Hi,
I've got an Nveiw Spectra C panel that I'm using on a homemade OHP box. The basis for the OHP was a 3M OHP, I can't remember which one.
I'm using the fresnel lens, the lens arm/lenses/mirror combo from the OHP. I have 4 Lights of America bulbs as my light source.
I have really excellent colors. They're bright and nicely saturated. The problems I'm having are:
1. A shimmer on everything. Like vaseline on a camera lens.
2. Way too bright whites - they're completely blown out depending on brightness/contrast settings, but always too bright
3. A generally too dark overall picture.
I have the 4 lights in the box going top to bottom as they relate to the LCD lens. This seems to work better than going left to right.
They're about 3 inches under the fresnel lens.
The fresnel lens is about 1/2 inch under the LCD panel and the OHP lens is the same distance as it would be if I were still using the 3M OHP intact. It's about 8 inches up.
The inside of the box is painted with Behr Ultra Pure White High Gloss.
I just installed the 2 additional lights. I knew I needed more light and they have helped, but I still the picture is too dark overall - with white/bright lights/sun on skin and things like that being washed out.
If I reset the LCD with the remote, the picture is actually really nice. As I said, the colors are very full and have a lot of punch, but the overall picture is dark, except the whites.
I can adjust and get a decent picture, but I'm either too bright in outdoor scenes than I'd like to be or too dark in interior scenes than I'd like to be.
I was using Behr Ultra Pure White flat paint on a wall, but I just painted the wall/screen area with Glidden Misty Evening satin finish paint. Between the extra 2 lights and the paint color change, there's a definite improvement.
The room is painted Hunter Green flat and the ambient light is extremely minimal to zero depending on the time of day. The windows are covered with a black limo window tint.
I'm using S-video input from my Dish Network PVR.
The box does not leak any light.
So, what I need help with is getting the picture brighter while at the same time, darkening the blown-out whites/lights etc.
Any ideas?
Thanks!
I've got an Nveiw Spectra C panel that I'm using on a homemade OHP box. The basis for the OHP was a 3M OHP, I can't remember which one.
I'm using the fresnel lens, the lens arm/lenses/mirror combo from the OHP. I have 4 Lights of America bulbs as my light source.
I have really excellent colors. They're bright and nicely saturated. The problems I'm having are:
1. A shimmer on everything. Like vaseline on a camera lens.
2. Way too bright whites - they're completely blown out depending on brightness/contrast settings, but always too bright
3. A generally too dark overall picture.
I have the 4 lights in the box going top to bottom as they relate to the LCD lens. This seems to work better than going left to right.
They're about 3 inches under the fresnel lens.
The fresnel lens is about 1/2 inch under the LCD panel and the OHP lens is the same distance as it would be if I were still using the 3M OHP intact. It's about 8 inches up.
The inside of the box is painted with Behr Ultra Pure White High Gloss.
I just installed the 2 additional lights. I knew I needed more light and they have helped, but I still the picture is too dark overall - with white/bright lights/sun on skin and things like that being washed out.
If I reset the LCD with the remote, the picture is actually really nice. As I said, the colors are very full and have a lot of punch, but the overall picture is dark, except the whites.
I can adjust and get a decent picture, but I'm either too bright in outdoor scenes than I'd like to be or too dark in interior scenes than I'd like to be.
I was using Behr Ultra Pure White flat paint on a wall, but I just painted the wall/screen area with Glidden Misty Evening satin finish paint. Between the extra 2 lights and the paint color change, there's a definite improvement.
The room is painted Hunter Green flat and the ambient light is extremely minimal to zero depending on the time of day. The windows are covered with a black limo window tint.
I'm using S-video input from my Dish Network PVR.
The box does not leak any light.
So, what I need help with is getting the picture brighter while at the same time, darkening the blown-out whites/lights etc.
Any ideas?
Thanks!
Try using it with the VGA in and see if its still dark, May electronics tend to for some reason make the Image dark, Caugh Caugh Xbox via the Video/ svideo input. try that and see what hgappens if the VGa port is lighter then get a VGA converter.
very good advice,
and i'm happy for you that you are working with LOA's .. I made 3 like that last year!
but like video Freak said, you will most likely enhance the pic with a Cheese box or other enhancer.
I have the VGA theatre and that helped a lot!
