of image quality. The installation and solution mix was carried out by Creative Technology Middle East as the AV integrator selected in the bidding process. 

“We are extremely proud to be involved in such an important global event as Expo 2020 Dubai,” said Christie Director of Sales, EMEA Entertainment Joe Graziano. “As the official projection and display partner, we are delighted with the early success of the event and look forward to our projectors helping to create memories for visitors to Expo from across the globe.”

“It is an honor to have been selected by Expo 2020 as the AV integrator for this one-of-a-kind installation,” said Andy Reardon, Creative Technology Middle East Managing Director. “It has been a pleasure working alongside the team at Christie over the past few years and using their technology to bring the world’s largest 360-degree projection mapping project to life.”

Christie Professional Services is on hand to provide technical support and service response through Christie’s own Network Operations Center, ensuring Expo’s display solutions, including the Expo Operations Centre continue to work flawlessly through the duration of mega-event and beyond. 

Expo 2020 Dubai runs until March 31, 2022, with more than 200 pavilions for visitors to explore. As well as the attractions at each location, there are multiple daily events, with panel discussions and cultural performances.

A fine-dining restaurant in the southern port city of Guangzhou has become the first venue in China to deploy the Christie Inspire Series 1DLP laser projectors for immersive projections that redefine the culinary experience.

Situated in Hengsha municipality east of the city, this contemporary eatery adopted a unique "Maritime Silk Road" theme that hearkens back to days when Guangzhou flourished as a regional trading port in the 15th century. Guests in its VIP dining room are treated to breathtaking visuals on all four walls featuring a bustling wharf with merchant ships sailing along the harbor, and scenes of docked ships having their goods unloaded by port workers. A round table that accommodates 12 is also transformed into a projection canvas showcasing lively animated images of a thumb-sized chef serving up virtual steaks in front of each guest.

The striking projections are accomplished by 13 Christie DWU760-iS laser projectors fitted on the ceiling of the VIP dining room. They were installed and commissioned by Zhongqing Yingye Group following a rigorous selection process that saw Christie's latest 1DLP laser projector emerging as the projection system of choice for the end user.

Shijie Kong, a spokesperson from Zhongqing Yingye Group who served as the project manager of this installation, said, "During the selection process for the ideal projection system, we conducted a live demo for the client using the Christie Inspire Series. The images were absolutely mind-blowing for a 1DLP laser projector at this price point. The client was highly impressed with image quality, color reproduction, brightness options and aftersales support of the Inspire Series. A decision was swiftly made to acquire the Inspire Series for this project."

Ten Christie DWU760-iS laser projectors, each with a brightness of 7,150 ISO lumens, were employed to display brilliant images on the four walls measuring 5.6 meters wide x 3.5 meters high. Projections on a pillar and tabletop were achieved using three DWU760-iS laser projectors strategically installed, warped and blended with in-built Christie Twist to deliver the optimal visuals. All projectors are also equipped with Christie Mystique for quick installation, alignment, calibration and maintenance of multi-projection systems.

The deployment of multiple Inspire Series projectors has enabled this fine-dining establishment to offer a unique space where distinguished guests can enjoy an immersive, multi-dimensional, and novel dining experience. The displayed contents can be customized to fit the occasion and guests can immerse themselves in a realistic virtual world as they feast in style.

Related: Christie HS Series Lights Up China’s ‘Big Ben’ in Hebi City

"The 3D projections focusing on the 'Maritime Silk Road' theme are an innovative approach that combines storytelling, technology and cuisine to deliver an exceptional dining experience for VIP guests,” Kong added. “This is the first time that the Inspire Series has been used for such an extraordinary dining concept in China and we are proud to be involved in it."

Available in three brightness options, the Inspire Series is designed for small to mid-sized environments such as classrooms, boardrooms, museums and houses of worship. It provides a winning combination of low-maintenance performance and value without sacrificing advanced capabilities, including an IP5X dust-resistant optical engine, fixed motorized zoom lens, whisper quiet operation, and omni-directional installation capabilities. And with laser illumination, the Inspire Series offers up to 20,000 hours of reliable, virtually maintenance-free operation for a low total cost of ownership.

Christie HS Series 1DLP laser projectors are illuminating the newly opened Jiangsu Garden Expo Park with spectacular visuals that heighten the beauty and engineering of the mountainside garden complex.

[Christie Inspire Series Projectors Make Debut]

Located in Tangshan, Jiangning District, Jiangsu Garden Expo Park is a large-scale ecological, cultural, and tourism venue that’s fast becoming a new landmark of Nanjing, the capital city of Jiangsu province. Covering an area of 1.3 square miles, including a core gardens zone measuring 0.85 square miles, the sprawling park was built on abandoned mine pits over a two-year period. It features manicured gardens, traditional-style pavilions, promenades, rock formations, and a lake.

Among the major highlights of the park are re-creations of traditional gardens situated in the 13 cities of Jiangsu province—including Nanjing Garden, Suzhou Garden, Wuxi Garden, and Taizhou Garden—that demonstrate Jiangsu’s renowned garden culture and landscaping skills. After night falls, the park is bathed in a blend of blue, red, and yellow lights amid a spellbinding light show that includes stunning projections on a hillside using four Christie DWU2022-HS 1DLP laser projectors installed by Zhongqing Yingye Group.

“Christie’s HS Series is a highly cost-effective and competitive projection solution that has always emerged a top contender for cultural tourism projects that we are involved in,” said Xinwei He, project manager of Jiangsu Garden Expo Park. “It has consistently excelled in areas such as performance, color reproduction, and dependability. With an output of 20,000 lumens, we require just four units of DWU2022-HS to illuminate this large outdoor canvas in Suzhou Garden, the core location of Jiangsu Garden Expo Park.”

He said that even though the projection canvas measuring 6,458 square feet is quite significant, it’s only a fraction of the entire performance area. Therefore, the team from Zhongqing Yingye Group had to strike a delicate balance in maintaining maximum visual quality while optimizing the scale of the displayed images without relegating the projection component to a supporting role. “We tweaked the projection design to enhance the image area, and combined multimedia content with actual scenery on-site to deliver lifelike visuals that are consistent with the intended themes of the show.”

A proprietary monitoring system developed by Shanghai Liancheng Digital Technology Co., Ltd (a member of Zhongqing Yingye Group) comprising hardware and software components has also been implemented to conduct real-time monitoring and feedback on the working condition of the DWU2022-HS projectors, so as to ensure that their outdoor deployment is secure and effective.

“Our strategy emphasizing on the delivery of an encompassing, holistic audiovisual experience eventually paid off, and the projections executed for this nighttime show are well received by all stakeholders,” he said. “Thanks to Christie’s proprietary BoldColor Technology, the projectors are top notch in terms of color performance and quality, and they have enabled us to fully realize the original design intentions of this project.”

April Qin, sales director for China, enterprise, Christie, commented, “Jiangsu Garden Expo Park Project is an amazing endeavor by the provincial government to combine modern construction technology with traditional ancient building modeling. We are delighted that Zhongqing Yingye Group is involved in this major project and deployed our tried-and-tested HS Series laser projectors for this highly anticipated nighttime performance.”

Epson is sponsoring Crayola IDEAworks: The Creativity Exhibition at the The Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, providing projection solutions to create an immersive experience that promotes creativity.

Crayola IDEAworks will feature Epson Pro L1075UNL premium compact large-venue projectors with 4K Enhancement Technology in the Introductory Theater welcoming guests to the experience, and in the Grand Finale, displaying immersive celebratory projections. In addition, PowerLite 700U ultra short-throw laser projectors will be showcased for interactive activities.

Related: The Technology Manager's Guide to Projectors and Screens

“The Crayola IDEAworks exhibition is a creative way to engage audiences and encourage families to use their imagination through immersive activities and colorful experiences,” said Mike Isgrig, vice president, North American consumer sales and marketing, Epson America. “Our technology is designed to bring visionary experiences to life and we are thrilled to be working with Crayola and Agency 808 to enhance their state-of-the-art exhibition and further encourage kids and families to express creativity through color, whether that be through expressive art or everyday problem solving.”

In its exclusive, limited run in Philadelphia, the exhibition will inspire visitors to develop and expand their problem-solving skills through a variety of activities that will promote design thinking, while empowering creativity. Guests at Crayola IDEAworks will immerse themselves in state-of-the-art digital interactives and exhibits that will provide a personalized adventure guided by RFID wristbands. During the exhibition, guests will encounter three distinct areas—the IDEA Workshop, Colorverse, and the Grand Finale. Crayola IDEAworks: The Creativity Exhibition is currently open at The Franklin Institute for a limited time, before embarking on a multi-city, U.S. tour. The exhibition is produced by Agency 808 in collaboration with The Franklin Institute, and tickets are on sale now.

"Crayola IDEAworks: The Creativity Exhibition pushes the boundaries on every industry norm,” said Clayton Ferguson, Agency 808 principal and executive producer. “We’ve pulled together a team of the brightest and most experienced minds in the business to design an exhibition that fosters creative problem-solving skills through interactive challenges in a way that has never been done before. Epson, as a key partner, enhanced our ability to showcase new and innovative technologies in projection and printing capabilities."

“Crayola believes that everyone has creativity innately inside of them, and we continue to look for new ways to ignite it,” said Warren Schorr, VP of business development and global licensing, Crayola. “Creativity can be awakened through a multitude of avenues, and we are thrilled to have Epson as an inaugural sponsor to align with our support of color, education, and creativity. Their products bring excitement and enthusiasm to our exhibition and our guests.”

A new nightly lake show at the picturesque Dam Sen Park in Vietnam’s largest and most populous city is turning heads with spectacular visuals and water effects, including large-scale water screen projections using Christie HS Series 1DLP laser projectors.

Jointly presented by Dam Sen Theme Park and Christie’s trusted partner Alta Media, the nighttime spectacular features an advanced lighting system comprising lasers, interactive water screen projections and a dancing fountain spanning 100 meters in length. Visitors can enjoy an exciting combination of twirling water jets, complemented by a fire performance and an aerial firework display over an energetic soundtrack. This is the first interactive water screen project in Vietnam that showcases an innovative “photo booth” function where selfie photos taken on-site can be displayed on the water screen during the performance.

Related: The Technology Manager's Guide to Projectors and Screens

“We are delighted to be involved in this major project that seeks to promote Dam Sen Theme Park as the latest and trendiest night tourism destination in Ho Chi Minh City,” said Hoang Tu, chief technology officer, Alta Media. “As the systems integrator and digital content provider for this new outdoor show, we have pulled out all the stops and deployed various AV technologies, such as state-of-the-art laser projections, to deliver a highly immersive and enjoyable experience.”

Noting that the quality and reliability of the projections are most critical to the success of this nighttime extravaganza, Tu said the team had shortlisted several projector models for assessment before deciding on the Christie HS Series. “We needed a high-brightness and cost-effective projection system that not only excels in color accuracy, but also has a small form factor and is easy to install,” Tu said. “The Christie D20WU-HS, with an output of 20,600 lumens and Christie BoldColor Technology, that accurately reproduces colorful images without sacrificing brightness, ticks all the boxes and emerged as our preferred choice in terms of both quality and budget.”

A total of four D20WU-HS projectors have been deployed for the water screen projections. They are double-stacked and fitted in a waterproofed, air-conditioned control room built directly across the performance area. The Alta Media team’s primary challenge was to accurately calibrate the images on water screens that are located 200 meters away from the control room. “It is the combination of content development and calibrating with the right lens to attain optimal visuals on the water screens,” Tu added. “In this way, we are able to maximize the impact of the contents, which are updated twice a year to keep the show fresh and appealing.”

The response to the lake show, which made its official debut on New Year’s Eve, has been overwhelmingly positive, with both guests and partners of this project enthralled by the overall visual quality of the water screen projections. Guests are particularly mesmerized by the clarity and sharpness of the selfie images displayed on the interactive water screen, as well as the specially created content that highlights the richness of Vietnamese history and culture.

“We are pleased that Alta Media has chosen the Christie HS Series to power the water screens for this large-scale outdoor spectacular at Dam Sen Park,” said Michael Bosworth, executive vice president, Enterprise, Christie. “This demonstrates the high performance, dependability and versatility of our 1DLP laser projectors, which are increasingly embraced by customers around the world and used in numerous applications to deliver highly realistic and entertaining experiences.”

Guests at Wisconsin’s Wilderness Resort are getting a unique aerial view of U.S. National Parks, national landmarks, and more onboard the new FlyRide “Take Flight” aerial adventure ride. Developed by SimEx-Iwerks, the ride uses four Christie D4K40-RGB pure laser projectors with Christie Mystique, a camera-based multi-projector alignment and blending system.

Wilderness Resort is located on over 600 acres of forest, where guests can stay at three properties, enjoy golf, indoor and outdoor waterparks, dining, and a range of activities for the whole family. “Take Flight” opened in September 2020 expanding the list of exciting activities for guests to enjoy.

Related: The Technology Manager's Guide to Projectors and Screens

“Take Flight” begins as guests enter an airport-themed lobby, with “windows” looking out onto the National Parks. Guests are then queued at an “airport” featuring airplane seats, before entering the ride. The ride seats 60, accommodating five people on each ride vehicle. As the ride begins, the doors in front open, revealing an immersive five-story partial dome. Guest’s feet dangle as they’re surrounded by the immense dome, creating the illusion of flying.

To help create this sense of immersion, SimEx-Iwerks, which specializes in branded cinematic experiences, selected four Christie D4K40-RGB pure laser projectors with Christie Mystique- Large Scale Experience (LSE) Edition. Brian Ferguson, senior vice-president, Technology and Operations, SimEx-Iwerks, noted that RGB pure laser was selected because “it offers a sharper image and better color.”

Christie D4K40-RGB pure laser projectors feature a compact, all-in-one design with 45,000 lumens and 4K resolution, and produce greater than 95-percent of the Rec.2020 color space for rich, vibrant visuals.

“We needed projectors that we could orient into abnormal positions to get the proper coverage in the three-dimensional dome,” said Doug Wildeboer, AV engineering manager, SimEx-Iwerks. “We needed to angle them down and on their sides. It was absolutely required, and the project would not have been possible with any projector that wasn’t omnidirectional.”

SimEx-Iwerks used Christie Mystique—LSE Edition, a camera-based, automated, multi-projector alignment and blending solution, to ensure that the projectors remained aligned and the image perfect. “One of the decisions we’ve made as a company is to deploy systems that offer autocalibration, so if the whole system is moved it can be put back in place,” Wildeboer said. “The operator can run the routine and lock the system back into the same condition as when we left it.

“At Wilderness Resort, we have a very complex screen. It’s a partial dome screen, and instead of relying on our eyes to try to align the system, Mystique is incredible at being able to do that by the numbers. We have LED markers around the edge of the screen, so if a camera is jarred, the markers will light up and let the system know exactly where the screen is. That removes operator error or intervention with recalibrating the system.” The recalibration process can be run in about 10 minutes with a single button press.

“We’re thrilled to have worked with SimEx-Iwerks on another successful FlyRide,” said Doug Boyer, senior account manager, Entertainment, Christie. “SimEx-Iwerks is known for creating world-class immersive attractions, and ‘Take Flight’ is no exception.”

The response to the new attraction has been overwhelmingly positive, with both guests and Wilderness Resort thrilled with the FlyRide.

