Cinema Technology Industry Addresses Complaints Over Dark 3D Cinema Screens

Many cinema industry leaders complain that 3D digital cinema projection and glasses cut down the light the viewer sees on screens.

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Underscoring that concern, in an unprecedented move James Cameron even created at least 22 different color grades with different light levels of Avatar, enabling Fox to ship the best possible quality to each theater, accommodating individual screen type, size and technical configuration.

Officials at the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE) say brighter 3D images are one of the next critical challenges in digital cinema -- and that a potential solution lies in laser illumination systems that they believe could also lower operating costs, reduce power consumption compared to xenon lamps currently in use, increase system life spans, and display increased color gamut.

At this weekend's Technology Summit On Cinema (formerly Digital Cinema Summit), held at the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) Show and co-produced with SMPTE, a panel will address this topic, highlighted by a preview demonstration of some new laser projection technology from Laser Light Engines with Sony 4K digital cinema projection.

Laser Light Engines reported that its latest development is fully “despeckled,” high brightness, high frame rate, wide color gamut laser projection technology for a silver screen. (Certain 3D systems including RealD require silver screens.)

“SMPTE is happy to facilitate this technology preview using one of the several excellent laser projector prototypes being tested by leading manufacturers,” said Dr. Paul J. Hearty, editorial vp of SMPTE and head of the program committee for the summit. 

The Society’s panel, produced in association with the Laser Illuminated Projector Association, will discuss recent technical developments, as well as the U.S. and worldwide regulatory landscape relating to laser projectors.