And now that i have a regular ohp with spectra C it still works perfectly, it enhances the picture enormously.
J-P
and i'm happy for you that you are working with LOA's .. I made 3 like that last year!
but like video Freak said, you will most likely enhance the pic with a Cheese box or other enhancer.
I have the VGA theatre and that helped a lot!
And now that i have a regular ohp with spectra C it still works perfectly, it enhances the picture enormously.
J-P
Thanks for the help.
Are there any pics that I can look at?
About the VGA input. Which port on the back of the panel should I be using? I don't have one that specifically says "VGA IN".
I tried "Optional Monitor", but that didn't work and I'm guessing that's a "Monitor Out" port. Either that or my "Optional Monitor" port just isn't working.
EDIT: I just tried running the "Optional Monitor" port out to one of my PC monitors and it's not sending a signal to the monitor either. So I guess my "Optional Monitor" port is dead either way.
Should I be trying "Digital" port? If so, I'll have to get a female/male VGA cable. All the cables I have are female/female.
Are there any pics that I can look at?
About the VGA input. Which port on the back of the panel should I be using? I don't have one that specifically says "VGA IN".
I tried "Optional Monitor", but that didn't work and I'm guessing that's a "Monitor Out" port. Either that or my "Optional Monitor" port just isn't working.
EDIT: I just tried running the "Optional Monitor" port out to one of my PC monitors and it's not sending a signal to the monitor either. So I guess my "Optional Monitor" port is dead either way.
Should I be trying "Digital" port? If so, I'll have to get a female/male VGA cable. All the cables I have are female/female.
there are 3 ports
in my spectra C
optional monitor
digital
analog
it's the analog you need to use..
I do not want to sound to commercail but if you need the right cable and as it happens I have made and sold a few of them the last 12 months to some participants fo this forum.
they cost $15 plus shipping ($3.85)
do not try to connect a regular M/F as it will not work at all!
J-P
If you don't want to pay for rready made cables, I can send you the connection diagram by email.
I have posted many pics before about my LOA projectors!
in my spectra C
optional monitor
digital
analog
it's the analog you need to use..
I do not want to sound to commercail but if you need the right cable and as it happens I have made and sold a few of them the last 12 months to some participants fo this forum.
they cost $15 plus shipping ($3.85)
do not try to connect a regular M/F as it will not work at all!
J-P
If you don't want to pay for rready made cables, I can send you the connection diagram by email.
I have posted many pics before about my LOA projectors!
one more thing
just a detail...
the "back" is actually the FRONT
you have to keep that side visible as the remote 'eye' is on the side with all the in and out's so you have to keep it visible.
J-P.
just a detail...
the "back" is actually the FRONT
you have to keep that side visible as the remote 'eye' is on the side with all the in and out's so you have to keep it visible.
J-P.
I know. 🙂
On the back of mine, I've got:
optional monitor
digital
analog
S-video
Comp(osite)
I'm searching for your pics now. Do you have a website? Can you post the link if you do have one?
I've got a PC monitor polarizing filter on the way that I want to try out. Maybe that'll help with the whiteout/glare problem.
Would you please e-mail me the wiring info? That would be great. I may buy one from you anyway, but I'd like to try DIYing it myself first.
Thanks for offering.
One more question if you don't mind. You said
Does that mean you just have your panel sitting on an OHP now? No more homemade box?
Thanks for your help.
Update:
Guess who had a VGA cable? If you guessed me, you're right!
I forgot that one came with the panel. I opened up my case and there it was.
So, the results of trying VGA cable to test out my PC screen are:
I wouldn't say it was brighter, but it could have been. The colors seemed to be less saturated though. The brights were definitely less washed out. The fuzzy/vaseline effect was worse and still is now that I'm watching TV again. I think the mirror or the lights have shifted in the box. Nothing is permanently connected in there yet and I think something must've moved. Funny thing is that the picture seems brighter now.
Is there a reason that graphical things such as CG TV show intros, and animated shows like The Simpsons look better in every way (except the fuzziness), than live-action TV?
I've got The Simpsons on right now and it looks pretty da*n good (except for being fuzzy), but I know if I changed the channel to a non-animated show, the picture would get darker and the bright wash-out problem would happen. Is this common?
Can the projection surface cause fuzziness? I'm projecting on a plaster wall that is slightly rough. I guess you could call it a mottled texture.
