I would like to learn about a computer/ projection system.....first of all if it is practical for a small theater.  The stage we use is 18' x 21' with limited space in the wings.  What do you think of these systems?  Are they worth the investment?  Any problems I should avoid while shopping around?  I am not entirely stupid around computers but I am not a whiz either so forgive me if I ask dumb questions.  Can we run a sound track and a visual projection at the same time?  Can a lap top drive all of this?  If so what do I look for when shopping?  I am hesitant to go shopping in some computor store and fall prey to a persuasive salesperson and buy all the wrong stuff.  Any advice?

What do you mean by "pretty advanced".  I assumed that I could make a disc that contained images and simply play it against the backdrop after a lot of fiddling around to get the size of the projection right.  I looked at projectors on line this morning and they seem to be available in the 600- 700 range and then leap to the 1500 - 1600 range.  Any idea of the difference? 

I will try to find someone who will rent a system but I have never heard of or seen one around here...may be hard to get a company to drop by with a lot of free advice if they have to travel quite a distance to do it.  But I'll give it a try.....thanks

Hey there. I have looked at this site and now have joined up! for info on a projector- yes you can project from the back using a mirror to bounce the image and still focus it. The main problem with this is the mirror has to be 'tweeked' to make the image square. If you have patience it can be done. As far as the projector itself, we purchased one around $1600. The main thing to look at is the contrast ratio. The higher the ratio, the brighter the image (I think). We went with a ratio of 1:2000 for the contrast. DO NOT SHINE ANY LIGHT ON THE SCRIM. The light will wash the image. Also look at the imputs on the back. We can hook up a comp., dvd,vhs(with rca),and also separate sound. We plan to use ours for a preshow display of previous shows before the show starts. I hope this has helped a little!

While I agree with TimW that the contrast ratio is important, I think the most important issue is the light output of the projector. This measurement is usually in terms of lumens. While it depends on how large an image you want to project, the higher the intensity of the image the better. A very bright image can be seen even when the stage is lit brightly as well. With a dim image, you may need to have the stage completely dark in order for the image to have the impact you desire.

Brighter projectors are more expensive than dimmer ones. I find that that is the primary determinant of prices of projectors. A typical small, portable projector that works great for business presentations will have output of, say 800 lumens. A projector "intended" for the purposes you have in mind may have output of 2,000 lumens or even higher. The price difference can be quite worrisome.

Regarding rear projection, be sure to use a good rear projection screen material. It makes a huge difference. You can project onto muslin, but the image won't have the same crispness.

One other issue to contend with when doing rear projection - the light source of the projector itself behind the screen is going to be a big distraction to the audience. The sight of the lens behind the screen (or the reflected image of that lens in a mirror) will always be a whole lot brighter than the projected image itself. If the audience is relatively compactly situated, you can hide the projector out of sight of the audience through the screen. I often put the projector on the floor, project upward, block the direct view of the projector by the audience through the screen and use the keystoning feature built into the projector to compensate for the extreme angle.

Good luck!

Brian

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