82" wide Screen bezel-less Hirez gaming! Yes its now possible!

[FS~Phat]

Im just working out the details and wondered if anyone else has tried anything like this??

Im considering going with 3 or 4 Optoma 720 1280x800 120Hz short throw projectors in portrait rear projection ($1500 each) on a purpose built curved Plexiglass screen? (2400x1280 Native Nividia/ATI surround or 3200x1280 with 4 projectors using Eyefinity or a hardware based monitor extender from Mviewtech for Nvidia which can also support 120Hz 3d!)

Thats what Im considering for my next upgrade before Ivybridge-e comes out.

Combined with an edge blending solution, probably Mviewtech hardware based edge blending compatible with Nvidia 3d (instead of software based so that the desktop can still be used)

This will create one seamless edge to edge image in a 82" wide x 30" high arc with 4 projectors or 65" wide x 30" high arc with 3 projectors.

The res given above is quite manageable by todays GPUs in SLI/Crossfire and you cant tell me that something the equivalent size of 3x24" monitors in Landscape isnt wide enough, especially when the screen is 30" high.. Imagine :) hmmmmmmmmmmm

See calcs below. Still need to work out optimum seating distance and PPI to make sure res is high enough but not too high for the optimum seating position!

http://public.blu.livefilestore.com/y1plbWGtI1IoDIH8hvZf8KNi5y1zx4z1rgtU3SgbQygNNpgWw7 fJPDzWw-HgqEsL3_wp9IHVmjyeEiI3xHbUflZlA/screen%20calcs.jpg

Another different example below with front projection short throw projectors and a different approach to edge blending , though for me 800 vertical res isn't enough (and I think I would prefer the higher vertical res in portrait with this aspect anyway. Going with the rear projection means perfect monitor type quality image with no ambient light problems even if its not in an enclosure. The plexiglass has ambient light absorption properties to give a perfect picture even in well lit rooms or even in daylight!
Projector throw distance would be right down around minimum .5 of a meter so not very deep either! ;)
Im still working on the theory and looking for examples and components but I really think the perfect bezel-less solution can be done for under $5K now with these types of parts. Or even much less with cheaper $600 projectors!

Example front projection short throw

http://public.blu.livefilestore.com/y1p0cWmMiTAsLX1PPr-T1iowTZAILUZjVSGEZ1tG9W_C8wsYdIXmQ8sk64rhoiNzFl0KD qo86Z5W-ErhxLAenJqdg/3.jpg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFTrndLQ9SA

http://www.pixelwix.com/proddetail.asp?prod=PixelwarpSGL2


Plexiglas Hi-Def rear projetion screens are lightweight, durable, and offer exceptional performance. The diffusion technology enables the use of short throw and off-axis projection while providing optimal contrast. Hi-Def can also be used outdoors. Largest Sheet size is 81" x 144".

http://www.spyeglass.com/Plexiglas.html

PS3 120" example of rear projection.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2896D5G3Sw?t=6m40s


Anyone got any input, ideas or experience with this sort of thing?

[Buchon]

I was consider this but it have negative points too, its not all goodies.

- Its freaking expensive, you need three projectors to do and they are not cheaper precisely, cheaper projector is around 800$.

- To use a projector you need a dark room, so prepare your self to get Vampire complex.

- Its power hungry as hell, a single projector consume around 350W, you should multiply this x3 and sum a PC that can handle this huge resolution.

- The resolution is not great, if you stretch 800p in a 30" screen then you will have a blurry image quality.

Also a cheaper projectors affects to image quality, it will show low contrast and colors quality, a good one projector that shown the contrast and colors of a usual screen will cost you 1500$.


Burn the money in a 30" ISP monitor with Touch Screen is a more balance choice but well ... who buy a Ferrary don´t do it thinking in the money, consume, visibility, ....

[FS~Phat]

I was consider this but it have negative points too, its not all goodies.

- Its freaking expensive, you need three projectors to do and they are not cheaper precisely, cheaper projector is around 800$.

- To use a projector you need a dark room, so prepare your self to get Vampire complex.

- Its power hungry as hell, a single projector consume around 350W, you should multiply this x3 and sum a PC that can handle this huge resolution.

