The other element that’s new in this room is the Main Screen.  Originally there were two 6×8 front projection screens flat against the walls (where the white curtains are now) but spread out from center a bit too far.

I wanted to incorporate the same idea for lyrics projection as we did in the Commons.  I wanted a center wide screen area where we could display lyrics, video clips and message points; but during worship, that area would reflect the imagery that the architectural projection were displaying.  The computer driving the center projector would then only display white text over a black background.

Instead of buying a screen, we simply built one.  We took a 4×8 sheet of plywood, glued a whiteboard-type material onto the front, and hung it.  Now, 4×8 is not exactly a 16:9 ratio, that would be 4.5×8, so I shrunk the image until the top and bottom lined up, an then painted the sides black where the image stopped.  All from Home Depot for about $57.

The whiteboard-type material was too reflective though, so I took some eggshell white enamel and painted the front of the ’screenboard’.  This took care of the glare, but I was curious to see how the white paint stood up against the same 6×8 screen we just took down in regards to reflectivity.  Below you can see the Draper screen hanging over the “screenboard” on the right side. 

Wow!  I was impressed how well they compared.  Yes, the screen offers slighty better contrast, but can you beat the painted whiteboard for the money?  I almost couldn’t tell when I first stepped back! 

Cool.

This is our middle school room at Irving Bible Church.  We just setup environmental projectors in the room and I wanted to show another example of environmental projection; this time, in an even smaller room.  This is our third room to have architectural projection.  Very cool!  Hopefully you can see how it might work for you if you have a similar room. 

With the work lights on.

The walls were dark gray, so instead of paining we just used white curtains.  When not projecting on them, the curtains can look a tad ‘cheap’, but it was the best option we had and they look GREAT when projected on.  The curtain’s natural texture helps them not look like a ’screen’.   

Hanging three projectors would usually mean three pipes, with three separate places where you have to run power and video cable.  Not a big deal, but I wanted to try something different.

Instead, I went to a local plumbing store and picked up a 1.5″ pipe cross, so I could mount all three projectors off of one pipe hanging down from the ceiling.  The other pipes are stock cuts from Home Depot.  Here they are installed:

 I hooked up a Matrox TripleHead2Go to show what can be done with three projectors.

I’ve had a lot of questions recently about the Matrox TripleHead-2Go and DualHead; about where I got it and what it does.

I got mine on eBay for a great deal, new and unopened.  Normally though, you see them for $300 or so.

This little gem is an external box that tricks your computer in a way to thinking you have a triple (or double) wide second desktop.  So, instead of a 800×600 desktop going to the projector, you have 2400×600 (or higher) Now, if you have use this with 3 projectors, the Matrox box will split up the image across all three projectors.  Pretty cool. 

Here is Matrox’s site.  They list out in detail all the resolutions available.  They have two versions of each box (Triple and Dual).  Each model can be either “analog” (VGA) or “digital” (DVI).  The DVI versions can display higher resolutions.

The guys at Renewed Vision have a cool module for ProPresenter where you can place lyrics on any of the three screens, and won’t stretch when you use the Matrox box. 

It works with any other presentation software though, but it will stretch anything that’s not in the native resolution of the second desktop, including text.  (I’ve used it with SundayPlus, EasyWorship, and MediaShout)

This is a pretty great idea if you’re thinking of doing architectural projection, or want to have surround gaming.

Whew.  I feel like a can finally breathe normal again.  Having to speak in public has always been my biggest fear.  (Remember I am supposed to be in the back of a room behind a console or three.)

It’s no coincidence that I read Mark Batterson’s (who was the first keynote) In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day a week before the conference weekend.  God has taken what I love to do, and used it to help me get over what I fear to do.  This was my lion at this time in my life.

God is so good.  The breakout at the ECHO Conference went fantastic.  150 people were engaged and, I hope, inspired to return to their church community and implement some new ways of thinking when it comes to using visual tools.  I actually ran out of time!

I want to recognized www.awakeimages.com and www.shiftworship.com.  I couldn’t do what I do, if they didn’t do what they do. 