Spring Independent School District in Houston is undergoing strategic change with an ambitious five-year action plan. Key imperatives of the plan are focused on reaching every child, driving excellence in every school, developing a culture of high performance from teachers and staff, and engaging stakeholders in the community. Accomplishing those goals required a hard look at the organization’s operational excellence and implementing technology to improve classroom instruction and outcomes. The district decided now was the time to replace the costly lamp-based projectors in every classroom with ultra-bright, long-lasting laser projectors. 

“Our projectors were 12 years old. It was difficult to find bulbs anymore because they're so old,” said Ben Leung, director of Technical Support services at Spring ISD. “Even when we replaced the bulbs, the lamps were dim or worse, dead on arrival. We were spending upward of about $40,000 a year on them and the quality wasn’t even consistent.”

Related: The Technology Manager's Guide to Projectors and Screens

Traditional lamp-based projectors require the school to maintain a supply of bulbs, have staff available to replace them, plus a way to properly dispose of them, which adds associated costs. Many projector lamps contain chemicals such as mercury gas, which can be hazardous. The EPA recommends recycling bulbs, but some states and local jurisdictions actually require it, which can incur additional fees.

A lamp typically lasts a maximum of 5,000 hours, but the average is closer to 2,000 hours. Even with a new lamp, the brightness can be all over the map. It’s also a fact that lamp brightness slowly deteriorates as the projector is used, which means they’re quickly burning through that brightness with daily classroom use. Schools are having to replace lamps faster, which can quickly drive up costs and maintenance.

Another problem of lamp-based projectors is having to regularly clean filters. Projector filters are designed to filter out dust and other debris. Left unchecked, dust can build up on the lens and the engine, causing a poor-quality picture and even shorten the projector lifespan. Maintenance staff has to spend time climbing up a ladder repeatedly to clean or replace the filters. With 42 schools and close to 1,900 projectors installed throughout Spring ISD, that was a lot of labor and time to keep classroom technology operating smoothly.

To solve this problem, the district’s IT staff decided to update with laser-based projectors. They brought in laser projectors from multiple vendors. Their governance committee, which is made up of teachers in the district, were able to test and compare each of the projectors over an intense nine-month period. 

“In the side-by-side projector comparison, BenQ’s LW Series BlueCore laser projectors came out on top in terms of functionality, brightness, and performance,” Leung said. “The teachers liked them the best.”

The school selected 4,000-lumen WXGA LW720 and the short-throw 3,600-lumen WXGA (1280x800) LW820ST from BenQ’s classroom BlueCore laser projectors. With the projectors, schools no longer have to worry about keeping a supply of lamps on hand, theft, or properly disposing of them. In addition to the lower cost of ownership they improve classroom instruction with brightness and clarity that every student can see. The projectors employ BenQ’s dual color wheel systems for improved color performance by increasing color ratios and purity of RGBY color, greatly enhancing color saturation and at the same lumen output of lamp-based projectors for better viewing experiences. Furthermore, the projectors provide teachers with wireless presentation capabilities from their laptops. This allows them to collaborate with students and present without being chained to their desk or podium.  

“Our teachers loved the projectors’ brightness and color accuracy,” Leung said. “When they compared it to the other laser projectors, that’s what they noticed most, and now they have freedom.”

To ensure the lifespan of the projector as well as protect the laser brightness and color quality, the projectors are designed with BenQ’s DustGuard technology. Dust, when hit with the intensity of the laser, can melt and harden inside the laser bank and eventually short out the projector. DustGuard prevents dust from gathering inside, which can be extremely damaging to laser projectors, and eliminates the use of ineffective dust filters or the labor involved to clean them. The technology includes hermetically sealed laser modules to protect the laser bank. The design has passed the dust chamber test standard for the international dustproof rating of IP5X.

“For the past 12 years, we went into every classroom, climbed a ladder, blew out dust and changed the filter and bulb of every projector,” Leung said. “That’s a lot of maintenance and costs we no longer have to worry about for years to come. If that wasn’t enough, we also have observed an almost 95 percent decrease in help desk tickets. BenQ BlueCore laser projectors have lowered our total cost of ownership so significantly it’s become our new district standard.”

A new exhibition hall located within a contemporary health sciences park in Beijing is using Christie DS Series laser projectors and Christie Pandoras Box to deliver captivating visuals for a highly immersive four-sided CAVE installation.

This showcase seeks to highlight the development of health sciences and how they have enhanced people’s physical wellbeing. Accomplished using 10 Christie LWU900-DS 3LCD laser projectors and a Christie Pandoras Box Player, they are installed and commissioned by Christie’s trusted partner Dicction (Beijing) Science and Technology Development Co., Ltd, which specializes in systems integration and overall solutions services for various sectors including government, finance and telecommunications.

Related: The Technology Manager's Guide to Projectors and Screens

“This is an exciting installation that creates an immersive space featuring amazing visual details that elevates the viewing experience for visitors,” said Leo Zhang, chief executive officer, Dicction. “We are proud to accomplish this CAVE installation using Christie’s leading-edge solutions that are designed to blend in perfectly with the environment to deliver truly outstanding images that enhance the overall theme of this unique space.”

Zhang noted that unlike conventional CAVE setups, this particular installation was conducted in a trapezoidal-shaped room that required advanced projector alignment and calibration. All 10 Christie LWU900-DS laser projectors were strategically mounted on the ceiling, each of them covering an area measuring 6 meters long and 3.75 meters high.

“Since this is not a regular-shaped space, image processing is required for the visuals to be properly displayed,” Zhang said. “We have therefore deployed the Christie Pandoras Box Player to manage the playback, editing of displayed content, projected from the Christie LWU900-DS projectors. In addition, UPS power was installed to ensure uninterrupted operation and to improve energy efficiency.”

Thanks to the compact footprint and omnidirectional capability of the LWU900-DS, the Dicction team had flexibility in installing them in this exhibition hall. 

The Christie DS Series is an affordable, mid-brightness 3LCD laser projector designed for small-to-medium applications. Delivering up to 9,000 lumens and 4,000,000:1 contrast ratio in WUXGA resolution, this projector displays a variety of content types in precise detail.

The What: Epson has introduced its LightScene EV-110 and EV-115 Accent Lighting 3LCD Laser Projectors, the next generation of its line of spotlight projectors for digital art, commercial signage, and décor applications.

The What Else: The new Bluetooth-enabled LightScene models feature motion sensing capabilities and a brighter laser light engine with up to 20,000 hours of virtually maintenance-free operation. The 3-chip 3LCD projectors provide 2,200 lumens of equal color and white brightness, and are powered by software and mobile applications designed to remove friction points, making them accessible for nearly any customer.

Related: The Technology Manager's Guide to the New Era of Digital Signage

Offering an industrial design that blends discreetly into nearly any setting, LightScene offers a sleek black or white spotlight shape with an array of configuration, mounting and programming options. Additionally, the new models feature Epson’s Creative Content Projection app with preloaded content that can be customized by touch and built-in software for display management. 

“Digital signage is a driving force as companies, designers, and artists look for new and inspiring ways to interact with consumers,” said Remi Del Mar, product manager, Epson America, Inc. “The new LightScene solutions build on the success of the original models, delivering a unique design for aesthetically blending projection in virtually any environment. These new and improved models integrate lighting and projection with powerful, next-generation features to make the ordinary extraordinary and the invisible visible.”

The Bottom Line: The new LightScene models are engineered as a sophisticated display solution for design-savvy applications, enabling users to create environments that can enhance customer service, improve operational efficiency, deliver impromptu wayfinding, and much more.

The Epson LightScene EV-110 (white) and LightScene EV-115 (black) Accent Lighting 3LCD Laser Projectors will be available January 2021. 

For historians, researching the past and finding ties to the present is a cherished hobby, job, and duty. This is especially important when dealing with one-of-a-kind artifacts from critical moments in history. For the city of Atlanta, understanding and experiencing its past is not just for tourism; it is an integral part of the city’s identity and community. So, when the Atlanta History Center sought to create an engaging, larger-than-life experience for its gigantic Cyclorama exhibit, they relied on technology to tell the story of this precious diorama and lead visitors on a journey back through time.

Related: Statue of Liberty Museum Brings History to Life with Panasonic Projection

Originally created in 1886, the 49-foot-tall by 371-foot-wide panoramic diorama depicts the famous Battle of Atlanta, a critical moment in the Civil War. Complete with lifelike three-dimensional statues and elements, the full-color illusion is designed to transport the viewer onto the historic battlefield. Over its 133-year lifespan, the colossal work has gone through revisions to the canvas’ content (since restored) and multiple display venues before finally coming to rest in the Atlanta History Center. With such a storied past, the AHC wanted to create an exhibit that would not only tell the story of the diorama and how it became an artifact, but also the “big picture” of the Atlanta Campaign and its importance in both local and national history.

“The painting depicts an important moment in the context of American history,” said Jackson McQuigg, vice president of properties at the AHC. “Had the South won at Atlanta, Lincoln could have lost his reelection; the nation’s appetite for the war was dwindling, and this moment could have ended the war in a stalemate. We wanted to portray that importance on a scale that would complement the piece.” 

To put this painting into the broader perspective of American history, the AHC developed a companion exhibition, complete with related historical pieces and a large-scale film by Cortina Productions that tells stories of people affected by the battle. To implement the film, they reached out to the Atlanta-based AV design specialists at CEI.

Known for being an excellent design-build AV integrator and contractor at the national level, CEI strove to bring premier quality to this hometown venue. “When we first saw the size and scale of the painting, we knew this was a one-of-a-kind project,” said Val Dempsey, president of CEI. “Then, when the AHC explained that it was important that we use Atlanta-based companies, we started thinking of ways to make the experience truly unique and memorable.”

CEI’s design called for a seamless, 160-degree display projected directly onto the canvas. This would allow the final product to balance the sheer size of the painting, while fitting the projected content into one field of view that visitors could easily enjoy. “This design called for a complex five-projector image displaying on a surface that curves in two directions, with no two distances from the lenses exactly the same,” Dempsey said. To accomplish this task, CEI integrated Digital Projection’s HIGHlite LASER II projectors.  

“We needed projectors that were bright enough to overcome the painted elements, but also with exceptional warp and edge-blending capabilities to get this right,” Dempsey said. “We felt that Digital Projection would have the best product and the best support. DP’s engineers were instrumental in helping with the design, testing, and implementation.”

Augmented by 16.1 channel surround sound audio, multi-level lighting, and AV control systems, the HIGHlite LASER II projectors transform the 133-year-old painting into a vibrant and engaging 12-minute show. Using historical imagery and reenacted battle sequences, the movie guides visitors through the remarkable story of the painting, the fleeting entertainment sensation of cycloramas, and examines the role movies and visual entertainment have had on shaping perspectives, memory, myth, and interpretations of the Civil War. 

Following each show, the HIGHlite units project modern day locations onto the landscape of the battle, offering guests an intimate perspective of how this event resonates with present-day Atlanta. “I’ve seen people gasp when they realize that the battle was fought right in the middle of the city, often at places they’ve been to,” McQuigg said. “They see important landmarks for the city and really get a sense of wonder at what it would have been like.”

The reaction to the new Cyclorama experience has been overwhelmingly positive for both the AHC and its guests. “The show and painting blend together seamlessly; the projectors really add to the importance and effect of the artifact,” McQuigg said. “It’s quite a moving experience.”

“The feedback we’ve gotten has been exceptional with everyone being blown away by the presentation,” Dempsey said. “It’s truly an awesome AV experience.” 

The Statue of Liberty Museum, which opened in May 2019 on Liberty Island in New York, was conceived to tell a powerful story. Able to accommodate up to 25,000 visitors a day, its first experience, an awe-inspiring short film, needed a theater that would deliver an immersive, engaging experience visitors would remember for a long time. 

To accomplish this goal, the installation had to overcome the challenges of deploying the correct projection blend onto a uniquely structured surface and creating a fully integrated technology system. The Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation, which raised funds for and managed the museum’s creation, collaborated with Panasonic to deploy visually engaging technology to give visitors a chance to learn about the history of the Statue of Liberty. 

Related: The Technology Manager's Guide to Projectors and Screens

The Foundation worked with Diversified and Panasonic to develop and implement the technology needed to create an immersive museum experience. Diversified provided dedicated consultation on all AV solutions in the museum, including coordinating the installation of the custom projection screens in the theater. To display the museum’s film, Liberty Enlightening the World, Panasonic deployed floor-to-ceiling projection onto three curved, asymmetric screens that visually showcase Liberty’s past present and future. Thanks to this collaboration with the Panasonic and Diversified teams of engineers, the Statue of Liberty Museum is now able to create vivid graphical impressions that create emotional connections to the history of liberty.

By expanding the space and utilizing Panasonic projection technology, the Statue of Liberty Museum was able to give a higher number of visitors access to the history of Liberty. Before the construction of the museum and theater, there was very little technology being utilized on the island due to its remote location. However, since Panasonic was able to create a fully integrated technology system, the museum will consistently deliver visually resonant images to millions of visitors. 

Customizing the Solution 

Previously, the Statue’s story was told in an exhibit housed within Lady Liberty’s pedestal. Enhanced life-safety upgrades limited the number of visitors who could access the exhibit, which led to development of the new, standalone museum structure. With this expansion came the immersive theater. When walking into the space, there are three connected theaters, each with its own floor to ceiling curved screens, one measuring 17 feet by 24 feet and two measuring 12 feet by 20 feet. These uniquely shaped screens display visuals powered by Panasonic PT-RQ32KU 3DLP 4K laser projectors to captivate visitors watching the museum’s video. “When you're standing in those rooms, and you're looking at historic footage, or a drone shot of the statue at night, it’s really breathtaking,” said Diane Toland, project director for the Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation, Inc.

The original museum was created in the 1980s and deployed little to no technology. The Foundation was determined to make the theater as exciting as possible. The new projection technology deployment was a monumental step: With floor-to-ceiling projection, compelling video visuals all within the presence of Lady Liberty herself, the theater boarders on an IMAX experience. However, the curvature of the walls, which represent the folds in Lady Liberty’s robe, presented a challenge to deploy the correct projection blend. 

“We needed to use Panasonic laser projectors, to get that particular curve,” said Carol Feely, Diversified’s project manager for the Statue of Liberty Museum project. “We certainly needed to deploy their projectors with edge blending technology.” To create accurate, crisp and undetectable projection blends, the museum worked with Panasonic’s team to install eight Panasonic PT-RQ32KU 3DLP 4K projectors and Panasonic’s edge blending technology. With the projectors’ high brightness 26,000 lumens and the software’s automatic color matching and geometric adjustment, the museum was able to deploy a fully immersive experience for their video.

“Dealing with the shape of the projected screen and then also the brightness are two really key pieces” Feely said. “Panasonic laser projectors really can accommodate.” Since the PT-RQ32KU projectors are adaptable to the museum’s needs, with a long-lasting projection, these solutions will serve the museum and its millions of visitors for years to come.  

Additionally, ensuring the technology was sustainable was a top priority and the working relationship with the Panasonic team reduced the project management coordination needed to complete the deployment plan. “Not every manufacturer can be leaned on,” Feely said. “Being able to call the right person the first time made Panasonic’s service invaluable.” 