FYI: I have opened the panel and completely cleaned it out inside. It was very dusty when I got it, so I cleaned it. Just so anyone interested in this thread knows that the LCD and the glass around it are not dirty. So we can eliminate that as a cause of my problems.
Thanks again for all the help.
Guess who had a VGA cable? If you guessed me, you're right!
I forgot that one came with the panel. I opened up my case and there it was.
So, the results of trying VGA cable to test out my PC screen are:
I wouldn't say it was brighter, but it could have been. The colors seemed to be less saturated though. The brights were definitely less washed out. The fuzzy/vaseline effect was worse and still is now that I'm watching TV again. I think the mirror or the lights have shifted in the box. Nothing is permanently connected in there yet and I think something must've moved. Funny thing is that the picture seems brighter now.
Is there a reason that graphical things such as CG TV show intros, and animated shows like The Simpsons look better in every way (except the fuzziness), than live-action TV?
I've got The Simpsons on right now and it looks pretty da*n good (except for being fuzzy), but I know if I changed the channel to a non-animated show, the picture would get darker and the bright wash-out problem would happen. Is this common?
Can the projection surface cause fuzziness? I'm projecting on a plaster wall that is slightly rough. I guess you could call it a mottled texture.
FYI: I have opened the panel and completely cleaned it out inside. It was very dusty when I got it, so I cleaned it. Just so anyone interested in this thread knows that the LCD and the glass around it are not dirty. So we can eliminate that as a cause of my problems.
Thanks again for all the help.
ok
here we go
1) I will post some pics I still keep.
2) I use a overhead now cause with the vga theatre box the result of a panel is better than the 5.6 " Pyramid lcd monitors I had in stock at that time
3) Have you used a dvd player yet?
4) are you watching the Simpsons from your local channels or digital channels? = biiiiiigggggg difference here!
5) I use (as many starters a year ago) black out clothe from Joann's craft store(or Wal MArt) at $5.00 per yard ( i bought about 3 yards and it is 54 inches heigh . I fyou buy it, it is really easy to handle, a little bit stretchy and use the soft shiny side to receive the picture!
6) how do you get a tv picture into the lcd screen without a vga converter? or do you have a card in your pc and if so, which one is it?
Jean-Pierre
if you have a vga converter then the software that comes with it should be enough to filter out any unwanted discoloration .
here we go
1) I will post some pics I still keep.
2) I use a overhead now cause with the vga theatre box the result of a panel is better than the 5.6 " Pyramid lcd monitors I had in stock at that time
3) Have you used a dvd player yet?
4) are you watching the Simpsons from your local channels or digital channels? = biiiiiigggggg difference here!
5) I use (as many starters a year ago) black out clothe from Joann's craft store(or Wal MArt) at $5.00 per yard ( i bought about 3 yards and it is 54 inches heigh . I fyou buy it, it is really easy to handle, a little bit stretchy and use the soft shiny side to receive the picture!
6) how do you get a tv picture into the lcd screen without a vga converter? or do you have a card in your pc and if so, which one is it?
Jean-Pierre
if you have a vga converter then the software that comes with it should be enough to filter out any unwanted discoloration .
buckster, I used Windex.
Jean Pierre,
1) Thanks!
2) Ok. I can't do that. This is going to be my main TV, so with the average lamp life of an original OHP projector lamp, I'd be buying several new lamps every week. Not to mention the electric bill.
3) No. That's my Christmas present. I have to wait a few more weeks. Any suggestions from anyone on the best under $200 Home Theater in a Box would be welcome.
4) Dish Network PVR box.
5) Ok. I think I need to stop testing on the wall. I've got some fiberboard (or something like that) out in my garage that I have planned to use. It's very smooth and should work well once it's painted. I've just been avoiding making a permanent screen until I had a good picture and a definite picture size, but I think I'm working against myself trying to get a perfect picture with a less than desirable screen surface.
6) I'm using my digital satellite signal out of the Dish Network PVR box from the S-Video out to the S-Video in on the FRONT of the Spectra C
My overall plan is to build something furniture-like that'll have a HTPC built into it. Probably with an ATI All-In-Wonder card. The HTPC will replace my PVR box and I'll move that to another room and use the HTPC as a PVR.
