Lumita & partners introduce a new Color Light Output Metric for Digital Projectors

Jan. 7, 2008
Lumita and leading projector manufacturers have partnered to introduce a new Color Light Output metric for the specification of digital projectors. Lumita has integrated the new metric into a draft update of the internation standard IEC 61947-1. Lumita has also tested the new metric and published the results at the 15th Color Imaging Conference, Albuquerque, NM.

Los Angeles, CA – January 7, 2008- Today, leading projector manufacturers and technology experts endorsed a new projector measurement standard developed to help users evaluate a projectors color performance.  The new specification, called Color Brightness measures color light output.  Given the fast-paced development of vivid color content and the rapid adoption high definition video presentations. The quality and impact of the color produced by a projector has become extremely important. The Color Brightness metric will allow end-users to assure their huge investment in content is delivered with the most impact and the greatest effect.

In the classroom or boardroom, color has a resounding influence on communication – enhancing attention, comprehension and impact. Current  industry specification metrics fail to highlight the differences in color light output among competing products and technologies – leaving it virtually unreported.  Despite the overwhelming use of color today, the industry has continued to rely largely on specifications that only measure black and white performance, such as Brightness and Contrast Ratio.  So where do users go when it comes to evaluating the color performance of competing products?  It is time for a new projector measurement metric – Color Brightness.

Based on the existing industry-standard test method, Color Brightness, like the current light output measure, is reported in lumens. Color Brightness specifies a projector’s ability to deliver the primary colors of light. Today all video, DVD, HD, digital camera and computer signals are encoded in an RGB color space. Color Brightness measures the brightness of red, green and blue, just like the input signal. If a projector can produce bright red, green and blue equal too the brightness of white, it can reproduce true color the way it was intended. If the Color Brightness does not equal the White Brightness color images will appear dark, washed out and less accurate.

Example Projector with Good color performance:

Light Output specification:
    •   White 1800 lumens
    •   Color 1800 lumens

Example Projector with Poor color performance:

Light Output specification:
    •   White 1800 lumens
    •   Color 900 lumens

“Without this new metric, consumers are in the dark about color performance,” commented Karl Lang, president of Lumita. “Two projectors that both advertise 2,000 (white) lumens can have vastly different color performance.  Color brightness provides the information consumers have needed for a long time,” continued Lang.
Working with color engineers and industry experts, supporters over the coming months will publish test methods, and studies exemplifying the metrics’ utility and effectiveness.  The new test method will be submitted to major international standards bodies for acceptance.