ITI Newsletter 9

                                                    

                       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