Can this be done?

The main issue you will be dealing with is keystoning the image, plus having it reversed, also the quality may be a little sore since it will be blocky... It is a stretch, but I would much rather an ETC Ellipsoidal for this application. (No duty cycle)... btw you'd save lots more money on a light fixture than a projector, plus the lamps are less costly. Focusing would be easier too... Talk to NLFX about a purchase of such a unit.

Yes...it can be done. We have done it a number of times.

Keystoning on the floor can be a problem, but really no more than with a lighted gobo. Placing gobos on the front wall is fine. Our projector allows you to flip and reverse the image so that is no problem.

We use the projector instead of a lighted gobo when the client wants an animated logo, gobo or extended animation. The animations can be done in Flash or a program like Bluff Titler.

A cool effect with the projector is to do the animations on the ceiling, covering the whole ceiling. They get all stretched out, but can create a great effect in the right situation. The great thing about the projector is that you can zoom the image to different sizes to cover an area. Unless you are using very expensive moving heads with gobos you can't zoom the image.

We already own the projector as we do video so it is not an extra expense for us.

After having said all of the above, I would recommend using a light fixture to project gobos unless you are going to do animations.

Simple, just use a High End DL.2 <grin>



http://www.highend.com/products/digital_lighting/dl_2.asp

Briar said:

After exhausting all of the possibilities for projecting a gobo, I have come to the conclusion that they either do not have the quality that I require, the duty cycle neded or they are cost prohibitive.

After much brainstorming, I was wondering if it would be possible to use a DLP or LCD projector to project names or initials to the dance floor? I do not own a projector (yet) but I thought I could photo shop what I wanted in just a couple of moments and project it.

Is it really as simple as I just made it sound? I have 2 laptops and could dedicate 1 to just the projector. No expensive gobos.

Can this be done? How would the quality be? With the cost of the bulbs considered, is it cheaper than having glass or metal gobos made?

Thanks for any input that you can give.

Click to expand...

I think the Martin PR1 gobo projector is your best bet for a gobo projector. The unit runs about $300 and has no duty cycle. There is an option to have the gobo rotate if needed.

You can design the gobos yourself and then send them away for production. I use www.goboman and a basic steel custom gobo comes to $69 plus shopping. It's about $80 shipped.

Standard stock gobos are much cheaper.