Christie to demo 3D laser projector 'breakthrough' at CinemaCon

Tech company Christie is to demo what it has called “the world’s most advanced laser projection architecture and Dolby 3D” at the Christie Innovation Theatres throughout CinemaCon 2014 (March 24-27) and the National Association of Broadcasters NAB Show (April 5-10) in Las Vegas.

Christie DLP Cinema laser projectors using 6-Primary (6P) colour laser modules, earmarked for mass production in early 2015, will show how 3D light levels, image uniformity, viewing comfort, and a sense of immersion can be vastly improved, especially when combined with advanced separation technology like Dolby 3D, versus conventional 3D systems found in cinemas.

Don Shaw, senior director, product management, Christie Entertainment Solutions, said: “Recent declines in domestic 3D movie attendance are a sign that the novelty is wearing off, with audiences less willing to pay a premium for what is all too often a mediocre experience.

“The lacklustre quality of this experience results from a number of technical limitations with current 3D system architectures, the most serious one being restricted light levels that amount to only 10-30% of those levels achieved for 2D presentations.

“Simply put, the movies are too dark, leaving audiences struggling to discern critical details that make up the image in front of them.”

“Christie’s latest laser projection technology, using six specific primary colours rather than filtered or polarised broad-spectrum white light, brings dramatically improved 3D efficiency to projection systems, regardless of the size of screen in premium movie theatres.

“We believe that this is the future of 3D cinema projection, that it is right around the corner, and that it will be a key element in boosting 3D box office revenues around the world.

“Our CinemaCon and NAB Show demonstrations will be the first 6P laser events available to the broad cinema community, from filmmakers to exhibitors.”

Christie’s 6P laser projectors generate a proprietary mix of photoptically-optimised light wavelengths for each eye directly from the source, in effect eliminating the need for filtering or polarising the light as it leaves the projector.

The Christie demos will use Dolby 3D glasses specifically engineered to exactly match the 6 primary laser light wavelengths to yield nearly 90% light efficiency.

Christie laser projectors will provide brightness (up to 72,000 lumens per projector head), wider colour gamut capabilities, higher contrast, and dramatically reduced maintenance requirements.

Christie announced last year that it would supply and install the world’s first commercial laser projection solution for the Seattle Cinerama Theatre, and was the first to receive a US FDA approval of variance allowing the sale and installation of laser projectors in movie theatres and other high performance projection venues.