Before the museum’s renovation, visitors expressed disappointment not being able to access the crown or would feel frustrated with the crowds at the pedestal. With the creation of the Immersive Theater, visitors are given the opportunity to connect with history by viewing Liberty Enlightening the World with 4K projection technology. Despite the challenges of creating a fully integrated technology system on a remote island and deploying an accurate, seamless 4K projection blend onto curved surfaces, Panasonic delivered a fully immersive, engaging experience for the Statue of Liberty Museum that makes the true meaning of freedom accessible to all. 

With all of the innovative technologies behind modern projection on the market today, it can be difficult to decide which kind of solution to opt for. One leading choice is RGB pure laser, and it offers a number of advantages over competing technologies.

Color Volume

There are four main advantages of RGB pure laser projection technology over laser phosphor and xenon, and they work hand-in-hand to deliver the best possible image: color, frame rate, resolution, and operational efficiency. RGB pure laser technology uses individual red, green, and blue lasers to produce the most dynamic range of color possible today. The color approaches Rec. 2020, which is 75.8 percent of the color that the human eye can perceive based on the CIE 1931 color chart. (And by comparison, Rec.709, the color space typically used in television and most pro AV applications, covers 35.9 percent of the spectrum.) This means that RGB pure laser can better project natural, real-world colors, as well as branded colors—think a certain cola red. 

Related: The Technology Manager's Guide to Projectors and Screens

Higher Frame Rates

Frame rates can impact the sharpness and visible detail in content. Higher frame rates better represent fast moving objects, since it reduces motion blur and increases image detail. For example, most films are shown at 24 frames per second, which can cause flickering and stuttering across the screen, like in a fast-moving action sequence. The image isn’t smooth, and detail is lost as the motion begins to blur. But shown with a frame rate at 60Hz or higher, the image is sharper and more detailed. With select RGB pure laser projectors on the market, frame rates can range from 120Hz at 4K and up to 480Hz at 2K.

Resolution and Contrast

The last consideration is resolution. Resolution has become the buzz word in the home entertainment market—4K and 8K TVs, 4K streaming content—but what does in mean in pro AV? To start, it’s more complicated than on the consumer side of display technology. Pro AV must control for more factors, like ambient light, the projection surface, and the viewing angle. And to complicate this further, resolution is often intertwined with contrast: the higher the contrast, the higher the perceived resolution. With RGB pure laser, resolutions from 2K up to 8K are possible, with varying frame rates. 

Efficiency and Maintenance

Moving from lamp-based projection to laser has significant operational advantages. New RGB projection systems feature system architectures with integrated cooling—so external chillers are a thing of the past—creating a highly-efficient system that draws less power, has no filtered light, and wastes no light. Sealed optical paths result in consistently dependable illumination. RGB pure laser is the longest lasting light source available, with the lowest maintenance. 

Advancements in laser technology are resulting in greater installation flexibility for live events, rental and staging, large-scale projection mapping, and theme parks, where a lightweight, compact design is essential. The size of pure laser projectors has come down considerably in both weight and overall dimensions, with new models weighing as little as 175 pounds—with the laser rack and chiller built-in—and omnidirectional installation now possible, in any direction, angle and position. And lastly, with advancements in laser technology, noise levels have decreased significantly, with levels as low as 46dBA, to not distract audiences. 

RGB pure laser projection raises the bar on visuals, leading with superior color, frame rate, contrast and resolution.

Brad Martin is a senior product manager at Christie.

Christie projection solutions are delivering bright images for an enormous immersive “night tourism” extravaganza aimed at promoting the Guangwu Mountain scenic area in China’s Sichuan province and boosting the local cultural tourism industry.

The extensive outdoor show, titled “Guangwu Mountain Dreamscape,” has been touted as the nation’s first large-scale night tourism spectacular that combines beautiful natural landscapes with an innovative use of technology, including state-of-the-art projection, interactive lighting, lasers, holographic images, environmental effects, and live performances. Projection is accomplished by Christie’s trusted partner Wincomn Technology using 16 Christie Crimson Series 3DLP laser projectors, 25 Christie DWU630-GS 1DLP laser projectors, and three Christie DXG1051-Q 1DLP projectors.

Related: The Technology Manager's Guide to Projectors and Screens

“This is a very unique night tourism attraction that demands robust and dependable projection systems that can withstand harsh environmental conditions and yet deliver outstanding visuals,” said Tony Chen, general manager, Wincomn Technology. “In particular, the Christie Crimson Series and GS Series are the top contenders for this significant installation. We have deployed them for several projects across China with great results, and we are confident that they are best suited for this massive show.”

One of the most remarkable feats of this three-hour nighttime extravaganza is projecting imagery on natural fog that shrouds Guangwu Mountain for most parts of the year. “This is the first time that we have employed Christie projectors to display visuals on low-lying clouds and we are astonished by the amazing effects,” Chen said. “We have even coined a term for it: ‘air imaging.’”

Another highlight is a captivating projection on a nearly 1,000-foot-high cliff face featuring Bashan Bei’erge (Song of Bashan Back-carriers), a 3,000-year-old folk song that depicted men from Bashan who carried goods in and out of the inaccessible mountain on back-carriers with square-shoulder splints. This fascinating projection is currently the largest 3D image to be displayed on a cliff face in China.

The show also boasts a creative “storytelling-on-the-go” concept. Visitors strolling along a quarter-mile-long pathway—flanked by winding creeks and dense forest—within the performance zone are able to concurrently enjoy an engaging storytelling process enhanced with lifelike projections on gauze screens, made possible using Christie’s 1DLP projectors.

Since its debut late last year, “Guangwu Mountain Dreamscape” has contributed greatly to cultural tourism and helped promote local economic and social development in Sichuan. Even though the performances were temporary suspended earlier this year due to COVID-19, its producers made use of the downtime to introduce new elements, such as mesmerizing projections on the cliff face and upgrading the gauze screen projections and lighting effects along the pathway. These enhancements greatly improved the night tourism experience when the show resumed in late June, heightening visitors’ enjoyment of this stunning visual feast.

April Qin, director of sales, enterprise, Christie China, commented, “We are thrilled that Christie projection solutions have contributed to the engaging storytelling process for this epic performance at Guangwu Mountain. Christie’s 1DLP and 3DLP projectors are built tough and deliver big, bright and intensely colorful images, and are able to withstand the rigors of demanding, high-usage applications.”

Christie pure RGB laser projectors helped to mark the launch of United Launch Alliance’s (ULA) Delta IV Heavy rocket at Cape Canaveral with the first-ever 3D projection mapping on an operational rocket. A total of six all-in-one 45,000-lumen Christie D4K40-RGB projectors—provided by Nationwide Video—mapped onto the façade of the nearly 72-meter rocket, two days before ULA’s launch for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO).

“It was a pleasure to work with the latest and brightest RGB laser projector on the market for this unique project,” said Philippe Bergeron, president of PaintScaping, which created the eye-catching content for the event. “We have a long history of working with Christie and Nationwide Video, and it was a joy to team up with them once again. The imposing structure of the rocket drove the narrative of this once in a life-time video mapping opportunity, with the Christie projection helping to deliver the impact we required. It is always a thrill to share the power of 3D projection mapping, and we enjoyed the challenge of delivering on the client’s vision.”

Related: The Technology Manager's Guide to Projectors and Screens

ULA’s Delta IV Heavy was the only rocket capable of carrying the NROL-44 mission. The rocket launched in the early morning on August 27 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. The façade of the Delta IV Heavy—with its combination of even, uneven, curved and flat surfaces—presented a test for PaintScaping’s extensive skills on this large-scale mapping. Previous PaintScaping projects utilizing Christie projection include Calvin Harris featuring Rihanna’s This is What You Came For music video, a BMW plug-in hybrid advertisement, and the Aurora projection mapping show at the San Diego Zoo. 

“With enhanced color saturation, brightness, and contrast, pure RGB laser technology is an ideal choice for impactful largescale projection,” said Michael Bosworth, executive vice president, Enterprise, Christie. “When combined with great talent and an exciting opportunity such as this, the pay-off is something special. The PaintScaping team has once again demonstrated its supreme expertise in the 3D projection mapping arena, and we’re proud to have played a part in achieving its ambitious plans for this stunning project.”

Whether it’s for a classroom or a school auditorium, buying a projector for a school isn’t simple. There are many considerations beyond price alone that impact the total cost of ownership (TCO). Before selecting a projector for your school, be well aware of all the associated costs of both lamp and lamp-free projectors to get the most out of the budget and to prolong the life of the technology investment. 

The Hidden Costs of Lamp-Based Projectors

For decades, lamp-based projectors have ruled the classroom. While these models can seem like a great value, there’s more than just the initial upfront price tag to consider. Replacement lamps, or projector bulbs, are essential to these projectors — and the root of many problems and additional costs. Schools bear the expense of maintaining a healthy supply of replacement lamps as well as the labor to replace them and any fees for properly disposing of them. 

Related: The Technology Manager's Guide to Projectors and Screens

While keeping replacements on hand is smart, sometimes it’s hard to locate them. There is no guarantee that a model that was purchased to last 10 years will have a replacement lamp five years later. Many manufacturers are discontinuing lamp-based models or getting out of the projector business completely. If replacements are found, they can run anywhere from $50 to $400 apiece. In addition, schools have to store them securely. Lamps are valuable and can be resold easily on eBay. Should they be stolen, schools risk the expense of replacing them.

Not only does it cost money to buy and store lamps, but also to dispose of them. Many projector lamps contain hazardous chemicals, such as mercury gas, which means that they shouldn’t be thrown in the trash. The Environmental Protection Agency recommends recycling bulbs, but in many states and local jurisdictions, it’s a requisite and can incur additional fees. 

Another challenge is that a projector lamp gradually goes dim over its lifetime. A lamp typically lasts a maximum of 5,000 hours, but the average is actually closer to 2,000 hours. Even with a new lamp, the brightness can be all over the map. It’s also a fact that lamp brightness slowly deteriorates as the projector is used, and as schools can use a projector for hours every day, they’re having to replace lamps sooner to get the same brightness, which can quickly drive up costs and maintenance.

The second most expensive cost to a traditional projector is the filter, which is designed to keep dust out of the projector. Dust that is left to build up on a filter can cause a projector to overheat and eventually short it out. However, there are two expenses involved in cleaning the filter. One is the labor, which may require as little as blowing off the dust or as much as thoroughly washing and drying them before they’re put back in. For one or two projectors, that job isn’t to arduous, but with 20 or more, it becomes a much more time-consuming task. In an auditorium or gymnasium, where the projector is mounted on the ceiling, there’s also the expense of renting a lift to reach it. 

Advantages of Laser Projectors

While a majority of projectors today use lamps, the purchase of lamp-free projectors is on the rise, according to Futuresource. In the first quarter of 2020, more than a third of all 3,500-lumen and brighter projectors were lamp-free. There are three major lamp-free projector technologies: 100 percent LED, a hybrid of LED/laser, and 100 percent blue laser. 

LED options can quickly be ruled out because the brightest options available are only 2,000 ANSI lumens, which is bright enough for darkened home theaters but not a well-lit classroom. In addition, they’re not intended for hours of daily use. While adding laser light sources to LEDs does amp up the brightness, the light source warranty may be only rated for a maximum of 6,000 hours on many models. In addition, the combo of LED and laser light sources can make it hard to achieve accurate color over time.

Completely sealed blue laser projectors are the ideal choice for classrooms for several reasons. These lasers are the only lamp-free projector technology capable of delivering 5,000 lumens or higher at 4K resolution, 20,000 hours of performance, and meet Rec. 709 or UHD color standard for proven color accuracy. 

The best blue laser projector models offer a sealed engine, which eliminates the need for a filter, lowering the projectors TCO even further. Rather than relying on a paper or cloth filter for dust protection, filter-free laser projectors feature a completely sealed laser engine that prevents dust from entering and shortening the life of the unit. The most rigorously tested models have earned an international dustproof protection rating of IP5X or IP6X, a trusted certification given to today’s most popular mobile and smart watch technology. Here, it’s a testament of the projector’s ability to protect against dust over the entire life of the projector. 

Projectors have been a classroom mainstay for years and will continue to play a pivotal role in helping students thrive and learn as the cost of blue laser projectors come down. Laser projectors provide schools with a budget-friendly, zero-maintenance option that is future-ready and user- friendly.

Bob Wudeck serves as Senior Director of Business Development for BenQ. 

It’s clear: the classrooms that students are making their way back to this fall are not the places they left in the spring. Distance is key, with pupils being forced spread out within these environments, so it’s imperative that everyone can see the material being presented. 

Delivering on this increased demand for big-screen solutions is a category that has been elevating engagement in educational settings for some time: the short- and ultra-short-throw projector. This showcase highlights the latest models of this versatile and cost-effective technology from the leading brands in the field. 

Related: The Technology Manager's Guide to Projectors and Screens 

BenQ EW800ST

According to BenQ, the EW800ST is the first education projector to feature cloud account integration, screen-mirroring capabilities, smart app capability, and internet and wireless connectivity to promote diversified teaching and blended learning in classrooms. The EW800ST offers personal account control and cloud services integration via the BenQ Account Management System (AMS), allowing instructors individualized access to lesson plans and educational materials in cloud storage. EW800ST also includes X-Sign Broadcast, a centralized messaging and display scheduling system.

EW800ST’s user interface is optimized for education and interaction, providing content navigation in addition to the traditional projector remote control. The EW800ST lets students and teachers navigate educational content not only with a traditional mouse or keyboard, but also from any device via the BenQ Smart Control app. Equipped with the onboard BenQ Suggest app store, users can also download a variety of smart apps, including web browsers for lessons generated right from the projector. With WXGA resolution and a 15,000-hour lamp life, EW800ST’s engaging and expansive visual quality is enhanced by new Infographic and Video Modes, designed to accentuate modern educational materials that contain mixed graphics, data, charts, video, and text.

Casio XJ-UT352WN

Casio’s Ultra Short Throw XJ-UT352WN LampFree projector is an all-in-one solution for the education market, providing high-quality projection technology with enhanced features and functionality. It features 3,500 lumens and a WXGA native resolution of 1280x800, enabling the projection of large, bright images. The XJ-UT352WN uses Casio’s Laser and LED Hybrid light source to project vibrant colors with no lamps or filters to replace and long-lasting performance of up to 20,000 hours. The XJ-UT352WN has an improved dust resistant design and is network ready with LAN Connectivity (RJ-45) and optional wireless capability.

Additionally, the XJ-UT352WN includes Casio’s Educational Solutions suite that facilitates easier use of projection in classrooms. Auto Input Search and One Click Connection enable class to start quickly. PC and Projector Remote and the Moderator Function allow teachers to remotely display their device or their students’ devices from anywhere in the classroom. 

Christie DHD630-GS 

Christie's GS Series projectors take 1DLP technology to higher levels of brightness, image quality, and color reproduction with laser illumination. From education and training venues to events and beyond, professional-grade Christie GS Series models deliver high performance and reliability in high-usage environments. 

Christie DHD630-GS 1DLP offers 6,125 lumens with HD resolution. Laser illumination provides 20,000 hours of high-quality visuals with a 4,000,000:1 full on/off contrast ratio. Its small footprint, low weight, full suite of lenses—including an ultra-short-throw option—and 24/7 operation durability makes this projector ideal for higher education. The DHD630-GS is also whisper quiet, with a noise rating of 36dBA, enabling it to be placed anywhere in a room. 

