Seamlessly Tile 4 HD projectors to display 4K

[michael zaletel]

Wouldn't it be possible to put a relatively inexpensive hardware and software package together that could project 4K by seamlessly tiling 4 inexpensive HD projectors in a pre-configured mount for precise image alignment?

If I could pull it off, would anyone order one? What would you be willing to pay?

-shooter

 

[Andrew Gentle]

Sounds like a job for RedRay

 

[Dominique Grenier]

Define "inexpensive". Watchout do exactly this.I worked on a project where we had a canvas of 26 000 pixels wide, and 8000 pixel high, that was split among 25 projectors. This is, to date, the largest projection in the world, according to Guinness Records. We didn't use Watchout for this show, but a software that essentially do the same.

 

[michael zaletel]

Define "inexpensive". Watchout do exactly this.I worked on a project where we had a canvas of 26 000 pixels wide, and 8000 pixel high, that was split among 25 projectors. This is, to date, the largest projection in the world, according to Guinness Records. We didn't use Watchout for this show, but a software that essentially do the same.

Under $10,000 including projectors and fast PC with 2 dual-display video cards.

-shooter

 

[Steven Caesare]

Projector alignment, and pixel-blending is harder than it looks. And calibration across all 4 displays is necessary to avoid brightness/color/gamma issues detracting fromt he overall image.

Additionally, a real-time 4K decode to four 1080p devices will be taxing for a PC, but is possible if your source isn't REDCODE.

But... with time and patience, it can be done. I've read some about folks who have done it 2-way, and have some custom software ("Blendzilla") to manage it.

With enough time and patience, you might get something usable.

 

[Dominique Grenier]

Under $10,000 including projectors and fast PC with 2 dual-display video cards.

Well then, I don't know of any solutions (that doesn't mean there isn't). As watchout alone will get you almost there (using 4 licences for display, and one for production). And the way Watchout works, is you have one computer for each display (monitor/projector), plus one controller (the production CPU).

Additionally, a real-time 4K decode to four 1080p devices will be taxing for a PC, but is possible if your source isn't REDCODE.

Not with the way I suggested. Your source is cropped using a special software supplied and sent to each display by the production controller who manage the media. That way, one display only playback its own media, lowering considerably its load.

 

[Mark L. Pederson]

Wouldn't it be possible to put a relatively inexpensive hardware and software package together that could project 4K by seamlessly tiling 4 inexpensive HD projectors in a pre-configured mount for precise image alignment?

If I could pull it off, would anyone order one? What would you be willing to pay?

-shooter

it's been done.

 

[michael zaletel]

it's been done.

It's been done Inexpensively? Or just, done?

If inexpensively, is it shipping?

-shooter

 

[Tim Morten]

An standardized solution for under $10k that outputs 4k images (or at least quad-HD) sounds like a great idea to me...

 

[Noah Kadner]

Go to any trade show and you'll see video walls doing this exact thing. It's a solid idea but as Mark points out- it's been done, patented, copywritten and sold. Now if you want to do it better and cheaper go for it but definitely do a lot of research to see what's already out there first.

Noah

 

[M Most]

Wouldn't it be possible to put a relatively inexpensive hardware and software package together that could project 4K by seamlessly tiling 4 inexpensive HD projectors in a pre-configured mount for precise image alignment?

How do you think Sony's 4K projector works?

 

[Luis Otero]

An standardized solution for under $10k that outputs 4k images (or at least quad-HD) sounds like a great idea to me...

Under $10K? Yep, a good market will be waiting for you...!

 

[Blair S. Paulsen]

I believe the company is Mersive, they make an interface that might work for you.

 

[Steven Caesare]

How do you think Sony's 4K projector works?

It's not by tiling 4 individual projectors.

 

[Dominic Jones]

On a slightly pedantic but none-the-less important point, 4 HD projectors will not give you 4K. Four 2K projectors will give you 4K, but you ain´t gonna get them for under $10k!

That said, all of the above remains true if you´re happy with the slightly lower resolution of the 4xHD frame, but then (assuming you are projecting true 4K) the issue becomes whether you crop the frame (simple in processing terms, undesirable in image terms) or scale it to fit (difficult to do well and cheaply in realtime, but makes it a viable option for "real" projection environments).

Just a couple of thoughts...

Cheers,
Dom.

 

[Tom Visser]

I've done 4 projectors, but side by side in a 4x1 array, not 2x2 like you are proposing. My setup was a bit simpler, as there was only a single edge to align, but we were able to get it within a pixel's accuracy to make it completely seamless. The first thing to understand is that you must get the geometry right and will have to use professional mounts. You can't just stack 4 projectors in the same area and then use lens shift and keystone adjustments to get it right. Find out what the optical / mechanical perfect "zero" position is and figure out a way to get the projectors there. Once you do that calculation and source the right hardware, the rest of it is a relatively simple procedure.