I can’t wait until ECHO next year!  So many great speakers and breakouts…the guys at Watermark are fantastic, the designers are amazing.  I am inspired and encouraged, and for those of you who went; dive in and try it.  For those of you that couldn’t make it; be sure to come next year.  You will be blessed…so you may bless others. 

I could not agree more with this.  Especially in regards to what I do, and how I do it.  I see people all the time with amazing lighting and projection rigs, but don’t communicate anything with it. 

I’ve grown up in the production world with anything but the latest and greatest tools.  But, it has taught me how to be resourceful, creative, and innovative.   First comes the talent God has given you, then the tools.  The tools might help uncover the talent, but the truth is the talent was already there. 

At times during worship when lyrics are up on the screen, do you ever feel inclined to look at the screen(s)? 

I know I do.  It’s like I’m watching and waiting for the next change…whether it be lyrics or imagery.  It feels like in society today we are so drawn towards a screen with “stuff” on it and we can’t wait to see what comes next.

I think there is something to be said for NOT displaying lyrics at times during worship.  You could call this a ‘performance piece’ or a time of reflection.  Or perhaps during a well-known song (within your congregation)  you fade the lyrics out during the last chorus.  Whatever it’s called, there is something special and powerful about having no text displayed, (maybe showing imagery, maybe not) and creating space where people can respond how they need to, without feeling like they need to be watching the screens for the next thing to change. 

Lyrics are displayed, in general, as an aid.  But I feel like we’ve relied on them so much that now we don’t really know them, just sing along with them as they change.  What are your thoughts?  How does your church balance out when to display lyrics/text, and when not to?

Slightly off-topic:

When someone says “We are going to barbeque”, does that mean we are going to HAVE barbeque, or we are simply going to grill out?  Because one could GRILL barbeque; but one could also only be having burgers and hot dogs, but still CALL it a barbeque.  So complicated…

Wow!  As they say…there is nothing else like it.  I’m still blown away how talented, dedicated, disciplined, and creative the Chinese are.  They put on an incredibly beautiful display telling the story of their culture, both past and present. Their integration of technology with dance and movement was simply gorgeous, and dare I say, flawless?

And what about the gear?  The triggered LED drums to countdown the start, the projection around the entire arena, the 500 foot LED wall on the floor, the fireworks, and did I mention the hundreds and hundreds of moving lights?  (And did anyone else see the LEDs in the parking lot?)  I can’t wait to see the gear list for this show…

I love old lighting fixtures. Ok, I love all lighting fixtures…

I picked this up on eBay a while ago from California, and thought it would cool to share.  (Shipping this from CA to TX wasn’t cheap by the way.)  It’s an old 10k Fresnel that was apparently used on Disney sets for years.  (That’s 10,000 watts, ten-freaking-thousand.)  I actually can’t even power the lamp to 100% here at the church.  I would need a 100amp dimmer, and obviously power to the dimmer, which would require a generator in my case.  (Time for a house power disconnect!)

 I actually called that number in the picture (click for full size) to see if it was still functional.  A lady on the other end told me I had called the Disney production support department for all the movie and TV show sets.  Cool.   Not sure why I would ever need it…but it is cool to know this light was probably used on some famous show or movie.

I also found this a little gem for about $20; an old but un-used 1000 watt incandescent light bulb.  The filament glows beautifully; nice and warm.  It fits nicely in the 10k, and I can actually power a 1000 watt bulb with our house lighting power. So, I placed the 1k in the 10k fixture just to see what it would look like coming out of the lens.

The result is just beautiful…such a soft warm light from an old rustic lighting fixture…(You can see how the bulbs are similar in size)

 It’s a passion of mine to find old lighting fixtures and technology and finding a way to make it useful again.  Sometimes some of the oldest things can be the coolest and most unique.  I hear a lot of lighting designers in churches say how if only they had the lastest and greatest moving lights/LED…etc…they could do this or that, and it would be “awesome.”  While that may be true, I think it’s also important to look at every type, time period, and field of lighting and seeing how you can use different avenues to get creative with what you are doing.

Now we’re talkin’!  I might actually run on this treadmill.