Epson BrightLink 735Fi

Epson’s BrightLink 735Fi 1080p 3LCD interactive laser display is designed to turn almost any flat surface into a widescreen digital whiteboard. Displaying 100-inch, 16:9 or ultra-wide 110-inch, 16:6 images, the BrightLink 735Fi offers split screen, side-by-side viewing and up to 65 percent more interactive space versus 75-inch flat panels, for better visibility and engagement in social-distancing classrooms.

Featuring 3,600 lumens brightness, Full HD 1080p resolution, and a virtually maintenance-free 20,000-hour laser light source, the projector offers built-in 5GHz Wi-Fi and supports software-free, peer-to-peer wireless connectivity from Miracast-enabled devices. Users can save, email, and print without a PC, or share content to other networked BrightLinks. This laser display is also compatible with value-added software including Epson Easy Interactive Tools, Epson iProjection app, Epson Projector Management Utility, and SMART Learning Suite. Featuring dual-pen interactivity with auto calibration, touch capabilities, and easy-to-install touch module, the BrightLink 735Fi is a true collaboration device integrating the utility of a whiteboard, projector, and interactive display, with no additional computers required. 

LG HU85LS

The LG Ultra-Short-Throw Projector (HU85LS) is a 4K laser projector that can produce a 90-inch image when placed just two inches from the projection wall, and a 120-inch image when just 7.2 inches away. This ability to create a large projection display in nearly any room arrangement makes it especially well suited for classrooms.

The HU85LS adopts three-channel laser technology to create RGB color via different light sources. Because of this, the HU85LS has no color wheel, so it significantly reduces “rainbow” effects that can be experienced by conventional projectors. Its 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio displays the deep blacks and smooth gradients necessary for engaging a cinematic 4K UHD experience. The LG Ultra-Short-Throw projector also offers voice control through the included Magic Remote with an integrated microphone. Wireless connection is available any iOS, Android, or Windows device, and standard inputs include USB-A, USB-C and HDMI. In addition, the projector offers wireless screen mirroring, webOS 4.5 for native web browsing, two integrated 5-watt speakers, and a Bluetooth-out port to boost wireless audio through a separate stereo system.

Maxell MP-TW4011

Maxell Pro AV’s MP-TW4011 3LCD laser interactive projector is engineered to transform the interactive experience for K-12 classrooms with a bright display and interactive software. Featuring 4,200 ANSI lumens brightness, the MP-TW4011 combines Maxell’s Accentualizer and High Dynamic Contrast Range 2 (HDCR2) technology to enhance image sharpness, gloss, and shade while correcting color and tone distortion. With 3LCD laser technology, the projector has 20,000 hours of maintenance-free operation and can operate up to 50,000 hours with Long Life 2 Mode in use.

StarBoard Interactive Presentation Software optimizes writing and drawing capabilities with freeform shape and handwriting automation. The interactive pen tool allows users to draw and write directly on the projected screen without a PC and can operate as a compass, ruler, protractor, or stopwatch. 

The MP-TW4011 incorporates the optional finger-touch unit that enables the projector to detect finger touch activity on the screen area. Windows Multi Touch allows users with touch-enabled Windows 8.1/10 systems to operate the PC directly from the interactive screen with up to six pens or touches.

NEC UM383WL

NEC's UM383WL ultra-short-throw HLD LED projector is a low-maintenance display solution for education and corporate customers that need up to 130-inch diagonal video and images at an affordable cost. Its ultra-short-throw lens (0.27:1 throw ratio) helps eliminate shadows on the screen along with projected light in the presenter’s eyes created by traditional front-projection systems, and the HLD LED light source eliminates the maintenance requirements that exist in lamp-based projectors. 

Its features include horizontal and vertical keystone adjustment or cornerstone correction, ECO Mode technology for lower power consumption, and input/output panel, including dual HDMI, VGA, and RJ-45 for networking. It also offers NaViSet Administrator 2, a free software tool designed to ease administration and management for large installations. Administrators and users will also benefit from the ability to remotely monitor and control the projector over a network, which will save IT employees time and help reduce the costs related to projector operation.

Optoma ZH406ST

The Optoma ZH406ST is a 4,200-lumen 1080p DuraCore laser short-throw projector that delivers high performance in a lightweight, compact size. Featuring a 300,000:1 contrast ratio, 4K UHD input, HDR10 and HLG compatibility, and a 0.5:1 throw ratio, the ZH406ST produces 100-inch images from only several feet away, making it well suited for small classrooms, conference rooms, and other space-constrained environments. 

Equipped with vertical lens shift, four-corner correction, and 360-degree and portrait mode operation, the Optoma ZH406ST enables flexible installations. Additionally, a laser light source eliminates the need for lamp and filter replacements, providing up to 30,000 hours of low-cost and virtually maintenance-free performance in Eco mode. The Optoma ZH406ST also offers HDMI 2.0, HDMI, and VGA inputs for connectivity to high-quality 4K HDR digital video or legacy analog video sources, while LAN and RS-232 enable control via Crestron, Extron, AMX, or Telnet. 

Panasonic PT-TW371R

Panasonic’s PT-TW371R Series of short-throw WXGA (1280x800) resolution LCD projectors are designed for easy setup, whether on a table top or mounted from a ceiling. The wireless series connects to laptops, mobile devices, and other sources for supporting presentation needs. 

The PT-TW371RU has interactive capabilities and includes two interactive pens and Whiteboard Software for PC to support writing and drawing on projected images, as well as the ability to save work to a PC for later distribution. The PT-TW371R Series can project an 80-inch image from an approximate distance of 2.5 feet without creating any screen shadowing, which is well suited for rooms where space is limited. Its 3,300 lumens of brightness with 16,000:1 contrast ratio and operating noise of 30dB make it particularly adept for classroom and meeting room visualization. New technology extends lamp replacement to approximately 20,000 hours by reducing degradation and improving cooling capabilities for low TCO and less maintenance downtime.

ViewSonic PS750W

The ViewSonic PS750W is envisioned as a complete interactive projection solution for the classroom. With native WXGA resolution and an ultra-short-throw lens, the PS750W includes an embedded camera, laser curtain module, and wall-mount kit. It features a brightness of 3,300 lumens, while its 0.23 throw ratio allows it to be placed just inches away from a wall or screen. It is flexible enough to be ceiling-mounted or placed on a tabletop. 

The PS750W comes the company’s cBoard software, enabling users to write, highlight, edit, and transform documents and images on-screen in real time, making it a big-picture alternative to interactive whiteboards and displays. Connectivity options include HDMI, HDMI/MHL, USB 2.0, VGA Out, S-Video, Composite, RJ45, and RS-232, ensuring all types of external devices can be connected. 

The Technology Manager's Guide to Projectors and Screens

DOWNLOAD NOW

Manufacturers Share Their Market Outlooks

As much as competing technologies come down in price, it doesn’t appear that the projector category will ever be displaced. We asked projector manufacturers to share their thoughts about the future of the category and how they are driving the category forward.

The Latest in Screens and Mounts

Screen and mount manufacturers discuss their company focus in 2020 and beyond and share some new products and case studies.

Case Studies

Case studies of remarkable projection installations. 

Download The Technology Manager's Guide to Projectors and Screens.

The What: Epson is now shipping its 9,000 lumen Pro L laser projectors. The new white Epson Pro L1490U and black Epson Pro L1495U join the Pro L large-venue laser projector lineup. Offering powerful features and flexible installation, the new models deliver vibrant, crystal-clear images and feature a full range of inputs, edge blending, and 10 optional powered lenses (one standard lens included), making them ideal for conference rooms, auditoriums, and live events.

The What Else: The state-of-the-art Pro L1490U and Pro L1495U laser projectors come equipped with 3-chip, 3LCD, and WUXGA resolution with 4K Enhancement Technology. Offering 9,000 lumens of equal color and white brightness, the projectors deliver stunning imagery for impactful presentations, videos, digital signage, and more. The new models’ laser light source and electrostatic air filter provide virtually maintenance-free operation for up to 20,000 hours. Plus, with a brightness lock feature, users can securely set the maximum brightness level to meet brightness needs across a range of environments.

[Epson to Relocate HQ in 2020]

In a sleek chassis available in both black and white, the new models combine advanced projection and installation features to deliver premium projection that blends discreetly into virtually any environment where powerful displays are required. Additional features include:

A brighter visual display system with 9,000 lumens of equal color and white brightness; WUXGA (1920 x 1200) display with 4K enhancement supporting up to 4K resolution; a laser light source and electrostatic air filter that provide low maintenance operation for up to 20,000 hours; dynamic projection capabilities with built-in edge blending, image warping, and curved-surface correction technologies for a variety of applications; advanced connectivity that supports a range of inputs including 3G-SDI, HDBaseT, HDMI, DVI-D, VGA, 5-BNC and Stereo Mini 10 optional interchangeable lenses as well as powered lens shift and lens memory with standard lens included; flexible installation with 360-degree projection for added versatility and a design in black and white to blend into most environments; remote management and control tools, which includes software that allows for easy web-based monitoring and multiple projector setup; and an image correction camera that automatically adjusts color and brightness to match other projectors in multiple-screen applications.

The Bottom Line: The Epson Pro L1490U (MSRP $13,700) and Pro L1495U (MSRP $ 13,700) projectors are available now through authorized resellers. The projectors are also available without the standard lens – Pro L1490UNL (MSRP $13,400) and Pro L1495UNL (MSRP $13,400). The laser projectors come with a limited warranty of three years or 20,000 hours, whichever comes first, and next business day replacement, including free shipping both ways.

The What: Christie has launched the DS Series, a trio of mid-brightness 3LCD laser projectors: the LWU755-DS, LHD878-DS, and the LWU900-DS.

The What Else: Needing only one motor, the LWU900-DS/LHD878-DS projectors are affordable, mid-brightness 3LCD laser projectors. Delivering 9,000/8,775 lumens and a 4,000,000:1 contrast ratio in WUXGA/HD resolution, these two projectors are well suited for medium to large spaces or high ambient light environments where greater brightness is required. 

The Christie LWU900-DS and LHD878-DS accept 4K at 60Hz signals, have built-in edge blending and warping, and feature a low-power mode for up to 50,000 hours of operation. Small, light, and featuring omnidirectional capabilities, these projectors are easy to install in tight spaces and blend into any environment.

“The patented optical engine in the Christie DS Series is more efficient than its competition because of the compact laser diode block,” said Brad Martin, product manager, Christie. “This design changes the excitation light spot shape from a round spot to a rectangular shape and disperses the energy on the phosphor wheel, which improves the reliability of the phosphor wheel.”

The Christie LWU755-DS is an affordable, mid-brightness 3LCD laser projector designed for small to medium applications. Delivering 7,550 lumens and 4,000,000:1 contrast ratio in WUXGA resolution, this projector displays a variety of content types in precise detail. Designed for easy operation, the LWU755-DS includes built-in edge blending and warping and advanced color management. Small, light, available in black or white, and featuring omnidirectional capabilities, the Christie LWU755-DS projector is easy to install in tight spaces and blends into any environment. 

All three models provide integration with control systems such as AMX and Crestron, and are equipped with LiveViewer so users can share audio and video content directly from their computer or laptop to the projector via the LAN or wirelessly (optional USB dongle required). The HDMI Loop-Through allows HDMI input signals up to 4K60 to be passed on to other DS Series projectors without a distribution amp/splitter. 

The Bottom Line: The DS Series features 360-degree orientation for flexible installation, comprehensive input/output options including HDBaseT, low maintenance, and up to 50,000 hours of operation, making it well suited for higher education, business, and mid-sized meeting spaces. 

Recently enlarged from 8,500 to 30,000 square feet, Houston’s Museum of Natural Science’s Wiess Energy Hall is a testament to the city’s key role in the United States energy sector, with exhibits dedicated to conservation, renewable energy, hydrogen power, and natural gas. 

Looking to engage visitors with a stimulating visual experience that could keep pace with the expectations of modern technology, the museum redesigned Wiess Energy Hall’s displays and created an entirely new thematic exhibit: Energy City, a 2,500-square-foot 3D landscape of Houston. 

This project would be a first for the facility in both size and complexity, so it was imperative that the project be cost effective, require minimal oversight, and utilize technology that could last throughout the life of a museum exhibit. Ultimately, projection mapping paired with animation was selected to bring the energy value chain to life. This would be the first projection mapping exhibit of its type and the most ambitious project that the museum had embarked upon. 

To design and fabricate the landscape, Wiess Energy Hall selected Paul Bernhard Exhibit Design and Consulting (PBE), which reimagined the expansive Gulf coastal waters and landscapes of Southeast and Central Texas for Energy City. PBE then selected production company RabCup to provide the technical knowledge needed to animate the project in a way that would both educate and delight guests, in accordance with the museum’s mission.

Recognizing Wiess Energy Hall’s concerns and the technological needs of a project on this scale, RabCup examined several projector products and brands. In the end, the team installed 32 Vivitek DU8090Z laser projectors throughout the exhibit. Equipped with a laser light source, the DU8090Z features a WUXGA resolution, 8,000 ANSI lumens of brightness, and a 10,000:1 contrast ratio. This contrast ratio was critical to ensuring the exhibit’s crisp and immersive visuals were maintained, even during night scenes. 

“Vivitek’s projectors checked all the boxes,” said AJ Freysteinson, creative director and co-founder of RabCup. “We needed projectors that could bring a wow factor to the amazing custom animation created for this installation, but even more important was the reliability. The projectors that we installed would need to run more than 50 hours a week for as long as 10 years, with minimal upkeep. It’s no small task, but we found the performance, durability, and personalized support we needed with Vivitek.”

Since opening in late 2017, Energy City has proven to be among the museum’s top attractions. The project is massive, with 32 projectors, 168 fiber optic sensors, 4 miles of fiber optic cable, and more than 30 minutes of custom animation, including a five-minute day-to-night scene and eight science modules. 

For Energy City’s first year of operations, the projectors ran for more than 3,000 hours. By comparison, lamp-based solutions would have needed to be replaced three times at this point—a collective total of 96 bulbs. Given this fact, a lamp-based alternative would have necessitated the use of nearly 1,000 bulbs throughout the life of the exhibit, resulting in substantial time and money to replace and recalibrate the units, as well as exhibition delays to allow for the proper reset and testing. 

While the project is still young, museum officials are thrilled with the results. The exhibition runs every day, captivating Houston residents and visitors alike. Energy City has drawn praise from local energy companies, as well as outside museums that have sought to emulate the installation.

“Energy City was quite a feat, and despite seeing it regularly for more than a year, it continues to amaze me,” said Dustin Newcomb, director of exhibits at Wiess Energy Hall. “In an age where kids are growing up with unlimited access to information and entertainment, our ability to create astonishingly breathtaking and immersive experiences like Energy City is critical to ensuring that museums endure long into the future.”

Watch a video of the exhibit here.

MORE INFO

Vivitek USA

There have never been so many ways to deliver an immersive video experience as there are today—from undulating tunnels of OLED panels to 200-foot-wide LED boards in stadiums, it’s an exciting time to be in this industry. But if you want to go really big (think Empire State Building big) there’s still only one way to get it done: projection.

