[quote]a 13x13 full circular projection using the two GT720 and the 3 EX525ST. I'll use the two GT720 to watch movies on and the three EX525ST to play regular games on and all five for FSX.
Can you post a diagram?
I would imagine it would be a bit like this:
Then imagine the other 3 projectors making up the 3/5 of the space remaining, play games facing one way, then turn the chair round to watch films!!
Also kind of like this, but with the projectors slightly further back to make the images bigger to fill the full 360.
The GT720's will be setup similar to the first pic. That second pic is purely random. The EX525ST's will cover the back arc of the first pic layout. It'll be scaled to 13x13 diameter circular screen. Neither of those pics truly represent the setup though. At the moment I'm leaning more towards just breaking it up into two separate computers to run it. That would make the GT720 setup a NVIDIA Surround setup and the EX525ST setup standard AMD Eyefinity 3x1L. They would be WidevieW connected for 360 degree FSX use and independent for everything else. It made little sense to do a single system setup that went over 180 degree FOV, when only FSX was useful for that congifuration. This way I'll have two fully functioning systems on the screen. Maybe do some head to head gaming in the room that way with both systems.
I went dual GT720 180 degree 13 foot wide by 6.5 foot deep screen for 2011. It's very similar to the screens I installed for Aviation Xtreme in Denver. The frames are the same, only variation in screen materials have occurred.
I'm in the process of experimenting with a few new ideas in 2012 at the moment. I'll be able to better elaborate once more progress is done. I'd treat most of the content in this thread as just batting ideas around before I went with my pop-up curved display frame prototypes that I implemented 5 installs on so far. I've done so many screens since this thread was started that the content of it no longer overly relevant to what I'm up to at the moment.
Last edited by BHawthorne on 18 Jun 2013, 09:57, edited 1 time in total.
Small update on the evolution of my Eyefinity 2x1 180 degree setup. I'm up and running. Here is a bit of Star Trek Online I played tonight. My current screen is 10 foot wide and 58" projection height. The screen frame is Home Depot PVC, plywood and plastic trim, Rose Brand Tendo screen and Joann 122" black fabric panels and curtains custom sewn.
Actually, it's sort of silly. My first three prototype screens were 13 foot wide. Then in 2011 I shifted to a popup frame that was 12 foot wide. Now I'm down to a 10 foot wide screen. My setups are shrinking. 8 prototype frames later. The screen is actually in a regular bedroom. I learned from past builds that it's a mistake to make a screen too big to fit in a standard room.
Now just to afford two BenQ W1080ST and I'll be happy. My Optoma GT720 are showing their age going on 3 years now. I've really gotten some mileage out of them.
Last edited by BHawthorne on 18 Jun 2013, 10:47, edited 2 times in total.
BHawthorne wrote:Actually, it's sort of silly. My first three prototype screens were 13 foot wide. Then in 2011 I shifted to a popup frame that was 12 foot wide. Now I'm down to a 10 door wide screen. My setups are shrinking. 8 prototype frames later. The screen is actually in a regular bedroom. I learned from past builds that it's a mistake to make a screen too big to fit in a standard room.
Now just to afford two BenQ W1080ST and I'll be happy. My Optoma GT720 are showing their age going on 3 years now. I've really gotten some milage out of them.
Maybe bigger aint better after all Hehe. What is the optimal viewing position in the current setup? Wow, my girlfriend would kill me if I put a curved screen in my bedroom. But we do have a QUMI Q5 in the drawer of the nightstand if we are to lazy to go downstairs, she thinks it's nicer than a tv hanging on the wall.
My "playroom" was first a guest room, now it's a office/"playroom". I tried telling the GF that we should put the bed in the guest room and I could use the bigger bedroom as a office/playroom, but that was not a popular suggestion.
The Optoma GT's are really good.. I used a GT750 on my previous screen setup. The BenQ W1080ST looks amazing, but the price atm in Norway really kills it
marius@warpalizer wrote:What is the optimal viewing position in the current setup?
The Optoma GT's are really good.. I used a GT750 on my previous screen setup. The BenQ W1080ST looks amazing, but the price atm in Norway really kills it
I've always been of the mindset that the viewing location is dependant upon content. I find that I'm mostly gaming from 8 foot. If I watch tv I'll pull the chair back to 10-12 foot. On simulation games I line up at the 5 foot centerpoint.
Yep, I can get three GT720 factory refurbs for the cost of a single BenQ W1080ST, so it's really a tough decision. Heck, I could have 3x2 Eyefinity GT720 for the cost of the 2x1 W1080ST. At issue is the manufacturing engineer in me doesn't like the idea of adding in unnecessary complexity into the configuration. IMHO 2 > 6. In an ideal world some manufacturer would come up with a DisplayPort 1.2 3500 lumens UHD 0.61:1 short throw LED projector for $999. Get two of those and call it good. I can always dream I guess.
While I'm with you on the price discussion, don't forget that 2x1 (benqs) will have a lower system requirement than 3x2 (optomas), with regards to resolution of course.
What I want to know is how you got the two images to line up so perfectly on the centre line?!
chieftex wrote:What I want to know is how you got the two images to line up so perfectly on the centre line?!
Pre-warping software does two main things -- #1 set up a grid of control points into a mesh that can be edited so the projection can fit the physical geometry of the screen, #2 set up a linear alpha blend at the edge of each projection to make a seamless edge blend. In this case the blend is a 15% overlap on the centerline of the screen. I also do a trick that gets rid of the hard break at #000000 black.
I'm in the process of writing up a few FAQs that detail some unique things I do different than other people when it comes to setup and configuration. Tips and tricks I've learned over the course of my builds that improve the overall look and make things easier to do. While there are always multiple ways to do things, some are better than others and some take less work to do right. Some of the tricks are specific to Nthusim, but most are generic tricks anyone can use.
BHawthorne wrote:I've always been of the mindset that the viewing location is dependant upon content. I find that I'm mostly gaming from 8 foot. If I watch tv I'll pull the chair back to 10-12 foot. On simulation games I line up at the 5 foot centerpoint.
Yep, I can get three GT720 factory refurbs for the cost of a single BenQ W1080ST, so it's really a tough decision. Heck, I could have 3x2 Eyefinity GT720 for the cost of the 2x1 W1080ST. At issue is the manufacturing engineer in me doesn't like the idea of adding in unnecessary complexity into the configuration. IMHO 2 > 6. In an ideal world some manufacturer would come up with a DisplayPort 1.2 3500 lumens UHD 0.61:1 short throw LED projector for $999. Get two of those and call it good. I can always dream I guess.
I use Asus B1M right now, they are 700 lumens and short throw LED. There is some strange things about these, they use a technology called "TI DLP Diamond Pixel", causing every pixel to be rotated 45 degrees. It's the same with my Vivitek QUMI Q5. Makes straight lines look like shit in for example Excel. Diamond pixel: http://www.kguttag.com/2012/02/09/ti-dlp-diamond-pixel/ Asus B1M: http://www.projectorshop24.co.uk/asus-p ... /asus-b1m/
What camera do you use for pictures of the screen?
Last edited by marius@warpalizer on 26 Jun 2013, 09:25, edited 1 time in total.
marius@warpalizer wrote:What camera do you use for pictures of the screen?
Helping Univisual snap low light photos is outside of the scope of publicly assisting the forum community with screen design and projector help.
Interesting projector. I never knew anyone made short throw LEDs with 700 lumens. That's pretty bright for a LED based light source. Looking at the diamond pixel configuration it looks problematic with fonts and antialiasing. I've always been weary of projectors under 2500 lumens. I just wish LED projectors went that bright. UHP based bulb systems are annoying to me for several reasons. They're a consumable that needs changed every 2 years and the thermals make portrait mode impossible for most.
I have a tripod adapter coming early next week, so I can start taking video. I guess I lost the quick release plate for my tripod awhile back.
BHawthorne wrote:Helping Univisual snap low light photos is outside of the scope of publicly assisting the forum community with screen design and projector help.
Interesting projector. I never knew anyone made short throw LEDs with 700 lumens. That's pretty bright for a LED based light source. Looking at the diamond pixel configuration it looks problematic with fonts and antialiasing. I've always been weary of projectors under 2500 lumens. I just wish LED projectors went that bright. UHP based bulb systems are annoying to me for several reasons. They're a consumable that needs changed every 2 years and the thermals make portrait mode impossible for most.
I have a tripod adapter coming early next week, so I can start taking video. I guess I lost the quick release plate for my tripod awhile back.
Hehehe, Okey. Yeah, it is really bright! Alot better focus depth than the Qumi Q5 also. Fonts, straight lines is not god. But gaming and movies looks really good.
Damn.... that looks so neat. Makes me want one! At least when Star Citizen releases! but the FoV is not much bigger than on a normal (2x1)Monitor right?
Could you make a Video where you move around? With a whole setup and close look for picture quality ?
Haldi wrote:but the FoV is not much bigger than on a normal (2x1)Monitor right?
Could you make a Video where you move around? With a whole setup and close look for picture quality ?
It's all relative to the curvature of the screen and the overall aspect ratio and where you sit in relation to the screen. In this case is a 180 degree 5 foot radius at 58" projection height. You just set the FOV manually in game prefs much like we all do with Eyefinity and Surround games with LCDs. I sit at about 8 foot back and set for 120 degree FOV instead of sitting on the centerpoint of the radius and setting 180. But it really depends upon the game and how I want to view it.
Once I have my new quick release plate for my tripod I can do video.
Hehe. What is the optimal viewing position in the current setup? Wow, my girlfriend would kill me if I put a curved screen in my bedroom. 