And, considering what you said about the VGA converter, it sounds like it could eliminate all the trouble I'm having.
Question: Is there anywhere to get a good glass fresnel lens? The one from my original OHP is plastic and I'd like to replace it.
Jean Pierre,
1) Thanks!
2) Ok. I can't do that. This is going to be my main TV, so with the average lamp life of an original OHP projector lamp, I'd be buying several new lamps every week. Not to mention the electric bill.
3) No. That's my Christmas present. I have to wait a few more weeks. Any suggestions from anyone on the best under $200 Home Theater in a Box would be welcome.
4) Dish Network PVR box.
5) Ok. I think I need to stop testing on the wall. I've got some fiberboard (or something like that) out in my garage that I have planned to use. It's very smooth and should work well once it's painted. I've just been avoiding making a permanent screen until I had a good picture and a definite picture size, but I think I'm working against myself trying to get a perfect picture with a less than desirable screen surface.
6) I'm using my digital satellite signal out of the Dish Network PVR box from the S-Video out to the S-Video in on the FRONT of the Spectra C
My overall plan is to build something furniture-like that'll have a HTPC built into it. Probably with an ATI All-In-Wonder card. The HTPC will replace my PVR box and I'll move that to another room and use the HTPC as a PVR.
And, considering what you said about the VGA converter, it sounds like it could eliminate all the trouble I'm having.
Question: Is there anywhere to get a good glass fresnel lens? The one from my original OHP is plastic and I'd like to replace it.
Windex
I don't know for sure, but I thought ammonia was not good for lcd's. It's ok for the glass of course, but I think most people use alcohol? (maybe someone should confirm that)
At any rate, I just use a slightly damp microfiber cloth and dry immediately with the same. (this may not be a good idea either) It has worked fine for me. (just think very little moisture)
I don't know if this would have anything to do with cloudiness you reported or not. Just trying to help.
btw, I use my panel as a TV and the kids use it everyday. I buy bulbs on ebay for about $5 ea.. You would be surprised at how long a 50 hr bulb lasts... if you watch that much TV you might want to think about getting a life 😉 LOL Just kidding,
Hope this helps
I don't know for sure, but I thought ammonia was not good for lcd's. It's ok for the glass of course, but I think most people use alcohol? (maybe someone should confirm that)
At any rate, I just use a slightly damp microfiber cloth and dry immediately with the same. (this may not be a good idea either) It has worked fine for me. (just think very little moisture)
I don't know if this would have anything to do with cloudiness you reported or not. Just trying to help.
btw, I use my panel as a TV and the kids use it everyday. I buy bulbs on ebay for about $5 ea.. You would be surprised at how long a 50 hr bulb lasts... if you watch that much TV you might want to think about getting a life 😉 LOL Just kidding,
Hope this helps
The cloudiness/fuzziness/glare whatever you want to call it was there before I cleaned it. I think it could be the wall texture. And the LOA's might not be positioned right. I was also thinking that I may have made a mistake painting the inside of my box white and that I should go for either flat black or at least flat white. I think I might have too much reflection or at least the reflection is too uncontrolled. I think a black box with just the mirror to reflect the light might help. The thing is, I have a somewhat dark yet overly bright picture. It's (sometimes) too dark in shadows and shade or during dark scenes yet the whites and glare on people's faces in sunlight or the light coming through windows, things like that, are totally blown-out even in the darkest scenes. I think I could use all 4 of my LOA's thereby eliminating the darkness problem, and not have the bright wash-out if I could figure out why the wash-out is happening. Some of it might be the fresnel. I just ordered a new one. And it could be the S-video signal too. I've been reading it's not the best way to get the video into the panel.
And...maybe my panel just isn't in very good shape and I should look for another one. At least they're cheap enough to replace once in a while.
Surprise me. How long?
No offense taken by the way, but I do work at home so the TV tends to be on in the background most of the day. Not always, but usually.
And...maybe my panel just isn't in very good shape and I should look for another one. At least they're cheap enough to replace once in a while.
Surprise me. How long?
No offense taken by the way, but I do work at home so the TV tends to be on in the background most of the day. Not always, but usually.
wow
You must have a rare panel a spectra C with an S-Video IN
Myabe they changed it , i only have monitor out, analog in or digital in
J-P
Don't start painting panels , i have read many articles here describing bad results afterward!
by the way for cheap bulbs check out
http://www.shopcousinsvideo.com/
some of their prices are uncomparable to other places!
You must have a rare panel a spectra C with an S-Video IN
Myabe they changed it , i only have monitor out, analog in or digital in
J-P
Don't start painting panels , i have read many articles here describing bad results afterward!
by the way for cheap bulbs check out
http://www.shopcousinsvideo.com/
some of their prices are uncomparable to other places!
No! I'm not painting the projector panel. I was talking about the inside of the box I made that the lights are in.
My panel was made in '93, if that means anything regarding inputs/outputs.
My panel was made in '93, if that means anything regarding inputs/outputs.
Bright whites and no blacks
When I first got my panel I had an overhead projector that was 2000 lm. I had read that I should really be using one that was at least 4000 lm, but It was already too bright and the blacks had no definition so it seemed to me that more light would make matters worse.
I tried it anyway and the result was that with more light output I could turn the brightness way down, and the contrast up which took care of both problems, now I'm looking for more light to increase the blacks levels even more, maybe even use a grey screen etc.
Also with the 2000 lm projector I could adjust the distance between the light source and the fresnel, moving the light source too close would actually make the image slightly blurry.
Just a couple more cents🙂
When I first got my panel I had an overhead projector that was 2000 lm. I had read that I should really be using one that was at least 4000 lm, but It was already too bright and the blacks had no definition so it seemed to me that more light would make matters worse.
I tried it anyway and the result was that with more light output I could turn the brightness way down, and the contrast up which took care of both problems, now I'm looking for more light to increase the blacks levels even more, maybe even use a grey screen etc.
Also with the 2000 lm projector I could adjust the distance between the light source and the fresnel, moving the light source too close would actually make the image slightly blurry.
Just a couple more cents🙂
Exactly what I was thinking, buckster. That's why I got the extra 2 LOA's. I figured I'd get the picture so bright that I could turn the brightness way down and have visible dark scenes. But it didn't work out that way. Not yet anyway.
I really think I have too many variables that are off. Like projecting on the wall instead of a good screen surface, the super high-gloss paint inside the light box, maybe bad positioning of the lights themselves etc. So I think I'm going to concentrate on correcting some things. I've got the fiberboard to make the screen in here right now and I'm about to cut it to size. I need flat black paint for the light box. I'm waiting on my polarizing filter and my fresnel to be delivered too. Until I have everything here, I think I'm in a holding pattern.
I did paint the wall again last night. Half my screen area is the famous ME mixed with metallic silver, flat white and faux glaze. The other half is a combination of metallic silver, flat white and high gloss white.
The new paint combination looks better to me. The ME side is decidely blue compared to the silver/white side. ALL the colors on the silver/white side are brighter. The haze/fuzziness/glow/halo/etc., seems to be slighly lessened too. I'm going to use the silver/white with a little more silver when I paint the fiberboard, which I'll do once it's attached to the wall.
My screen size right now is 60x45 with the projector lens at approximately 114" from the wall.
Does anyone have an opinion on the best color/finish for the inside of the light box? Would the metallic silver work well? In gloss or flat? Any opinions?
I really think I have too many variables that are off. Like projecting on the wall instead of a good screen surface, the super high-gloss paint inside the light box, maybe bad positioning of the lights themselves etc. So I think I'm going to concentrate on correcting some things. I've got the fiberboard to make the screen in here right now and I'm about to cut it to size. I need flat black paint for the light box. I'm waiting on my polarizing filter and my fresnel to be delivered too. Until I have everything here, I think I'm in a holding pattern.
I did paint the wall again last night. Half my screen area is the famous ME mixed with metallic silver, flat white and faux glaze. The other half is a combination of metallic silver, flat white and high gloss white.
The new paint combination looks better to me. The ME side is decidely blue compared to the silver/white side. ALL the colors on the silver/white side are brighter. The haze/fuzziness/glow/halo/etc., seems to be slighly lessened too. I'm going to use the silver/white with a little more silver when I paint the fiberboard, which I'll do once it's attached to the wall.
My screen size right now is 60x45 with the projector lens at approximately 114" from the wall.
Does anyone have an opinion on the best color/finish for the inside of the light box? Would the metallic silver work well? In gloss or flat? Any opinions?
- Status
- Not open for further replies.