The rise in high-brightness projectors over the past few years is enabling video to grace all manner of surfaces—from the facades of cathedrals and skyscrapers to the playing surfaces of arenas—where fixed displays cannot be placed. For some years now, projection mapping has been a fixture in professional sports, with many National Hockey League teams, like the Vegas Golden Knights, employing sophisticated pregame presentations that turn the entire ice surface into a screen. However, according to Mike Garrido, senior product manager at Christie—which supplied the projectors for the Golden Knights’ arena—this kind of technological showmanship is expanding into more widespread usage as well.

“Projection mapping continues to experience significant growth as more and more companies use it for special events such as conferences and anniversary celebrations,” Garrido said. “The move to laser is making these events better all the time because of the clarity of the images and their ability to overcome ambient light.”

To capitalize on this trend, Christie has recently launched the D4K40-RGB laser projector, which the company says is the smallest and lightest high-brightness, omnidirectional, all-in-one RGB laser projector on the market. Producing greater than 90 percent of the Rec. 2020 color space, and rated for more than 30,000 hours of operation to 80 percent brightness, the solid state D4K40- RGB laser projector is driving the exciting category of projection mapping forward.

SHARE THIS!

As great as projection is for these large-scale presentations, it’s equally adept at bringing more common, everyday things into a new light—and making them more appealing to the digitalfirst, Instagram-scrolling generation that will soon begin powering the economy.

“The younger Millennial and Gen-Z generations are the most experience-driven consumers to-date,” said Remi Del Mar, senior product manager, visual display solutions at Epson America. “Content consumption driven by mobile penetration and social media has resulted in younger generations looking for deeper connections to the brands with which they interact. That makes the experiential aspect of customer engagement particularly important for industries such as retail, casino, food and hospitality, among others.”

To capture the attention and loyalty of this demographic, retail and hospitality organizations are turning to projection technology. “Businesses are tapping into the flexibility and creative freedom of projection to create anything from large-scale displays—such as architectural mapping or life-size holographic entertainment events—to smaller uses, such as shelf or product activation at the store level, digital storefront, and operation efficiency use cases such as virtual inventory and wayfinding,” Del Mar said.

These kinds of applications were the inspiration for Epson’s LightScene projector line, which it launched last year. A laser projector that simultaneously illuminates and projects on virtually any surface or material—such as narrow shelves in retail stores or glass windows for digital advertisements—LightScene can help give brick and mortar the pop of color needed to stay relevant in the digital age.

CONVENTIONAL FLEX

When it comes to more traditional display applications, another advantage that projection has capitalized on over the past few years is its versatility. While flat panels have gotten bigger and bigger, projectors have shrunk in size—and with different lens options, you can place a big, bright image nearly anywhere.

“From shorter throw ratios to long-lasting laser light source options with built-in setup features, pro AV projectors in the market today offer amazing installation flexibility,” said Brian Soto, head of product management, Optoma Technology. “In addition to higher image resolutions and superior image quality, projectors also offer prolonged operation as well as greater connectivity to multimedia sources through robust input options. With this flexibility, projection technology has transformed classrooms, boardrooms, museums, and entertainment spaces into places of efficiency, interactivity, and collaboration.”

Soto highlighted Optoma’s ZH506T, ZU506T, and ZW506 as prototypical examples of the modern flexible projector. Featuring 4K HDR compatibility and a long-lasting laser light source, these models are also equipped with multiple built-in installation solutions, including vertical lens shift, four-corner geometric correction, and 360-degree and portrait mode operation, enabling minimal maintenance and improved ease of installation in professional environments.

POWER IN NUMBERS

While direct-view LED has come down in cost, for many applications, it will be a long time until the price is right for its big-picture performance. For markets like K-12 education—which require large-scale deployments at a palatable price—projection is a great answer.

“Many K-12 schools are rethinking flat panel purchases because of the cost of the larger screens needed for kids in the back of the room to read the text and numbers used in most curriculums,” said Joseph Gillio, senior director, business projector division, Casio America. “Today, the cost-per-inch is still much higher for a flat panel compared to a projector and screen. Also, projectors can be easily moved from room to room and can display images from 30 to 300 inches for added flexibility, if ever needed.”

The biggest advancement in projection for markets like this is the move from bulb-driven architecture to solid-state design, a shift that Casio has been at the forefront of. “Although the overall projector market has been trending down an average of 5 percent a year (mainly attributed to the increase in flat panel sales), the solid-state segment of the market has been increasing over 30 percent per year,” Gillio said. The company’s line of LampFree projectors, which debuted in 2010, have been part of this uptick, and it has been implementing more features—like adding a suite of built-in collaboration tools to its network models—to make them more appealing than ever.

Another reason that projection is so well suited to the education market is its ability to function as an interactive display, thanks to short-throw lenses. Like Casio, Maxell Projectors (formerly Hitachi Projectors) offers a wide variety of solid-state models, many of which incorporate interactivity.

“Our LP-AW4001 projector is a 3LCD, laser-based projector that can create an image that is up to 130 inches diagonally, while the projector is less than 2 feet away,” said Andrew Mulazzi, regional sales manager, Maxell Corporation of America. “This is a great solution for education because the image is large enough for every student to see from any seat while the teacher can present from directly in front of the screen.”

In addition, through the company’s OneVision program, educational institutions can get access to specialized pricing, enhanced service, direct access to company experts, and program rewards—like offers to buy 10 projectors and get one free.

THE BRIGHT CHOICE

Casio’s Gillio pointed out that by doing away with the projector bulb, the category has defeated many barriers of adoption. “Most complaints about lamp-based projectors are about the lamps, because they lose brightness quickly, run hot, and are expensive to buy, stock, and replace,” he said. “Solid-state projectors have no lamps to replace, no filters to replace, use less electricity, run cool, and rarely overheat.” In addition to using less energy, there’s also no harmful mercury to dispose of—all great things for the environment.

And of course, it’s great for the total cost of ownership, a factor that gives projectors an edge over competing technologies. “From higher resolutions to built-in installation features, projectors offer greater cost-per-inch value, with the ability to cast large images at lower price points competitive to other display options in a variety of environments,” said Optoma’s Soto.

Christie’s Garrido concurred: “Projection, even laser projection, carries a significantly lower cost of ownership than LED—which is still out of reach of many customers. Projection is the only viable option for mapping onto a building. You can cover the tallest and widest buildings with projection mapping, but it’s much more difficult and far more expensive with LED.”

Considering all of these factors, it’s safe to say that projection will continue to serve as a core solution in the AV technologist’s toolkit for a long time to come.

The What: Casio America introduced its new Superior Series of Lampfree projectors at DSE 2019. The company’s latest LampFree projectors are designed for digital signage and offer benefits including high brightness, low maintenance, and installation flexibility. 

The What Else: The Superior Series features the next generation of Casio’s mercury-free LED and laser hybrid light source. The new R-Hybrid Light Source technology produces clear images and bright colors with a service life of up to 20,000 hours. The Superior Series also features Casio’s new dust-resistant design, which helps to prevent the deterioration of brightness.

“We at Casio understand how significant it is to have display solutions that deliver crisp images and high brightness,” said Joe Gillio, senior director strategic planning and marketing of Casio’s Business Projector Division. “Our latest projectors do just that and more at a price-point that is unmatched in the industry for everything it delivers.”

The Bottom Line: Suited for the presentation market, Casio’s Superior Series of LampFree projectors offers brightness up to 4,000 lumens and can project large images of up to 300 inches. As the company’s first WUXGA projector series, the new models provide full HD resolution, and with a 1.7x zoom lens and 360-degree installation angle capability, the Superior Series increases flexibility with installations as the projectors can fit into a variety of tight places.

In addition to the new Superior Series models, Casio’s LampFree Advanced Series and Ultra Short Throw Series will be introduced later this year. The Superior Series models will become available in Spring 2019.

The What: Sony has introduced two new installation model laser projectors, the VPL-FHZ75 and VPL-FHZ70. The new additions cater to the increased market demand for immersive and high brightness projection in midsize environments such as schools, corporations, churches, museums, and entertainment installations.

The What Else: Offering WUXGA resolution and color light output of 6500lm and 5500lm, respectively, the VPL-FHZ75 and VPL-FHZ70 use a 0.76-inch LCD panel with an incorporated optical compensator to deliver bright and vibrant images with contrast, offering true blacks and accurate-to-life color reproduction. Developed for BRAVIA displays and high-end home theater projectors, Sony’s super-resolution technology "Reality Creation" analyzes images to the pixel level to enhance clarity in every detail. Combining high contrast with the benefits of Reality Creation, the VPL-FHZ75 and VPL-FHZ70 provide clarity in images and text.

Both models come with an "intelligent setting" feature developed using Sony’s long-term experience in laser projection, careful research, and detailed feedback from customers. This new feature simplifies the installation process by automatically selecting the best configuration based on the projectors’ environment. The products’ four pre-set modes include: meeting/classrooms, museums, entertainment venues, and multi-screen setups. These modes enable users to optimize the projectors’ performance in relation to each environment, whether it’s adapting to a well-lit meeting room where brightness is most important, quiet environments such as museums requiring low noise level, or multi-screen usage where color matching is essential.

The Bottom Line: With their compact, light-weight and unobtrusive design, the VPL-FHZ75 and VPL-FHZ70 offer installation flexibility in any environment – even in buildings that may operate in imperfect ambient light settings, or that include unusually shaped rooms. The projectors can also be placed in higher-positions than ever before thanks to their industry-widest lens shift capability of Vertical +70%. This offers more options for where the projectors can be positioned, and it ensures that the presenter or visitors will not be distracted by the projector’s light source. In addition, without using keystone, there is virtually no distortion of the image nor digital noise ensuring continuous high picture quality with sharp focus and high brightness.

The VPL-FHZ75 and VPL-FHZ70 are planned to be available in spring 2019 and will come in both black and white finishes.

The What: Epson has debuted a new range of compact, interchangeable-lens Pro L laser projectors. In addition, Epson is introducing new 9,000 and 30,000 lumen laser projectors.

The What Else: The new range of Pro L projectors are Epson’s most compact, interchangeable-lens laser projectors. These versatile projectors, complete with 4K enhancement, HDBaseT, and wide lens shift, are designed for large venue usage – from visitor attractions to higher education, museums to corporate meeting rooms. They produce bright (up to 7500 lumens), detailed, high contrast, images with defined shadow details. The minimalist, discreet design and quiet fan noise ensure these new projectors fit into a variety of environments.

The new 30,000 lumens laser projector, the Epson Pro L30000U, is a high-end installation laser projector. The new 9,000 lumen laser projector joins the successful Pro L1000-Series, which range from 6,000 to 15,000 lumens. These projectors are designed for permanent installations as well as rental and staging.

The Bottom Line: Epson’s new projectors will be on display at ISE 2019 in Amsterdam from Feb. 5-8 at Epson’s booth, #1-H90.

The new Pro L projectors will be available Fall 2019 with pricing announced prior to launch.

The What: Optoma has added three new models to its ProScene projector series featuring 4K HDR compatibility to produce rich colors and image quality in a compact and lightweight design.

The What Else: The Optoma ZH506T, ZU506T, and ZW506-W projectors feature a 300,000:1 contrast ratio and display more than 1 billion colors to produce lifelike images with rich detail—all with more than 5,000 lumens of brightness to enhance any small to large-sized venue. They offer up to 20,000 hours of operation and vertical lens shift, four corner correction, and 360-degree and portrait mode performance. HDMI and VGA inputs provide connectivity to high-quality 4K HDR digital video while LAN and RS-232 enable control via Crestron, Extron, AMX, or Telnet.

“With the new additions of the Optoma ZH506T, ZU506T and ZW506-W to our line of ProScene projectors, we’re excited to provide our pro AV customers with a range of high-performance options to meet their various needs,” said Brian Soto, head of product management at Optoma Technology. “Offering stunning image quality, multiple integrated installation features and 4K HDR compatibility, these new projectors deliver premium quality and performance at competitive prices.”

Available in both black and white chassis, the Optoma ZH506T delivers 1080p resolution with 5,000 ANSI lumens of brightness for an estimated street price of $2,999. The Optoma ZU506T is a WUXGA (1920x1200) resolution projector, also with a brightness of 5,000 ANSI lumens, available in black and white at an estimated street price of $3,299. The Optoma ZW506-W is a WXGA (1280x800) resolution projector with 5,200 ANSI lumens, available at an estimated street price of $2,499. All three Optoma ProScene projectors are available for purchase through authorized dealers.

In addition, Optoma has launched its ZU610T WUXGA (1920x1200) 6,000-lumen laser projector for professional environments. The successor to the Optoma ZU510T, the Optoma ZU610T is designed for flexibility and reliability with its fixed lens design, a 1.2-2.13:1 throw ratio, and 1.8x digital zoom to cover a wide range of projection distances, all while eliminating costs. The ZU610T also offers robust input options, including HDMI, VGA, and S-Video for connectivity to a wide range of digital and legacy devices. Combined with a virtually maintenance-free laser phosphor light source and IP5X-certified optical engine, it is well suited for office boardrooms, lecture halls, entertainment venues, and other mid-sized environments.

Available in both black and white chassis, the Optoma ZU610T is available for purchase now for an estimated street price of $3,499 through authorized dealers.

The Bottom Line: The new ProScene lineup is engineered for high brightness and accurate color reproduction, along with installation flexibility and lifetime reliability for a variety of professional environments, including houses of worship, museums, entertainment, and education settings.

The What: Christie has begun shipping the APS Series of 3LCD laser projectors, which deliver up to 6,500 ISO lumens with a 3,000,000:1 contrast ratio. The series consists of the Christie LWU650-APS and Christie LWU530-APS.

The What Else: Featuring an efficient laser illumination system and patented optical light path design that uses only one motor, the APS Series provides up to 20,000 hours of maintenance-free operation for a low cost of ownership. 

“Proving low-cost projectors don’t need to sacrifice quality, the Christie APS Series is a robust platform that stands up to the demands of professional applications,” said Jim Hall, senior product manager, Christie. “The patented optical light pass design changes the excitation light spot shape from a round spot to a rectangular shape and disperses the energy on the phosphor wheel, which improves the reliability of the phosphor wheel. Featuring flexible input/output options, on-board 16W speaker, and omnidirectional design and whisper-quiet operation, the APS Series provides razor-sharp image quality whether it’s a presentation, dataset, or video.”

Rental and staging professionals will appreciate the APS Series’ affordability, longer warranty and the sealed illumination system that reduces the impact of dust and smoke on the projector’s performance since the LCD block section uses filtered air that is separate from the illumination system.

The Bottom Line: The Christie APS Series is designed for classrooms, boardrooms, and other small-space environments. Combining the 3LCD technology with the reliability and operational life of laser illumination, the omnidirectional APS Series is designed to offer value without sacrificing quality.

 The Christie LWU650-APS is now shipping and the Christie LWU530-APS ships in mid-January. Both projectors have a five-year warranty or 10,000 hours, whichever comes first. 

The newly opened Renaissance Toledo Downtown in Ohio is delighting tourists and residents alike with a dazzling new permanent projection mapped public art installation on the hotel’s façade titled “MindBlown Toledo.”

Commissioned artist group Integrated Visions Productions (IVP) and its systems integration partner, Atlanta Soundworks, selected Christie HS Series laser projectors, Christie Pandoras Box and Christie Mystique Install to light up the 6,000 square foot digital mural with projection artworks that celebrate Toledo’s heritage as the glass capital of the world.

