Outdoor afternoon projecting?

[Drew]

I'm a student at York University, and I'm the assistant TD at York Student Television. In about 7 weeks time we have an outdoor all-day event (music and the like) for charity. We want a projector capable of of being seen outdoors from as early in the afternoon as possible. Probably around 3 or 4 is what we're aiming for. The screen is to be mounted on a scaffolding tower, and again, we want to ba as large as possible, but I'm thinking around 5 meters diagonal.

 

Any suggestions for a projector (to hire)? Being a student society we dont exactly have much money, so again, for as little money as possible :wub:.

 

Any help would be great!

[Guest lightnix]

I'm a lampie, not a projectionist and I couldn't honestly recommend a particular projector to hire, other than the best you can afford.

 

I'm probably reciting the bleeding obvious here (sorry), but it's not just the make/model of projector you use, there are other factors to consider, so here's a couple of suggestions...

 

Use rear projection rather than front projection, that way the projector will be shining into the audience and the image will appear brighter.

 

Create a "black box" environment around the rear projection area, to stop ambient light from affecting the image. This can easily be done with black drapes although you may need some Gaffa tape to fill the gaps around the edges.

 

Set up the screen so that the sun will be to the rear and to one side of it at the time of projection.

 

If you can wangle the budget / find a sponsor, then use an LED screen, that way you will be able to put it anywhere without worrying about any of the above.

[Big Dave]

Simple answer is you are going to have to use an LED screen which I get the feeling may be a tad out of your budget. I was involved in a building projection a few weeks ago that we started at about 19.00 using a 10.000 ANSI lumen Barco and it really didn't work properly until about 20.30 when dusk arrived.

 

Projection out doors is a waste of time unless its dark - nothing quote competes with the sun when it comes to light output.

[MikeR]

I can only echo Big Daves sentiments. Dont even bother trying to project outdoors in daylight (be it rear / front or from a projection tunnel. LED walls will work but the hire cost will be high.

[Drew]

Ok, so it looks like it'll have to be an LED display then.

 

Has anyone got any useful contcts so that I can find one?

[the kid]

I'm just wondering, how exacaly do LED screens work? Im assuming that it is done using an BIG bank of the tri colour LED's.

[peter]

Put simply, they're big banks of arrays of RGB LEDs. They come in a variety of 'resolutions' right down to 3mm - meaning each RGB pixel is just 3mm sq. Most common at the moment seem to be 5mm, but 7mm is cheaper, for obvious reasons.

 

 

P

[Pete McCrea]

As Peter says, banks of LED's arranged in panels which each receive a section of the image to display. It'll take a while to build a typical LED screen. I'm not too sure what size you need. Once they start to get big you could well be looking into Telehandlers to help the build, firm ground for a solid base and the kentledge used to stop it blowing over or some sort of trussing to fly it. Again depends on the size and position of the screen.

 

Also, if people are gonna be close you'll need smaller LEDs to decrease the pitch- or space between each pixel- to enable closer viewing of the image. You'd really need to speak to a specialist. Try the guys at YSL Video Walls I've had dealings with them before, or the usual suspect in the guise of Screenco.

[Big Dave]

Usual UK Suspects

 

XL Video

SPS

Blitz

PSL

CT/Screenco - Link in above lost

[johnb]

In  about 7 weeks time we have an outdoor all-day event (music and the like) for charity.

That'll be Woodstock then.

 

OK, unless Ents/SU are being really generous you are never going to afford to hire an LED screen on the budgets that you are working on. In previous years video projectors have been used, with an acceptance that until early evening you are not going to be able to see much on them. You might want to consider going with two smaller screens either side of the stage/truck rather than one large one.

 

As for hiring projectors it is usual to hire the biggest projector that either savilles or ysl (as previously mentioned) can supply within the budget.

 

It is probably worth talking to the ex-members about how it has been done in the past (you're not the first), what worked and what didn't.

 

John

 

Oh, and I probably ought to mention for the record that I am an ex-ystv member now working in the industry, although I never personally was involved in a woodstock I know a number of people who were!

[Pete McCrea]

Always good to consult those who've been there, done that and got the t-shirt/mental scars!

 

Uni ents are usually done on a shoe string, so yeah I'd say LED screens are most probably out. You may well have to admit defeat and go for a projector and use it from 7pm onwards. Stick it so that people are looking into the sun and projector and you might get away with it by using a 'tunnel' to stop light hitting the back of the screen (assuming rear project) and washing out the image.

[Drew]

My eyes damn near popped outta my head when I saw your reply John.

 

Yes, its woodstock, and believe it or not, we may be able to afford LED screens! It's RAG (charity society) paying, not ents or the su, and they really want a visible screen. While I suspect we will end up with a projector (you old enough to remember the central hall's beast? - may use that again) There is a chance we'll have enough doh for an LED screen, so I thought I'd give it a go.

 

Thanks for everyones help - I've got a meeting with the main producer tomorrow and I'll see what the outcome is.