Epson Powerlite Pro L1500, L1505 Laser Projectors Review: Features 2

Edge Blending and Projection Mapping

Edge blending is accomplished with multiple projectors that have the ability to take an image split over multiple projectors and present it as one large image, without visible differences in color or brightness from one projector to the next.  In other words it looks seamless – like it’s being done by a single projector.  Projection mapping is masking the image digitally to light up non-traditional, often three dimensional objects.  (Sometimes used at rock concerts, but also for museum and digital signage applications.)

The Powerlite Pro L1500 and L1505 can do both.  They can even do edge blending on curved surfaces.  (What they can’t do, however, is do edge blending and pixel shifting, but that’s fair, since we’re talking a multiple projector array.

These Epsons have the necessary controls to match color across up to nine projectors, as well as brightness.  And thanks to Epson’s Constant Brightness feature, and “one button” auto calibration, these projectors should all be able to work together – seamlessly – for 10,000 hours or more with no real effort.  That’s pretty amazing.  In the world of lamp based projectors that’s just practical.  Bulbs would be failing, regularly, if you have even only four projectors going.  And since bulbs dim at different rates (at different times of their lifespan), you would need all of the bulbs to be replaced at once, to have similar characteristics so they didn’t require regular adjustment.  Colors shift too, with lamps, so calibration is another issue.

Epson’s been serving up projectors doing edge blending and projection mapping for several years now.  Their demonstrations at trade shows show impressive capability (as do demos from Sony, Christie, Panasonic and others).  Laser projectors make great sense especially for edge blending applications, for the reasons above.  Unfortunately its not remotely practical to set up edge blending here, to check out how easy and capable Epson’s L series solutions are, so I’ll just have to go by the demo’s I’ve seen, and say, “looks really capable.”

Here’s a link to an under a minute video clip of an Epson display at a trade show, using multiple projectors for both edge blending and projection mapping.  Epson Large Venue Projectors at Infocomm 2015: Projection Mapping   BTW those moving targets – are being moved by industrial robots Epson manufactures.  (How’s that for trivia?)

Auto Image Calibration

OK, I never got around to working with this feature when I got my week to work with the engineering sample.  I wish I had.  From reading Epson information, it may not be truly Auto – But it is one button operation.

You can see the Epson camera located along the bottom to the right of the lens.

 

 

 

Better still, when multiple Epson’s are tied together in a network for an edge blending display, each will have a different ID, and “know” it’s place in the projector matrix, whether 3×3, 4×2 7×1 – whatever.  This should allow for pretty straightforward aligning of the projectors – in terms of everything – including color, white balance, and brightness.

Array of Interchangeable lenses

The other significant difference (which will be of interest to only a few) is due to using larger panels.  These two Epson’s will not work with Epson’s new ultra short throw lens.  Just remember, though, if you need large venue projectors with an ultra short throw, Epson has all those other L and G series models that can accept it.

The easiest way to show you what Epson has for these two laser projectors is to display this Epson provided chart, which includes throw range numbers: