Waking up at 5am
and see the sun slowly rising is something I enjoy in Australia ever since I
came near 40 years ago. Same way as I look forward to the warmer days. Having
grown up in northern Europe, the long winters there have taught me the pleasure
of sun and warmth.
You will understand
once you have had weeks or months of overcast, greyish sky. Though Europe, or
say Germany has one great benefit over Sydney in winter. The buildings are warm
and you do not feel cold indoors. Thanks to good insulation and double and
triple glazing, something I wish would be standard in every Australian
building. But sadly, I have seen even new structures with single pane windows,
which let the heat out and the cold in in winter and vica versa in Summer.
In forty years in
Australia and a few more years in the AV industry I have seen a lot of change.
From the clunky slide projector, though I love the image quality, and ticker
tape operated multi-projector controllers to top notch digital display, LED in
super brightness and an industry which seems more exited about cables, fibre
optic data transmission and numerous black boxes (though not always black) then
what's on the screen. Or does it just appear so?
Though what I am
concerned, it is the impact of the display and how the viewer responds to it
what really interest me.
Since the good old
times of the AMIA, with their fantastic AV competition I have really learned to
value the impact of large screen presentations, which draw the viewer in. These
shows always had a great impact. I am not venturing to say that our current
productions don’t have impact. Far from it. But I think in the discussion of
AV/IT we should talk a little bit more about how to impress audiences and less
about IT related issues.
Now, I have to
admit that large sized projections (or LED displays) are not always possible.
Either because of space or budget. But maybe there is another way. Immersive
display. Images which surround the viewer. We can put a 6 meter screen area
into a 2.5 x 2.5 meter pod. Surround the audience with the content.
This can be best
achieved with projection. Why? Because projection is easier to handle, the
image can be better controlled and the cost are reasonable.
Immersive projection. You don’t need much: 3 screens, like the
Screenline OnlyWhite borderless, which connects tightly to each other, 3
projectors, we did our last display with 3 Casio WUXGA units, a controller,
like GeoBox G704, G413, G804 and a 4K Video Player or Vioso Player software on
a computer.
That is all and can
be squeezed into an affordable budget. The possibilities really excite me, plus
the fact that these displays can be set up in a vast range of applications.
EIKON Fastfold type screens.
I have been asked,
why do we make them? For a very long time we build a reputation as a supplier
for high quality projection screens. Both from 'handy' formats, such as 7' to 24’
to large scale 20+ meter.
With the change of
distribution we were left a bit high and dry. Of course we have the Screenline
brand, which I hold in high regard, even the sometimes skeptically considered
Arrow border has proven to be more reliable then many potential users thought.
But Screenline does not have a AVS compatible folding screen.
So we looked at
other options and we found a partner, which made a AVS type screen for the last
15 years.
Adding our
expertise to improve their product and get exclusivity to it, we are now able
to supply a product, which can not only fill the gap in our portfolio, but
allows us to continue our screen-relationship with you.
But we quiet proud
to have a product we can control and handle freely without any constraints, not
only in Australia, but in other parts of the world as well. So we really hope
to see you embracing EIKON the same
way as you embraced our previous brand. EIKON
screens are available from 7’ to 24’ in the typical folding screen design
and up to 30meter in the Variable type design.
So we look forward
to remain not only a trusted screen supplier, but also opening new
opportunities for you with VNS, VIOSO, Weigl, Euromet, Lang and our other
brands.
Cheers until next
month.
GeoBox. What is GeoBox?
GeoBox is one of these products which are very deceptive. At
Integrate in Melbourne, we have had a combined booth with VNS, the manufacturer
of GeoBox.
Packed into an elegant housing i is most universal image
controller for projection and video wall.
What can GeoBox
do?
GeoBox can do blending,
warping, geometric alignment, image
rotation, flipping, colour adjustment, black level uplift, image splitting,
dual output of the same signal, cascading, frame lock, edge masking, PiP, POP,
Gamma correction, etc.. For projection and digital display. Controllable
through IR remote, on-board panel with some units and via RS232 and accessed
via TCP/IP.
All GeoBox 400,
600 and 800 series have 8K1K 30 and 4K60 4:4:4 signal input. A unit with 4K60
output is expected later in the year.
Of course there are several versions, from a single channel
warp box for projectors with build in blending to a multi-output video wall
controller, GeoBox covers the whole spectrum.
But most importantly it is Pure Hardware, NO PC required.
GeoBox is now a
preferred image controller in Japan and has already a strong presence in
Europe, China and various other Asian countries.
At Integrate we used Geobox for Immersive projection, a 3
split of a 4K video signal from an ID-AL Videoplayer; a curved screen two
projector display with a signal duplication to a two projector edge projection
set-up from the same box. A 400 series powered a 4 video monitor display.
At the Fujifilm booth a GeoBox
704 was used to create a stunning display with their new Z5000 projector.
VIOSO
Player and Anyblend
So, if we have GeoBox, do
we still need products like VIOSO Player and Anyblend?
The answer is a clear yes.
VIOSO incorporates the camera based auto calibration,
playlist based video player and Windows desktop blending and warping and is
capable to be used in the most demanding of applications.
The Anyblend zero latency
technology allows the use of VIOSO in simulations and other timing critical
applications. Specific plug-ins for gaming platforms, like Unity, or export functions
to Dataton, Barco, etc. allows perfect integration and seamless image scaling
over multiple displays.
So for us, VIOSO offers
another spectrum in the solution chain for the perfect projection or image
blending and warping. It is not an either this or that, but the selection of the
best technology for the job.
One VIOSO product which
has had to little attention in Australia is the VIOSO Player software. The Player is a great solution for up to 8
projector displays. It can be acquired as a software only solution or as a
complete system.
Why do we find Player so
great?
As someone said, many of
the presentations which are done with much more expensive systems, could easily
be done with the VIOSO Player. Just drop your video on to the timeline. Program
your logo or an image into it, connect the projectors and you are ready to go.
The camera based auto
calibration makes the projector line-up a breeze. Horizontal, vertical or both.
Curved, dome, building - no problem. Often even a simple webcam will do the calibration
job. Want TCP/IP or browser control? Can be done.
The great thing is that projector re-alignment,
after bumps or misalignment can be automated and initiated even by a inexperienced
volunteer.
But are PC based systems
reliable? Like everything, there are benefits for hardware based systems and PC
based ones. If you leave the PC alone, keep it of the internet, unless
Teamviewer access is required, and don't load up other software, I find PC
systems can be as reliable as a hardware box.
As I said before. The
best technology for the job. That is what we are here for.
EIKON Screen
We are in the screen
market and we want to give our customers a high quality product at an
attractive price. I personally believe that we found with EIKON the right
synergy between high quality and a price base, which allows our customers to
remain competitive and give dealers a good profit margin.
EIKON screens combine the key benefits of the MonoBlox ™ screens with the price attractiveness of an Asian
manufacturer. Add to this our 20 year experience with snap
joint based folding
screen technology and you have a good recipe.
Down, down, down - a catch phrase of one of our supermarket chains. Unfortunately it
also applies to our dollar, which war on a substantial decline against the
greenback. Reminds me about the 90's, when we went through a similar period. So
a falling exchange rate means higher prices. Or?
Staying competitive in a
tough market is a key requisite for our customers. But having fresh and new
looking technology makes your business to stand out from your competition. So
buying new, even in tough times, may be a requirement. Considering this, we have decided not
to increase the price for our Eikon folding
screen kit which includes frame, legs, front pro surface, rear prod surface and
a case.
Here are some price
examples for the full kit.
* Frame * Front Pro
Surface * Case + Optional RP surface
147" 10'8"x6'/ 32 frame $ 2095.00 + GST
165" 12' x
6'9"/ 32 frame $ 2517.00 + GST
165" 12' x
6'9"/ 64 frame S1 $ special offer
1500.00 (absolute net price) + GST
220" 16' x 9' / 64 frame $
4828.00 + GST
275" 20' x
11'3"/ 64 frame $ 5314.00 + GST
Screenline Borderless
At Integrate we displayed a 3 screen immersive
booth. A set-up ideal for the OnlyWhite screenline borderless product.
Based on customer
reports, borderless is increasingly in demand, since, coupled with a high powered
projector it looks like an LED screen, but at a fraction of the cost.
Borderless screens do
allow the butting of screens with a minimal gap, providing the possibility to
create large displays, while at the same time retaining the flexibility of
smaller individually deployable screens.
If you think that 3 x 16'
wide screens can give you a 14.4 meter wide panorama image. No bad.
Screenline OnlyWhite is
also the only borderless screen which can be used with border in rear and front projection applications, due to the
unique frame profile design.
Projector alignment made easy
It is sometimes the small
things which can be life changing. Same in projection set-up. The EUROMET Arakno and Arakno mini
projector tilt heads are a typical example. Simple three-way adjustments make
it easy to re-align a projector if it has been bumped out of position. This is
in particular ideal for installations, which are operated by inexperienced AV
personnel or volunteers.
 |
| EIKON Folding Screen |
 |
| VNS GeoBox |
 |
| EUROMET ARAKNO |
 |
| Fuji Z5000 |
Fujifilm projector review
I love the new Z5000 from
Fujifilm. Just prior to Integrate I have had the opportunity to review this
unit and I am impressed. 5000 lumen light output pumped through a high quality lens
gives you images which seem to jump at you.
Projector lens quality
has always been an issue with me, often lack on resolution, edge sharpness and evenness
in light distribution. But Fujifilm has years of experience in making great TV
lenses. This experience is clearly visible in the Z5000.
But not only the optical
quality is amazing, the ability to rotate the lens and the automatic geometry
set-up. Allowing the projector to be positioned in the most ideal
configuration. Easy, ingenious.
The Z5000 also offers
something, I was wanting from many short throw projectors. A large image size
at a short distance. 300" at 2.3 meter without having to spend a fortune
on a replacement lens.
This is great and will
solve many installation problems. Price? The unit is not cheap, but I think the
Z5000 is good value for money.
So that's for today.
Thanks for reading. If you have a question, just drop me a line.
norbert.s@iti-imagegroup.com.au
Updated Sept 16, 2019
