Christie Laser Projection for Cinema
Delivers Clear Advantage
CHRISTIE LASER PROJECTION FOR CINEMA DELIVERS CLEAR ADVANTAGE
As Laser Projection for Cinema Takes Center Stage,
Christie Poised to Deliver Clear Advantage
With a growing number of projection players dipping their
toe in the laser-in-cinema pool, the variety of advanced
laser projector prototypes on display has been on the rise.
For film fans, that’s welcomed news – and frankly, long
overdue.
The origin of the Xenon lamps present in the projectors
today dates back to the 1960s, as does the technology
that accompanies these workhorses. With the advances of
modern cinema as well as the demands and expectations
of movie-goers pushing their limits, the conventional Xenon
lamps in use are simply not bright enough to do justice to
high resolution films, particularly the ones in 3D.
Benefits of Laser Projection
In case you’re late to the laser projection party, the
technology they deliver brings a host of advantages over
conventional projectors. They occupy a smaller footprint
and are significantly more energy-efficient. In the case
of regular Xenon lamps, after the three primary-colored
beams are separated from the source (white light), the rest
of the light spectrum visible to our eyes and the resulting
ultraviolet and infrared emissions are essentially wasted.
The other advantage laser projection technology yields is a
far superior operational life. With an estimated operational
lifespan of 20,000 to 50,000 hours, which is more than 60
times longer a Xenon lamp, they are also capable of near
constant output and are highly controllable. Additionally,
the relatively small footprint of the laser modules as
well as the low amount of heat they generate allows for
coexistence with the existing Xenon-based projector.
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If there’s a downside to laser projection at this early stage, it
seems to be the potential cost involved for cinema owners
to move into a laser projection system. Estimates suggest
the price tag of a laser projection system could run about
10 times higher than that of an equivalent Xenon system.
But with longer-lasting brightness and fewer maintenance
requirements needed for a laser solution, the case against
the new technology based on cost isn’t a particularly strong
one.
Laser Projection Proving Grounds
To educate and show members of the trade and public
the benefits of laser projection in cinema, a number of
manufacturers, including Christie, have showcased their
laser projection solutions at a host of industry gatherings.
Notable among the events held thus far in 2014 are
the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) Show,
CinemaCon 2014, and the 17th Shanghai International Film
Festival.
This year’s shows have provided an opportunity for industry
players to get an up-close look at the growing roster of
laser projector solutions coming online and a better view
of each’s attributes. To borrow automotive terminology, it’s
given attendees a chance to “kick the tires” and “get under
the hood”.
If the circuit buzz is any indication, two points have resulted
from the shows as a takeaway:
1.the solutions turning the most heads are in the 6-Primary
(6P) laser projection space;
Advantage Christie
If there’s one word to encompass the advantage Christie has
forged out of the gate it would have to be “brightness”. The
Christie solution 6P laser projection solution currently being
exhibited doesn’t just seem brighter to those who’ve seen it –
it actually is.
Brightness in modern cinema projection is a challenge, and
that’s particularly the case with 3D film. Without the proper
brightness, a low-light presentation results that yields colors
which seem quite different and inconsistent to the viewer.
Coupled with the dark environment present in a movie theater,
a film can appear too dull and dim.
The problem is that the luminance of standard Xenon lamps
typically registers between three to four foot-lamberts (fL), a
far cry from the Digital Cinema Initiatives’ (DCI) suggested 14
fL. That means movie-goers are being asked in today’s cinema
to pay a premium price for a product that’s – well, not all that
premium.
While the 6P laser projection systems exhibited at this
year’s events generally address this, we’ve learned that not
all laser solutions are created equally. As an example, one
prominent manufacturer’s system hit an impressive 60,000
lumens for 2D projection, but fell quite short in the 3D arena
– delivering a maximum brightness of just 30,000 lumens. To
put it in perspective, that’s a result no better than the current,
standard-issue Xenon lamp-driven projector.
To manage the unit’s cooling process, for example, Christie
installed integrated cooling in each laser module which
provides sufficient cooling for the lasers that are in use. In the
event of a failure in the cooling component of a module, the
brightness generated from the other modules is sufficient
enough to render the loss negligible – and the show, as they
say, goes on.
A number of the other laser projectors exhibited in this year’s
events employ a large external unit with a fixed cooling
capacity. In the event a fault occurs, the projector will cease to
operate. With the mechanical nature of the components being
utilized in this type of cooling system – such as compressors
and pumps – this represents quite a risk.
The highly scalable/upgradable architecture of the Christie
6P laser projection system also sets it apart from the field in a
way potentially overlooked. Specifically, if more brightness is
ever needed, its design allows for the easy addition of more
laser modules. This is important as all systems in the 6P laser
projection class experience a loss of brightness over time.
It’s worth pointing out, however, that the Christie solution
compares quite favorably to the field in this area as well. While
projections suggest the Christie 6P laser system will maintain
around 80% of its original maximum brightness within ten
years, a similarly positioned competitor exhibiting at this
year’s shows suffers from the inverse outlook – a loss of 80%
maximum brightness in less than a decade.
Meanwhile, Christie’s 6P laser system delivers the full 60,000
lumens in both 2D and 3D. The Christie difference is rooted
in the fact that their solution is a duel-head system built to
project both left and right-eye images at the same time.
Comparably, single-head systems require lasers to cycle on
and off, and the overall brightness suffers – as does the final
product.
With the Christie system, the result is a 6P dual-head 3D
solution that’s roughly twice as light efficient as the most
efficient 3D system being employed on the market currently.
In the world of 3D projection, brightness is everything – and
Christie has raced to the front of the pack in this all-important
category.
Little Details, Big Difference
The Christie 6P laser projection system also sets itself apart in
ways less noticeable, but no less important.
The Bright Future
This is an exciting time for cinema. Laser projection is turning
heads and positioned to be the cornerstone for developments
to enhance the film-watching experience for the foreseeable
future – particularly within the 3D realm.
To paraphrase the song from 1980s, with the “future is so
bright” for cinema projection, perhaps a pair of 3D glasses –
not “shades” – is the preferred eyewear for the road ahead.
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CHRISTIE LASER PROJECTION FOR CINEMA DELIVERS CLEAR ADVANTAGE
2.the 6P laser projection solution being displayed by Christie
is making an awfully good early case for why it should be
considered best in class.
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Performance specifications are typical. Due to constant research, specifications are subject to change without notice.