First Hospitality Group, the hospitality and hotel management company behind the new hotel, wanted to celebrate the opening of the Renaissance Toledo Downtown in a unique way. “We didn’t want to just build a beautiful hotel for downtown Toledo; we wanted to create a place that truly belongs to this community, is part of the fabric of the city, and is reflective of its beauty and rich history,” said Sam Schwartz, chief of staff, FHG.

IVP, which specializes in immersive displays including public art, brought ASW onboard to handle the systems integration, which included specifying the Christie technology. IVP and Atlanta Soundworks selected six Christie D13HD-HS 1DLP laser projectors, Christie Mystique Install – Essentials Edition and a Christie Pandoras Box media server.

Shane Boyce, senior design engineer, ASW, said, “One of the main goals of the project was to select a manufacturer who could not only build the projectors, but also deliver the content management and control solution. There are very few display manufacturers who build quality projectors and understand the creative components of a project such as this. We loved the attention to detail that Christie provided during the design phase of this project.”

Bob Payne, vice president, IVP, said, “Shane is the one that placed us firmly in Christie’s hands. He explained to us how much Christie would get behind the installation, the creative work, and the massive, massive difference in service. I can’t speak highly enough of Christie’s support on this installation.”

IVP and ASW deliberated on the projectors to specify for this project. “We knew we wanted laser phosphor projectors as we had just come off of an installation involving lamp-based projectors that required quite a number of lamp changes,” said Payne. “We took a number of cracks at projection design, looking at every projector we could find, and we were still unsure about using the single chip units, especially since this is two triple stacked zones with a difficult merge and blend. We were originally looking at 30,000 lumen projectors, but ending up with 13,000 lumen HS Series projectors has been a phenomenal solution. It changed the projection design in an incredibly positive way that made the installation much more workable.”

Mystique Install was pivotal to making the installation of six Christie HS series projectors feasible. “In our eyes, implementing Christie Mystique Install was imperative on this project. Mystique Install ensures proper projector alignment without having to deploy a technician to the site. The projectors for this project are mounted on a custom-built pedestal that sits a few feet away from a busy road and we had concerns about ground vibration impacting the projection alignment over time. We are able to remotely control the system and re-align the projectors in just a few minutes,” said Boyce. 

Using Christie Pandoras Box for show control was a no-brainer, as both IVP and Atlanta Soundworks have experience with the media server. IVP has previously used Pandoras Box for large-scale projection mapping projects, and know it as a robust, reliable media server.

The permanent installation went live on June 28, 2018 and runs seven nights a week, beginning at 8:30 p.m. Currently showing are two collaborative artworks by Integrated Visions and glassblowing artist Leo Tecosky titled “Directions” and “Refractions” that celebrate glass artwork and Toledo’s pivotal role in the studio glassblowing movement. IVP captured ultra-high resolution footage of the glassblowing process in Tecosky’s studio and used that footage along with custom animation to create two dynamic pieces of public art. The glass sculpture that was created by Tecosky during filming is on display inside the hotel.

The reaction to the installation has been “very positive,” said Payne. “We’re excited about the ongoing process, working with the hotel and the community. The projectors will run for years, which provides an opportunity for Integrated Visions to create a variety of new artworks to present on the surface. We’re excited to collaborate with the Toledo Museum of Art and a variety of other artists to explore those possibilities.”

As for the technology, the installation was so successful that IVP “will always be a Christie customer.”

The What: Eiki International has released the EK-623UW (white chassis) WUXGA (1,920 X 1,200) laser projector.

The What Else: The EK-623UW has fine-tuned white and color co-ordinates that cover 97% of Rec. 709 (HDTV primary color space). The unit’s 6,000 Lumen brightness and 100,000:1 contrast ratio (with Extreme Black Mode) make this projector an ideal choice for the reproduction of both text and images.

The unit’s 360-degree free orientation projection capabilities (vertical and horizontal) facilitate maximum installation versatility in any room. With its Lens Shift values of (Horizontal) +/- 15 %, (Vertical): +/- 50%, Keystone Correction H: +/- 20 °, V: +/- 20 °, with 4-Corner capability, and the availability of eight optional lenses, including a .36:1 Ultra Short Throw lens, the new EK-623UW can easily adapt to most any environment and deliver terrific results. Combine this with its picture in picture and picture by picture capability and the EK-623UW provides unparalleled versatility.

In addition to its flexible orientation traits, the EK-623UW offers a wealth of connectivity options. Users will find ports for HDBaseT In, two HDMI Inputs, DVI-D In, and VGA In, along with connectors for Monitor Out (VGA Out), LAN, RS-232C, Remote Control In, and both 3D-Sync In and 3D-Sync Out. With its light weight and white chassis, it blends seamlessly against walls and ceilings, meaning the new EK-623UW can blend inconspicuously into most any environment.

The Bottom Line: Featuring DLP technology, 6,000 Lumen brightness, a 100,000:1 contrast ratio (with Extreme Black Mode), and the superior color performance resulting from the use of blue phosphor laser technology with a 20,000 hour light source life, the EK-623UW delivers stunning images. This versatile projector also offers a wealth of connectivity options, 360-degree free orientation projection capability for installation versatility and is the lightest weight unit of its kind ever in Eiki’s Laser Series products—making this an ideal choice for both meeting rooms and lecture hall environments.

Eiki’s new EK-623UW DLP projector carries an MSRP of $8,995 w/o lens. MSRP pricing for the available lenses ranges from $695 to $8,995. All items are available now.

Christie’s longstanding Chinese partner Wincomn Technology delivered stunning visuals using the Christie HS Series 1DLP laser projectors for an integrated multimedia show at Dongyi Culture Museum in Linyi City, Shandong Province.

Touted as the first large-scale multimedia show in Shandong Province that incorporates projection, laser, fog, and audio effects, the projection portion of “Da Mei Yi Song” (Tribute to the Great and Beautiful Dongyi culture) is accomplished by more than 20 Christie D20WU-HS projectors displaying vivid and lifelike visuals on the outer walls of the museum. The visuals complemented the other multimedia elements to deliver an enchanting performance that accentuates the heritage of Dongyi culture, its origins dating back thousands of years.

The museum is surrounded by three curved outer walls that have uneven surfaces and varying heights, which resulted in challenges during the installation process, such as an irregular projection light path and occlusion. However, the Wincomn team overcame these issues with the Christie D20WU-HS projectors through simulation using an accurate three-dimensional model. The team managed to attain vivid visuals by utilizing the depth of field processing capability of the HS Series projectors, while enabling the contents to be displayed in their entirety in a continuous and attractive manner.

In addition, there were very high expectations on the color reproduction and image quality of the projected visuals due to the huge projection canvas. The extensive use of reds for the show’s contents also brought about challenges in color calibration.

“This is where the strengths of the Christie D20WU-HS really shone with its BoldColor Technology, which creates the color balance needed to reproduce colorful images, without sacrificing brightness,” said Tony Chen, general manager, Wincomn Technology. “We also double-stacked the projectors and this arrangement enabled us to fully maximize the quality of the projected images on the large projection canvas.”

The results saw the D20WU-HS projectors delivering bright, accurate, and realistic colors during the projection segment of the multimedia show, which drew audiences further into the story. Through the comprehensive application of other audiovisual elements, the show had a surreal quality filled with awe-inspiring effects, providing the audience with a fantastic visual experience.

Bryan Boehme, executive director, global sales and business development, entertainment, Christie, commented, “Our partner Wincomn Technology has been known to push the boundaries of digital projection for many of its major projects across China. With the innovative deployment of our Christie D20WU-HS projectors for this large-scale multimedia show focusing on Dongyi culture, and putting the HS Series’ capabilities such as BoldColor Technology to good use, Wincomn has demonstrated how technology can be harnessed to enhance the showcase of ancient history and culture through captivating visuals.”

The legendary Concorde no longer takes to the skies with a thundering roar, but the supersonic jet—which flew 60,000 feet above the Earth at twice the speed of sound—lives on in a specially constructed hangar at Aerospace Bristol (England) complete with a vivid projection mapping display thanks to Christie and Projection Artworks.

Using Alpha Foxtrot—the last Concorde ever built—for the backdrop, Projection Artworks selected four Christie D13WU-HS 1DLP laser projectors for a unique storytelling projection mapping canvas. Using custom content that fuses iconic footage with exclusive interviews and graphical effects mapped on the right-hand side of the front fuselage, visitors embark on a 12-minute journey through the Concorde's storied past from its design to the technical intricacies of the engine. Celebrities who flew on the Concorde are part of the visual voyage as are flight paths and x-ray images, while the audio track features commentary from engineers, pilots, and stewards who worked aboard the vessel.

“We created three chapters of content for the animation with the first being the making of Concorde," said Gavin MacArthur, creative director, Projection Artworks. "Our aim was to capture the history and challenge of the project and the massive engineering undertaking involved. The second chapter was technical design. The third and final chapter centered on the emotional connection of those involved. From the pilots, engineers, and the people that built them, everyone [involved] has an emotional connection to this project. In this hangar, Concorde is the one standalone plane—it is the hero and our creative is the focus of that.”

Using a laser scanner to take accurate measurements at three million points on the aircraft, Projection Artworks completed 50 scans and created a 3D model. They then combined all the points to form one three-dimensional point cloud, resulting in an accurate model.

“It wasn't just technical, it was very moving," MacArthur said. "One thing that was apparent was a lot of people put a considerable amount of time into the Concorde project. It was a beautiful plane; you can't spoil it by putting bad content onto it, you've got to do it justice and make sure the information is technically correct.”

"After installing Christie laser projectors in previous installations, we knew they would provide the right balance in terms of chassis size with all the control capabilities we needed," said Jackson Taylor, head of technology, Projection Artworks.

More than 150,000 visitors went through the doors within the first 10 months of the attraction opening, and the exhibit continues to earn five-star reviews on several travel websites and social media.

"I was really proud of this project,” MacArthur said. “When you work on it, you almost have these blinders on; it's hard to stand up and appreciate it. When we watched it through for the first time we knew it was a job well done and the reaction you see makes it a lot better.”

The What: Optoma unveiled the Optoma ProScene ZU750, a new addition to its successful ZU660, ZU80, and ZU1050 projectors.

The What Else: The Optoma ProScene ZU750 is a WUXGA laser phosphor projector designed for museums, boardrooms, houses of worship, and entertainment venues. With a laser light source delivering 7,500 ANSI lumens and a 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio, the ZU750 is built to project large images with amazing brightness, clarity, and sharpness, even in environments with high ambient light. It also delivers maximum projection flexibility and dependability with multiple installation features, including built-in edge blending, image warping, and color matching with HSG adjustment. The Optoma ZU750 is also compatible with several interchangeable premium lens options, and features motorized lens shift, zoom, and focus to cater to the various needs of installation professionals.

Features of the Optoma ZU750 include:

• Resolution: 1920 x 1200 WUXGA
• Brightness: 7,500 ANSI lumens
• Contrast Ratio: 2,000,000:1
• Light Source: Laser phosphor
• 20,000 hours of low-cost operation
• Motorized lens shift, zoom and focus
• Built-in edge blending, image warping and color matching with HSG adjustment
• Four-corner adjustments
• Connectivity: HDBaseT, 2 HDMI, DVI-D, VGA, and 3D SYNC In and Out

The Bottom Line: The Optoma ZU750, which goes for an estimated street priced $7,999, is shipping this month to Optoma authorized dealers and distributors including ProjectorPeople.com, ProjectorSuperstore.com, Full Compass, Audio General, and Visual Apex.

All of It Now, a creative design agency in San Francisco, used Epson laser technology, including its LightScene EV-105 accent lighting projector, in Wilson Sporting Goods' high-traffic store venue to empower a creative shopping experience. The new store is open now through September 9, 2018 on the grounds of Flushing Meadows Corona Park in New York City.

“We are continuously looking for new ways to create memorable, eye-catching experiences for our customers, and we look for partners with great technology that can make that mission a reality,” said Kyle Schlegel, global marketing director-racquet sports, Wilson Sporting Goods. “Epson’s LightScene provided a simple solution to engage consumers in our retail store, and we are now thinking about all the different ways we can use the technology in our future event marketing and retail plans.”

To bring the new Wilson Sporting Goods store to life for tennis fans, All of It Now chose Epson’s reliable laser projector solutions that offer precise image quality and flexibility while seamlessly integrating into the infrastructure. Epson’s new LightScene EV-105 laser projector combines illumination and projection into a sleek and flexible design, allowing for easy content mapping on to jumbo size tennis balls. Adding an additional layer of experience to captivate and engage shoppers, LightScene EV-105 offers flexibility, easy installation and mounting in unique retail spaces. In addition, the team utilized an Epson Pro L25000U laser projector, delivering up to 25,000 lumens of white brightness and 25,000 lumens of color brightness to project a video inside the store.

“Retailers and creative visual artists are using projectors in entirely new ways thanks to the power of laser technology,” said Danny Firpo, managing partner, All of It Now. “When creating unique visual displays and projection mapping designs, we rely heavily on Epson because of the quality of the projection technology. Epson laser projection delivers excellent detail and vibrant image quality and great flexibility to experiment and expand our creativity through spatial design, without any limitations.”

“At the core of our laser projection efforts, particularly in the digital art and signage space, Epson strives to help major brands and visual production artists realize their vision by combining world-class 3LCD image quality with next-generation lasers,” said Remi Del Mar, senior product manager, Epson America. “We continue to work hard to deliver the most technologically advanced solutions to designers, like All of it Now. We’re pleased to see our technology enabling major brands like Wilson to captivate consumers.”

PowerPoint presentations used to be cutting-edge and exciting. So were VCRs, Walkman tape players and brick-sized mobile phones—back in the day.

But today’s sales teams need better. Their audiences are increasingly bored, sitting passively through slide deck after slide deck, and then forgetting whatever they heard as soon as they leave the briefing room.

What can salespeople do to update their presentations, close more deals and score more wins?

The key is to use immersive presentation tools, like the Laser Phosphor Display (LPD) 6K Series, recently introduced by Prysm, a leader in display and visual collaboration solutions. These seamless, super-sized interactive video displays offer sales teams new ways to deliver standard content, be more authentic and draw audiences in. More specifically, sales teams that use this innovative technology can:

• Easily incorporate several types of content, from multiple sources, even in real time
• Amplify a point by moving, re-sizing and annotating content on a single digital canvas (which isn’t possible in PowerPoint)
• Invite audience members to come up, touch the screen and interact freely with the video windows and their contents
• Deliver customized experiences that truly impress, particularly when used on a video wall

By manipulating simultaneous video windows on a panoramic, ultra high-resolution display, presenters can create an immersive experience that draws audiences right into the action on the interactive touch screen. There are no distracting bezels to break up the 6K by 2K video image, and the LPD 6K Series’ intelligent light engines deliver consistent and sharp images, with over one billion discrete colors and truly deep blacks up to a contrast ratio of 1,000,000:1.

Prysm Collaboration Solutions Presentation

This 2:21 video shows the LPD 6K Series working with Prysm Collaboration Solutions to engage and excite viewers.

“LPD 6K Series displays will capture your audience’s attention and hold it throughout the presentation,” Hannah Grap, Prysm’s VP of Marketing, said. “Coupled with creative interactive scripts and visuals, the LPD 6K Series will put the wow factor back into your presentations.”

