What They Say
Cinemeccanica joined the list of companies preparing for Avatar 2 by upgrading an Italian PLF cinema, the PLF Energia Screen, to 100,000 lumens on a 30 metre wide screen. It has added a second RGB Laser source LUX2 from Cinemeccanica to the existing Christie CP4230 dual projector configuration.
What We Think
This article also got me thinking. If the previous cinema met the recommended on-screen brightness levels, what is the real benefit of doubling up? Double the brightness would achieve double the contrast ratio, but as Barco, RealD and others have shown there is a ‘knee function’ in projection full system contrast. Increasing the screen brightness should increase the contrast, but how much? On the other hand, if the system was a bit dim in 3D before, the extra luminance could make a useful difference.
In my list of ‘useful topics to think about’ is an article about work done on HDR for the cinema (DCI Explains and Decides what HDR is in Cinemas). I have been meaning for some time to look at what the results of a research project might mean for projection. LED direct would have a big, big advantage in this area, although whether that would be enough to offset the big cost increase is another matter. I must get to it! (BR)