- The resolution is not great, if you stretch 800p in a 30" screen then you will have a blurry image quality.

The projectors suitable for this are $400 to $1500 depending on of you want full 3d support and super bright image. (which might actually be too bright at minimum throw distance) The cheaper projectors are capable of 500Lumens now which is heaps at .5 of a meter. Not only this but the rear projection Plexiglas is designed for use in ambient light. Even without an enclosure!

If you read properly you would see that Im proposing using these in portrait mode which is 800 wide by 1280 high per projector which is enough vertical resolution for the seating distance for an image this big.

I also have plenty of computer horse power to drive it. :) (which by the way draws upto 2.5Kw so power usage is nothing new to me!)

[Buchon]

Rear projection with plexiglass was what I was consider ;), a curved plexiglass screen would be awesome :)

Also I was thinking in combine it with this :

http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-build-a-Multi-Touch-surface/

A curved plexiglass screen would be awesome but with a touch surface would be incredible :grin:

[bolox]

often thought about such things as i occasionally use projectors at work (in live music enviroment- tho they are usually higher rated projectors)

One thing i would bring up is bulb life- manufacturers figures are often somewhat misleading:rolleyes:- bulbs tend to develop a green 'cast' during the 2nd half of there 'expected lifetime' and often at different rates which would be somewhat noticeable in a multi projector setup.
I would budget to replace at 1500-2000 hrs as a set of bulbs of matched manufacturer/batch (maybe 2-3000 hrs in eco mode)

Lens offset- the projector you list has quite a high offset which may cause some problems in setup in portrait mode. I'm sure you have the physical side worked out to get a 'virtual point of projection' but i'd be slightly concerned at getting a perfect match up with the most 'distorted edge (the normal 'top') being next to the least distorted ('bottom') of the next projector.
This is a 'theoretical' problem and you should be able to compensate with keystoneing - but it is something that would nag at me if i was spending 5k and i would certainly look for other options with less lens offset if going portrait mode if possible.

That's my thoughts anyway, be very interested to see how it goes:cool:

[FS~Phat]

often thought about such things as i occasionally use projectors at work (in live music enviroment- tho they are usually higher rated projectors)

One thing i would bring up is bulb life- manufacturers figures are often somewhat misleading:rolleyes:- bulbs tend to develop a green 'cast' during the 2nd half of there 'expected lifetime' and often at different rates which would be somewhat noticeable in a multi projector setup.
I would budget to replace at 1500-2000 hrs as a set of bulbs of matched manufacturer/batch (maybe 2-3000 hrs in eco mode)

Lens offset- the projector you list has quite a high offset which may cause some problems in setup in portrait mode. I'm sure you have the physical side worked out to get a 'virtual point of projection' but i'd be slightly concerned at getting a perfect match up with the most 'distorted edge (the normal 'top') being next to the least distorted ('bottom') of the next projector.
This is a 'theoretical' problem and you should be able to compensate with keystoneing - but it is something that would nag at me if i was spending 5k and i would certainly look for other options with less lens offset if going portrait mode if possible.

That's my thoughts anyway, be very interested to see how it goes:cool:

Thanks for your input!
I have considered the issue of lamp life and keystone issues which is why I want to go with probably LED based 300 to 500Lumens projectors (probably this one the vivitek qumi q2 led projectors only $500ea) which would be mounted at the back in the centre point of each screen position to avoid keystone issues. They have been reviewed to have a good image quality beyond what should be possible for a projector in this category! PS. the edge blending software or hardware would fix the offset problems. :)

[FS~Phat]

id basically go from this below....

http://public.blu.livefilestore.com/y1pof-vKac9gJ--bbzk3gNuwtl6zQJwRzLYQ6qpTJq5m3Egcbc-c3gpT6ia0CQIpLZ2_tCX9JW6zCEzHaaTHb6Xzw/IMG_1975.JPG

and end up with something looking like this.. (the opaque white overlay)
This is from my original build before the baby took over my office!

http://public.blu.livefilestore.com/y1p92SRUPKAS8FIFVu4E6v85AClJ7X1jDl8XOybfcRiiDaeEnD bE7othjRdYTGP45N4A9MvwGCp8-OduAuxfUUmVA/projector%20screen%20size.jpg