IBC Projection 3.0 (Part 2)
15 Comments Published by Camron Ware - Visual Worshiper August 26th, 2008 in Visual WorshipThe 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 looks incredible. What happens when the band/worship leaders on on stage? Does the projection hit them?
Ron; yes and while it might be seen as a ‘mistake’ we honestly thought it’s ok and even a little different. Or, we could just have the entire band wear white along with using all white instruments.
The all white thing could be cool for a drama/performance art piece.
A little off topic, but does this also happen in your main worship auditorium? And if it does, what has the feedback been?
I love the visuals you are able to create and am considering this for our new worship center.
Thanks Ron; and no, I have the center projector blurred up high enough to just miss the band. Let me know if you implement this!
I absolutely will, but we are still a year away from completing our building project. Thanks for the info.
Hey Cameron,
Sweet setups you got going here. I have a few questions.
1) You have a 3 projector display. Are those only for the architechtural projection? Do you have one more (4 total) to project lyrics, clips, etc? Where is the 4th mounted?
2) I noticed on the projector image it looks like you’ve got tape going over the lenses? Am I seeing that correctly? If so, could you expound on that aspect of projection a bit?
3) Our church currently meets in a movie theater, if you had a big white screen (with dark curtains on the side walls) how would you incorporate this sort of set up? 2 projectors for architexture? Wait, did I just coin a phrase? Sweet.
Thanks!
Russ
Hi Russ; and thanks.
1) Yes, those 3 are for architexture.
The fourth is mounted in front of those 3, higher up, to project on that screen we built.
2) Yes, that’s so we can feather the edges.
3) You could do two, yes, but it would still feel like a ’screen’.
Send me an email if you can about this; I’d love to see if there is a way to make it work in the theater.
Just a couple of questions/comments.
Have you found that the separate screen for text and images is essential? Obviously the curtains in this kind of situation create a surface that is not perfectly flat, so the text/image clarity would suffer, but I’m wondering how bad it would be. Would I need to worry about this separate screen for an installation where the walls were straight and painted white?
Also, when using ProPresenter with the Matrox TripleHead2Go, it would seem that you could accomplish the same effect with just **three** projectors by using the margins setting in the preferences panel to set the location where the text and video would appear. I don’t even think you would need the ProPresenter Advanced Module if you created all your backgrounds to match the resolution of your three screens.
One more thing…are there any advantages to using LCD or DLP technology in these kind of installations?
Thanks for sharing your work and thoughts, Cameron!
Kevin;
I would say in this situation the center screen is essential, just because the curtains do have some folds and breaks in them that would disrupt the main screen image.
But, if your wall is straight and flat, sure! I would say give it a try and see how it looks.
True, that would be one way to do it! For us, that wouldn’t work simply because we want the ability to show clips from a DVD player/VCR/watch satellite on the main screen. Also, if a guest comes in and brings a presentation you would probably want it full screen. I would think a happy medium would be to have a retractable screen!
Up for worship, down for clips/guests…
DLP projectors, in general, will have more consistant color and brightness, longer. But they are more expensive. I think LCD is still the most cost-effective way right now; but if money were no object I would love to go DLP, high-contrast, high-lumens.
Camron,
I’m curious about what you consider high-lumens. I’ve been looking at some BenQ single-chip DLP projectors that have 3,500 lumens (SP830, 1280 x 768, 2000:1 contrast, $1,600 street) and 4,000 lumens (SP831, 1280 x 768, 2000:1 contrast, $2,000 street). Is there some point where you can have too many lumens in this kind of architectural application?
High-lumens is relative.
It just depends on the room as I’m sure you know…
In general, it’s better to have more lumens so if you WANT to go brighter you can, but to answer your question, yes. I feel there are times when this projection could over powerful other elements in the room, thus making it less effective. But, it’s not going to get any brighter than what it is, only darker over time with lamp fade.
May I ask how many projectors/lumens you’re using in the main sanctuary to cover all that wall space? How about in the Commons?
3 in the sanctuary, 2 in the Commons.
I’ve just stumbled across this approach (or maybe I’ve seen it before, but it’s just hitting me differently now).
We’re planning to move from a rented banquet hall to a leased space we’ll be building out ourselves. So we get to create the worship space we want… and I’d like to consider this approach!
How many lumens are you using for those projectors? Both in this room and in the Commons? On both posts you list number of projectors, but not the lumens of each. I understand that every room is different, but knowing how many lumens you’re using to get the effect we see here will help us get a general range for comparison in our new space.
Thanks!
Rich; all projectors are 2600 lumens! Not bad!