Close More B2B Sales

And getting more prospects to your office and engaged 1:1 can help you close more deals. In fact, The Washington Post reported that more than eight in ten executives prefer in-person meetings.

“Providing an immersive, interactive sales experience is an effective way to engage your prospect and impress them, and when your audience is having fun watching and interacting with what is being presented, you can’t help but get your message across,” Grap explained. “An LPD 6K Series display married to a great content experience will help close more deals – and more than repay the investment in this technology.”

Increase B2B Close Rates: Five Ways Immersive Presentations Help You Win

This short Prysm ebook highlights how immersive presentations can help close sales.

Improve Internal Collaboration

Prysm’s LPD 6K Series displays also help sales teams collaborate more effectively, by providing flexible visual tools that make it easy to share content and ideas, across the office or across the world. This blending of workspaces nurtures a culture of teamwork that can accelerate the pace of innovation and improve productivity.

“Enhanced collaboration means better results sooner for your company,” Grap said.

Prysm Drives Results

Companies as diverse as Standard Process, Schlesinger Associates and Under Armour are using Prysm’s LPD displays and Prysm Collaboration Solutions to engage audiences and close more sales.

As Kevin McDermond, program director for Under Armour’s brand creative team, explained, immersive presentation technology allows the company to tell a powerful visual story by bringing digital content to life. “We consider ourselves to be great story tellers,” McDermond concluded. “The Prysm wall is an incredible tool to help us deliver our message with passion and pride.”

Prysm’s LPD 6K Series Single-Panel Displays

This web page provides a detailed explanation of the LPD 6K Series display family, with many useful links.

Prysm Software Features

Prysm also makes advanced collaboration software, for use on the LPD 6K Series and other displays.

Prysm Customer Stories

Stories from the wide range of companies using Prysm video display and collaboration products.

The What: Da-Lite has launched Parallax 2.3 which features a high gain surface with a gradual brightness drop-of so image quality is maintained even when viewed from the side. These combined features make Parallax 2.3 suitable for low output or “legacy” projectors as well as laser projection.

The What Else: Designed for applications in both AV and home theaters, Parallax 2.3 is made up of multiple micro-layers to achieve 96-percent ambient light blocking properties and a viewing cone of 46 degrees. The result is a bright, colorful image without glare—regardless of how much light is in the room.

“We’ve worked hard to develop an ambient light rejecting surface that gives customers projector pairing flexibility. When budget is an issue, end users can now enjoy the benefits of an ALR screen without immediately upgrading the projector,” said Da-Lite product manager Rhen Taylor. “Parallax 2.3 can pair with projectors that output between 1500 and 2500 lumens in screen sizes up to 94-inch diagonal, and between 2500 and 5000 lumens in sizes between 100-inch and 120-inch diagonal.”

The Bottom Line: The surface is available in fixed frame options that accommodate large-scale installations.

All Da-Lite surfaces are GREENGUARD and GREENGUARD Gold certified and are eligible for the Screen Green program that allows customers to send in old surfaces to be recycled keeping them out of landfills, contributing to a healthier planet. The Da-Lite facility is 100% landfill-free.

The What: Epson announced it is now shipping its new compact PowerLite L-Series laser projectors within the 4,500 – 6,000 lumen range.

The What Else: Weighing between 17 and 19 pounds, the PowerLite L-Series are compact, making them versatile for convenient portability and installation in educational institutions, corporate spaces, and houses of worship with high ambient lighting.

Epson’s laser technology delivers color accuracy, easy set-up and virtually maintenance-free operation with up to 20,000 hours of laser light source. In addition, the PowerLite L-Series supports advanced wired and wireless solutions, including HDMI and HDBaseT, and with the laser light source’s Instant Off power, users can achieve maximum brightness in seconds for quick presentation setup.

To support BYOD classrooms, the projectors provide enhanced wireless display technology, allowing teachers to connect the projector to up to 50 Chromebooks, PCs, and Mac computers, and iOS and Android devices. Educators can also simultaneously display up to four screens with the Epson iProjection wireless display solution. The high-end PowerLite L610U and L615U models offer wireless screen mirroring from a smartphone or streaming device with Miracast.

The Bottom Line: The new PowerLite L-Series laser projectors deliver powerful performance with vibrant, bright images, as well as advanced installation features and enterprise-level wireless security support for education and business applications.

Christie and Quince Imaging are gold sponsors and participants at the 36th annual IDEA Conference, which is being held July 15-18 at the Westin Indianapolis hotel in Indianapolis, Indiana. Working with its partner, Quince Imaging, Christie will showcase its newest visual display hardware and software solutions.

Founded in 1983, the Information Display and Entertainment Association has been a professional association for members of the game operations industry for over 30 years and attendees are involved in the management and/or production of event presentation at the major league, minor league, or collegiate level.

Quince Imaging’s creative and systems integration teams will be demonstrating best practices for university and professional sports arena installations, including a live mini 3D ice rink and basketball court projection mapping demonstration using Christie technology. The live demonstration will include highlights from the Washington Wizards playoff home opener, game three of the 2018 Stanley Cup Final, Capital One Arena’s dual-projection system installation, and the 2018 NCAA Final Four game one introduction.

“Christie is looking forward to its partnership with Quince Imaging at the IDEA conference next week,” said Mark Ouwerkerk, director, events and staging, Americas, enterprise events, Christie. “The two companies have collaborated on numerous projection mapping projects including Capital One Arena, which the Washington Wizards and Stanley Cup champion Washington Capitals call home, as well as both the University of Florida’s O’Connell Center, and the Quicken Loans Arena — home to the Cleveland Cavaliers.”

In addition to sponsoring IDEA, subject matter experts on Quince Imaging’s creative systems integration will also be speaking and showcasing interactive displays in the exhibitor hall throughout the duration of the event.

Bag & Baggage Productions (B&B) could write the book on flexibility. After all, the Hillsboro, OR-based theater company started touring the town in 2005 with nothing more than a van, mobile sets, and a handful of actors. By 2008, they had grown to become a popular fixture of the community and leased the historical converted Venetian Theater in the heart of the city’s Main Street. However, B&B required a new home when it was slated to be sold in 2016.

Nimble as ever, the company set its sights on its own permanent residence and found a 5,000-square-foot bank building just two blocks away. B&B aptly named the new home The Vault, as a nod to the building’s history as well as a signifier of the company’s permanence in the city and within the theater scene.

Unlike the Venetian—which was a large, 386-seat proscenium theater that was originally a movie theater—The Vault was built out as a small, black-box-style theater. This style is known for being simple. There’s no stage, just a flat floor and unadorned walls. Guests are situated around the four walls with the actors taking “the stage” in the middle of the floor. This change in setup was just one of the ways the company was reinventing itself.

“We had been at the Venetian for eight years, so we had gotten used to doing things a certain way,” said Jim Ricks-White, technical director for Bag & Baggage. “The Vault was a refreshing departure from that. When we started this process of looking for a new space, we started recalling our early years of operating out of a van. Everything had to be flexible. We wanted this space to reflect that humble beginning and not only function as theater but as a multipurpose event space that we could rent out to the community. To be that flexible, we had to be really selective of what technology we used and optimize the space for it.”

Technology has been the driving force for achieving that vision. Due to the size of the space, larger physical sets weren’t possible and something the company wanted to move away from anyway. Therefore, B&B decided to rely heavily on lighting and projection technology to set the scene, which, from a technology viewpoint, would make what was happening behind the scenes in the control booth just as important as what was happening on stage.

With that in mind, the executive team at B&B and Opsis Architecture created a facility that could host any kind of event, from corporate meetings to wedding receptions and film festivals, and specified technology that would allow them to carry that off. That included a BenQ 4K BlueCore laser projector, eight Mitsubishi projectors, a full JBL surround sound system with Lutron control, a Da-Lite projection screen, and a Crestron controlled digital lighting rig in the theater and in the control booth all manner of behind the scenes support such as a video camera and monitor to visualize the theater from the booth, an audio mixer, a wireless video distribution system, a patch bay panel, and a control system.

Because space was at a premium, B&B needed a rack that can handle many inputs while at the same time being incredibly accessible. Opsis Architecture selected Middle Atlantic Products SR Series Wall Mount Pivoting rack. Designed to address the need for space-saving solutions to house system distribution points, the SR Series’ innovative design allows the rack to be mounted on a wall and pivot open 90 degrees on a floor base to provide quick access to rear equipment connections without having to leaving room behind it. The rack also incorporates Middle Atlantic's built-in cable management and tool-free QuickMount system to integrate technology to best-practice standards.

“Having the ability to control and plug and play all of the technology to the show or event specifications has afforded us an incredible amount of freedom,” Ricks-White said. “Though we’re operating from a smaller space now compared to the Venetian, everything is right there in the rack—our camera input and monitor, all our HDMI connections, and our entire sound system. Access to the back of the rack has been incredibly useful in getting to our HDMI ports, which are in the back of the rack. For the first couple of shows, I was in the back of rack two or three times a show. Being able to swing open the rack and quickly plug into my next inputs was critical. It’s fast and simple.”

From a stage and technology management point of view, the consolidation of all that tech in one space has been a benefit for the crew, giving them something they didn’t have at the Venetian: better access and control of the technology. Previously, the sound booth and the lighting booth were in separate locations in the balcony. This required two operators for every show because if something went wrong in one place during a show, the other person couldn't get up and go fix it. Now everything is right where it’s needed.

“For example, if I suddenly lose signal on something at the mixer, I literally take three steps, look at the rack, and see if I'm getting signal at the switcher,” Ricks-White said. “There’s no digging around. It gives me three points that I can look at before I have to come down to the floor and figure out what's going on. It makes troubleshooting so much faster. It’s also key to our future as an organization. With everything we do, we keep asking ourselves how we, as a theater company, can move into the 22nd century. We will by staying flexible through technology and investing it in.”

To that end, The Vault was recently awarded a $50,000 technology grant to fund the purchase of the 4K projector. With the projector, the company has created a state-of-the-art digital projection laboratory that allows area artists, students, animators, innovators, and digital content producers to experiment with 4K technology. The projector also allows them to screen film festivals with 4K HD movies in the space as well as serve any presentation requirements for banquet, corporate, and event clients.

“We’re already doing 4K projection mapping for scenes, and we’re going to keep pushing the technology envelope and evolving,” Ricks-White said. “Our system will change down the road to naturally keep pace with what’s available. With a rack like this, we’re ready for that. It’s the brains of our operation.”

The What: Epson introduced the PowerLite Pilot 3 projector connection and control box, a wall-mounted A/V solution for Epson short-throw and ultra short-throw projectors.

The What Else: The PowerLite Pilot 3 provides consolidated cable management and streamlined control of classroom A/V devices. With 3x HDMI control buttons (including one MHL), teachers can select the source from an array of connected classroom devices, as well as display two sources side-by-side onscreen at once using a projector’s split screen feature.

It also features large, individual source buttons that match Epson projector inputs. Teachers can control power, A/V mute, volume, and sources without the need for a remote control for all connected high-definition A/V devices. Teachers can additionally connect and charge an MHL-enabled device via the MHL/HDMI port2.

The Bottom Line: The PowerLite Pilot 3 helps educators maximize cable management, control classroom projectors, and streamline source switching and volume control.

Laser projectors have only been available to the public for about 10 years, yet already they’ve changed the audiovisual game. Higher quality images, greater efficiency, and more compact designs have made them the new gold standard when it comes to projection technology.

Still, many hesitate to jump on the laser bandwagon. They want to know if the advantages justify the higher price tag and whether they should wait until even better laser technology comes out in the near future. The answer depends largely on what organizations need, whether they can afford the initial investment, and how long they’re willing to wait for technological improvements.

Why Are Laser Projectors Preferred?

Quality, brightness, and longevity. Anyone who has seen a lamp projector and a laser projector side by side in a dark room knows that lasers produce a much brighter image, and since they can handle nearly any wavelength of light, they’re able to produce deeper, richer, more precise colors as well.

Longevity is also a plus. Not only do laser projectors emit a brighter light than bulb projectors, they also maintain that brightness over time. Unlike bulb projectors, which tend to lose their color and luminosity relatively quickly, a 5,000-lumen laser projector will still run pretty much at 5,000 lumens in two to three years.

Overall, the best laser projectors have a 20,000 or even 30,000-hour lamp life. Compare that with the average 3,000-hour lifespan of a traditional lamp projector, and you can understand the appeal. Of course, you can’t replace the laser once it fails, but that’s unlikely to happen for at least 12 years, and only if you use it 8 hours every day.

Don’t Forget About Efficiency

Then there’s the matter of efficiency. Conventional projector lamps emit white light, which is then broken into blue, green and red light, which is then recombined to form white light. It works. It’s also inefficient. All of that hard work takes up a great deal of energy and releases a lot of heat, which in turn requires a powerful (and noisy) fan.

Laser technology projectors, on the other hand, use only the light needed to create an image, and therefore, tend to run relatively cool. No fan. Less energy. Less noise. Last but not least, laser projectors are comparatively space-efficient. Although they often weigh just as much, they come in a more compact package than their bulky, lamp-based counterparts.

The biggest drawback is cost. Laser projectors can set you back anywhere between $1,000 and $20,000. While many cost-conscious shoppers balk at the initial investment, it’s important to keep lifetime costs in mind. Laser projectors require far less maintenance and never require bulb replacement, which can run into the hundreds of dollars (those who have ceiling-mounted projectors will find that the savings go beyond the cost of a bulb, since it’s not always easy to remove a projector for repairs).

In short, laser projectors might be more expensive, but in the long run they could be more cost-efficient, depending on how they’re used.

The Future of Laser Technology

Currently there are two emerging technologies competing for the laser projector market: direct coupled RGB lasers and phosphor lasers. Whereas RGB lasers emit red, blue and green light, phosphor technology combines a yellow phosphor wheel with a single blue laser (some also use a red laser).

Both technologies have come a long way in recent years and are now making a big impact on the audiovisual world. In the meantime, existing laser technology has already raised expectations when it comes to image quality, lifespan, and efficiency.

Steve Rubery, general manager for Eiki International, Inc., is responsible for in-house sales operations and managing the regional sales representatives. He is CTS certified and an authorized trainer for the HDBaseT Alliance. Steve began his career with Eiki in 2004 and has been recognized for helping expand the company’s sales.

King Tut met 21st century design and technology at the recent Discovery Ball at the California Science Center in Los Angeles's Exposition Park. The gala fundraiser offered guests a chance to preview the center's "King Tut: Treasures of the Golden Pharaoh" exhibition. The ancient Egypt theme carried over to cocktails, dinner, and dancing beneath the space shuttle Endeavor, which Projection Designer Bart Kresa mapped with images of King Tut's spectacular golden sarcophagus.

The exhibition, the largest King Tut show ever toured, has begun a 10-month run at the Science Center. The Egyptian-themed Discovery Ball, held in the Samuel Oschin Pavilion in the Ahmanson Building, raised more than $1.6 million for the California Science Center.

Bart Kresa, who heads the international Bart Kresa Studio, transformed the space shuttle into the boy king's tomb by projection mapping the fuselage and vertical tail with images of King Tut's iconic jewel-encrusted sarcophagus. He also created 20 wall projections of scenes from the interior of the tomb.

[King Tut Exhibition Immerses Visitors with AV]

WorldStage, a preferred technical partner of Kresa, provided AV support for the space shuttle and wall projections. WorldStage recently teamed with Kresa in Southern California on the seventh-season premiere of Game of Thrones, when Kresa mapped the Walt Disney Concert Hall, and on the opening of the residential, commercial, and academic USC Village.

The shape of the space shuttle's fuselage adapted well to the projection of King Tut's sarcophagus; it appeared to levitate above the walls of the pavilion covered with vignettes of the tomb complete with projections of flickering torchlight. Christina Sion at the center, suggested the design motif, which Kresa and his team developed, researching ancient Egypt, sketching and painting ideas and partnering with WorldStage to find the right technical solutions.

Kresa designed two looks for the evening. "We started with a traditional warm, golden look then transitioned to the party with a cooler palette of blues and purples with a sparkling effect for dessert," he said. "We wanted to create a beautiful ambiance that didn't take away from the gala experience. I love working at the California Science Center; it's always nice to collaborate on projects for them."

Kresa relied on WorldStage to supply the large complement of projectors required for the Discovery Ball as well as the digital routers, fiber optic cabling and power distribution. "WorldStage is the best technical company I've ever worked with," he said. "Everything is always so well organized on the projects we do together."

WorldStage provided six Panasonic PT-RZ31K and PT-RZ21K laser phosphor, which were flown and rigged, to cover the space shuttle's fuselage, nose and tail. Kresa warped and blended the images with his Dataton WATCHOUT servers.

"I love this gear," Kresa said. "The Panasonic projectors have a very vibrant light and very good focus; they deliver sharper images than other projectors I've used and the color really pops. For our work that's what we want: vibrant images whose psychological effect is to make people happy."

WorldStage furnished 20 Panasonic PT-RZ770 projectors for the individual wall vignettes. They were positioned in the control area under the nose of the space shuttle, in an area port side aft of the aircraft and on vertical truss sticks close to the walls.

Since there was no opportunity to have redundant projectors WorldStage devised a creative backup plan using the Panasonic projectors' internal logo transfer software. "The screen grab of each image being projected effectively became a still store," said WorldStage account executive/project manager Joe Conway. "The content was saved in the projector itself so we could automatically go to that still store if necessary. If a projector suddenly lost a signal there wouldn't be a black hole."

Kresa's new mobile studio contributed to the technical operation on site. With 28 projectors mounted in the pavilion, additional equipment was kept to a minimum with Kresa's 20 WATCHOUT servers housed in his mobile unit parked on the street. Fiber optic cabling ran video and internet data from the mobile studio to the pavilion. "It was a pretty clean installation," said Kresa.

WorldStage created a LAN network to communicate with the projectors via laptop. When the show was underway the network gathered information on projector status for live monitoring.

Kresa gives kudos to WorldStage tech lead/projectionist Robert Loney. "I love working with Bob," he said. "He's one of the best projectionists in the country. He pays attention to all the details so there are no surprises."

Loney's team also featured WorldStage projectionists Chris Gerrety and Alex Laux, freelance projectionist Joaquin Martinez and WorldStage projectionist/video engineer Linda Cappelletti.

The What: Digital Projection International (DPI) debuted its INSIGHT LASER 8K at InfoComm 2018.

The What Else: The INSIGHT LASER 8K features 8K resolution (7680x4320), 25,000 lumens of brightness, and its laser engine allows for maintenance free operation for up to 20,000 hours. Driven by three 1.38-inch DarkChip DMDs, it features Smear Reduction Technology and MultiAxis, allowing for smooth imagery in nearly any orientation. In addition, a selection of zoom lenses for extensive lens shift provide further flexibility with respect to projector placement.

The Bottom Line: Well suited for applications that demand the highest possible resolution, the LASER 8K projector, developed in collaboration with Delta Electronics, produces a 33-million-pixel resolution with deep black levels and a broad color gamut.

Epson announced its laser projector solutions are powering the new “Infinity Room” exhibit at the Exploratorium in San Francisco, Calif. Epson’s large venue Pro L-Series laser projectors deliver bright, vivid imagery and reliable technology to create an immersive experience for Exploratorium visitors.

The “Infinity Room” exhibit is created by media artist and designer Refik Anadol, and allows visitors to step into an otherworldly portal to be enveloped by distorted light and perpetually morphing visuals powered by Epson’s laser projectors. Anadol uses four Epson Pro L1505U large venue laser projectors’ high image quality and flexibility to create the immersive twelve-by-twelve foot environment.

“By using Epson’s laser projectors, ‘Infinity Room’ has almost 50,000 lumens, which creates a magical environment for Exploratorium visitors,” said Anadol. “Light is the major element in this exhibit, and I think the most important part of the experience is the quality of light the Epson laser projectors provide, as it is used to blur and interconnect the boundaries between the two realms of actual/fictional and physical/virtual.”

“We are excited to partner with Refik as he continues to use our large venue laser projectors to push the envelope of what’s possible in the visual arts,” said Gavin Downey, senior product manager, Epson America, Inc. “Refik is unique in his ability to leverage cutting edge technologies to create human experiences that are about so much more than the technology itself.”

The “Infinity Room” exhibition will run at the Exploratorium, a museum of science, art, and human perception, from June 15 through July 15, 2018, and will be one of the featured installations for the Lightplay festival on June 16. Located at Pier 15 in San Francisco, Calif., the Exploratorium is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday, and 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. every Thursday night (ages 18+).

“Refik Anadol’s ‘Infinity Room’ is an inspiring, eye-opening experience,” said Chris Flink, the Exploratorium’s Sakurako and William Fisher Executive Director. “Digital and physical realities merge, and you become more attuned to what is happening around you. This curiosity and awareness is what we cultivate and curate at the Exploratorium – you make sense of the world and you become more awake to its possibilities. We’re ecstatic to be able to share ‘Infinity Room’ with our visitors this summer on Pier 15, and grateful to Epson for enabling it with their impressive projectors.”

The What: Christie announced an update to Christie Mystique Install, a software that configures, aligns, warps, and blends complex multi-projector arrays.

The What Else: The Mystique Install—Large Scale Experience (LSE) Edition is a recalibration of complex projection mapping on 3D surfaces. The software detects any changes in projector or camera positions and automatically corrects the blended image using a camera-based alignment system. Featuring markerless calibration for projection mapping on 3D surfaces, it eliminates the need for screen or object markers.

Mystique Install—LSE reduces maintenance and labor costs for 3D projection mapping projects, eliminating the time and expertise it can take to set up a complex system using an unlimited number of cameras and projectors. Additionally, it works with either Christie 3DLP projectors and a 3D media server or the Christie Pandoras Box media server and third-party projectors.

The Bottom Line: Christie Guardian is available with Mystique Install—Essentials Edition and Mystique Install—Pro Venue Edition when using Christie Boxer or Crimson Series projectors. Mystique Install with 3D camera based alignment is available with Large Scale Experience Edition. All are available July 2018.

Optoma, a manufacturer of video and audio products, at InfoComm 2018 unveiled four new laser projectors designed to bring flexibility and stunning performance for higher education, houses of worship, rental and staging and corporate environments. The Optoma ZW500T, ZH500T, ZU500T and ZH500TST deliver incredibly sharp and stunning images with 20,000 hours of virtually maintenance-free operation, ensuring maximum reliability and dependability in a variety of settings.

Optoma ZH500T and ZH500TST are 1080p HD projectors that feature an 5,000 lumens of brightness and a 300,000:1 contrast ratio with ExtremeBlack enabled. The ZH500TST offers a short throw of 0:79:1, producing vibrant images from just a few feet away. These projectors feature horizontal and vertical lens shift, 360-degree and 24/7 operation, and portrait mode for maximum usability at any angle. Both projectors are also equipped with several connectivity options, including HDBaseT and HDMI inputs to maximize convenience. They are available for an estimated street price of $2,999 and $3,999, respectively.

Optoma ZW500T and ZU500T, featuring WXGA and WUXGA resolution, respectively, provide stunning projection with a 300,000:1 contrast ratio with ExtremeBlack enabled, a powerful laser light source and 1.6x zoom. The ZW500T and ZU500T project 5,000 lumens of brightness and feature extensive connectivity options, including HDBaseT and HDMI inputs. Both projectors offer built-in installation features, including horizontal and vertical lens shift, four corner correction, 360-degree and portrait mode operation to support professional installations at all difficulty levels. The ZW500T is available at an estimated street price of $2,499, while the ZU500T is available for an estimated street price of $3,199.

“Our new line of laser projectors offers a range of robust features to accommodate the various demands of multiple professional settings, including the education, small business, house of worship and corporate markets,” said Brian Soto, head of product management, Optoma Technology. “By continuing to produce top-of-the-line, reliable projectors, we reaffirm our ongoing commitment to providing the most effective, innovative solutions to the ProAV market.”

The Optoma ZW500T, ZH500T, ZU500T and ZH500TST, which can be viewed at Booth C1929, will be available for purchase in August from ProjectorPeople, Audio General, Projector Superstore, Visual Apex and Full Compass.

At InfoComm 2018 Booth C2363, Sony’s new high brightness installation laser projectors, VPL-FHZ120L (WUXGA 12000lm) and VPL-FHZ90L (WUXGA 9000lm), will be showcased and in use for the first time in the U.S. Both models offer visibly superior pictures ensuring audience engagement and a minimalistic design to blend-in in various environments. They also come with the advantages of a laser light source, including increased brightness, ease of use and installation flexibility.

The VPL-FHZ120L is ideal for auditoriums and conference halls supporting live performances and ceremonies. The 3LCD installation projector covers sRGB100% and is suitable for applications requiring precise color reproduction such as in exhibitions and museums. The VPL-FHZ90L is suitable for mid to large-sized classrooms or corporate meeting rooms, even those with challenging installation demands including natural lighting or bright spaces.

Demos on-site will showcase the VPL-FHZ120L’s wide lens shift capabilities (Max. Vertical ±107%, Horizontal ±60%).

VPL-FHZ120L is planned to be available in August 2018 and VPL-FHZ90L is planned to be available in September.

Christie has donated a 1DLP laser projector and lens to a new large-scale exhibit called “No Spectators: The Art of Burning Man,” which opened at the Smithsonian American Art Museum’s Renwick Gallery in Washington, D.C. on March 30.

Each year in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert, a city of more than 75,000 people rises out of the dust for a single week. During that time, enormous experimental art installations are erected, many of which are ritually burned to the ground. “No Spectators: The Art of Burning Man” brings the large-scale, participatory works from this desert gathering to the nation’s capital for the first time.

Six major artworks are erected in adjoining streets and Five Ton Crane, an Oakland, California-based industrial arts collective, is one of three featured artists contributing to the larger group exhibit running until September 16, 2018 (with some works remaining on exhibit until January 21, 2019.

David Shulman, co-founder of Five Ton Crane, said, “Art cars have come to play a big role within the ‘Burning Man’ culture and the Renwick Gallery invited us to build a ‘mutant vehicle’ for this exhibit. Our concept is a 1920s Art Deco movie palace on wheels—in essence, an open air ‘drive-in movie theater’ and performance space. There are three rows of seats, a concession stand, candy and popcorn, and ticket booth, all done in our own version of 1920s style. Additionally, our exhibit is fully modular, allowing for the mutant vehicle to be built and then re-assembled inside the main first floor gallery.”

The Christie projectors power a series of black and white silent movies created by lead artist Bree Hylkema, which show on the screen throughout the Five Ton Crane exhibit.

“I am delighted that Christie agreed to support our creation through this donation,” said Shulman, who was already familiar with Christie’s visual technology through his role as chief financial officer of Obscura Digital. “Christie DWU850-GS projectors are the perfect solution for our art creation because Christie’s laser illumination eliminates the need for lamp and filter replacements and provides 20,000 hours of low-cost operation.”

“We needed something that could last for a long time, with little maintenance, that were powerful enough to withstand running 10 hours a day for six months—and that’s where Christie came in,” added Sean Orlando, co-founder of Five Ton Crane. “In the marquee, there is a monkey’s head, which was inspired by Hanuman, the monkey god, and his mouth is open. From the inside of the monkey’s head comes the beam from the Christie projector; it looks really cool.”

“We’re really appreciative that Christie was willing to work with on this,” concluded Shulman, “and it has been working out really well. The movies were created in-house by a collection of our artists and there are plans for six more movies to be added.”

Paul Dumpel, sales manager, Christie, said the specific nature of this large-scale art project, based on the concept of a movie theater, was a compelling reason to support the project with the donation of the two projectors and lenses. “Christie’s visual technology will be on full view at the Renwick Gallery for the hundreds of thousands of visitors who annually come through the doors of the museum.”

Epson is set to showcase its laser projector solutions at InfoComm 2018, including the its 12,000 lumen native 4K 3LCD laser projector and the LightScene accent lighting laser projector. Demonstrating the power of laser technology across multiple markets, including rental and staging, spatial design and signage, education, and corporate, Epson will highlight its lineup of laser projector technology and software solutions, as well as its Moverio smart glasses in Booth C2220.

“InfoComm is an important show for Epson with attendance from around the globe,” said Richard Miller, director, commercial projectors and smart glasses, Epson America, Inc. “It is a great venue to showcase our cutting-edge display technologies, including Epson’s robust large venue laser projectors delivering new ways to inspire audiences, LightScene offering experiential content, and Moverio smart glasses for a variety of consumer, commercial and industrial applications.”

Epson’s new laser projectors on display at InfoComm this year will include:

Pro L12000Q and Pro L20000U

The Pro L12000Q is a 12,000 lumen native 4K 3LCD laser projector, while the Pro L20000U boasts 20,000 lumens of color and white brightness and WUXGA resolution. Both models share the same compact chassis for integration into existing infrastructure; they also feature support for HDR, 360-degree installation flexibility, backward lens compatibility, swappable interface boards, tile assist, and a sealed optical and laser engine to protect from dust and smoke. These large venue laser projectors are designed for rental and staging events, lecture halls, churches, and digital signage installations.

LightScene

As a new category of accent lighting laser projectors for digital art and signage, LightScene is designed to simultaneously illuminate and project dynamic content on virtually any surface or material to engage audiences, and provide an immersive experience for commercial signage applications in markets such as retail, hospitality, showrooms, and museums.

PowerLite L-Series

The new PowerLite L615U, L610U, L510U, L400U, L610W, L500W, and L610 feature an integrated laser light source, up to 6,000 lumens of color and white brightness, resolution up to WUXGA, and enhanced wireless technology to connect to multiple devices. The PowerLite L-Series delivers quick and easy setup across devices for the education and corporate markets.

Moverio Smart Glasses

Epson will also showcase its Moverio BT-350 smart glasses and Moverio BT-300 FPV Drone Edition smart glasses at InfoComm. Designed to transform the approach to learning, the Moverio BT-350 smart glasses can help improve how industries meet demands, train employees, record data, design, and test products. Featuring a built-in camera, the smart glasses allow users to stream live or send recorded videos to anyone connected around the world for real-time analysis, completely hands-free. Epson’s Moverio BT-300 FPV Drone Edition smart glasses offer a transparent display of the live drone camera feed enabling hands-free, first-person views (FPV) for broadcast, videography, cinematography, and remote image capture.