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Edge blending projectors


bgarrett

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Hello,

I am a WO user that is looking to use four Panasonic PT-DX100 projectors to create a large edge blended image. The projector has its own edge blending capabilities too. I have 16' of depth and I am projecting rear screen. I want the four projectors to be configured two over two with them all edge blending. I think I can get the all the blends to look good except the blend where all four projectors overlap directly in the middle of my image. That would be the brightness of four projectors overlapping creating a bright hotspot in the middle of my large image. Has anyone dealt with this and if so could you give me some advice on the situation.

Thanks,

Brent

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Hi Brent,

I've done it several times and it works excellent through Watchout. Make sure to do the math on positioning very well, tiny bits of lens shift, and maybe a little warping since you're probably using very wide lenses. Also, make a grid that will be exactly what your overlap and output image will be. If you plan properly, adjustments and alignment will be quick.

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  • Dataton Partner

Clint, i think Brent isn't bothered about the setup itself, but about the obvious extra brightness in the center overlap, which WO5 doesn't correct in terms of blacklevel.

 

Brent, there is a tedious workaround you can find more info on on this forum, but that workaround would be even more complex having to correct the top/bottom and right/left blends AND the center quadruple blend.

I know the pt-dz21 has a very nice blend which does correct this itself which I'm pretty sure would also work in your required grid mode. (Though still keep in mind you'd be sacrificing on general blacklevel sincerely). If your dx-100's support the same mode I would advise on using that as oppose to the WO blend.

 

Or perhaps WO6 has advanced blending modes? ;-). But still haven't seen the entire feature list :-(

 

Good luck anyway and let us know how you solved this and how your solution worked out for you

 

P.s. Can't you use the ultra short throw 1-chip lense panasonic has? I know it has a limitation of size you can project, but perhaps good enough for your project? http://panasonic.net/avc/projector/products/dle030/.

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Thank you for the responses. I am concerned about the extra brightness in the quadruple overlap. How does the pt dz21 correct for this? Is that part of the brightness and color matching that the projector has? And please explain how I would be sacrificing general blacklevels?

My original plan was to put the projectors is portrait mode, which would work great, except I read that you only get 1000 hours out of your bulb life in portrait mode. The bulbs should typically be able to last 3000 hours in its standard orientation. This setup is going into a high school theater that needs to have very little maintenance and very little maintenance cost. I did look at the short throw lens also, but I don't think it will work for this application. My boss is also concerned about using the panasonic projectors. He has always been a Eiki guy, but Eiki doesn't have a projector that can be used in portrait mode. Does anyone have an opinion on that? How reliable is panasonic. How is the customer service?

Thanks for you responses. I really appreciate it. Can't wait to take a look at WO6.

Brent

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  • Dataton Partner

Hi Brent,

Blacklevel : any brightness compensation, either performed by the projector or via the workaround in Watchout, is based on adding brightness in the darker area's of the single projection, to compensate the doubling (or quadrupling) of the projectors. Having a grid projection will therefor always mean you will have 4 times the darkest light level overall if you compensate for this (in order to have a uniform picture). Not a good thing, of course all depending on the purpose. (Visuals for a danceparty won't suffer as much as a backdrop for a dark scene in a play called "Der Ring des Nibelungen".

 

Yes, lamp runtime will diminish but as much as 66%?? I know that with most projectors I work with it generally is a 20% duration loss and with xenon lamps some flickering might occur.

 

Can't speak for the States, but support and service in EU is very good though devices has to be sent to UK for physical service. (?!).

 

In short: grid work: I wouldn't go for it but if that is the only option and chosen above the portrait option, I'd say go for it and spend some time in the WO workaround. I'm sure you'll be able to get a satisfactory result.

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You may want to enquire with Epson. A month or two ago, they launched their new range of projectors here in South East Asia, and one (or two?) of the new models cater to portrait mode, with a different lamp or lamp housing for that specific purpose. ANSI lumens, however, is not in the 'very high' range - maybe about 6K up, but definitely not over 10K.

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  • 1 year later...

In short: grid work: I wouldn't go for it but if that is the only option and chosen above the portrait option, I'd say go for it and spend some time in the WO workaround. I'm sure you'll be able to get a satisfactory result.

 

Hello, where can I find more information about this WO blending workaround? I have tried to look around forum but found nothing. Thank you for answer. J

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  • Dataton Partner

Simple: just create a white (or 15 / 20%grey ) square with a 2 / 3 pixel edge feather that matches the size of the non-blended area. Add it to the timeline and position it exactly there. Adjust its opacity until the brightness (when projecting only black of course) matches the blended area. Then project white and several primary colors and use any color correction if needed.

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