The stock of 14k projectors was purchased in early 2015, and the units were partly selected because they were upgradable. As the demand for higher brightness projection increases, work has begun on unlocking the units' Flex capabilities.
The upgrade process involves unlocking the units via a license key. This then enables the power to be increased to the lamp to achieve 18,000 lumens output. The second part of the upgrade process converts the projector to a Flex unit, which means it can be locked off to a specific light output level, up to a maximum of 20,000 lumens.
The first batch of upgrades are being undertaken for use on The Cure's tour, which reaches the UK in the Autumn and uses projection for onstage content, as well as for IMAG screens. PRG XL Video's HDF-W26 high brightness units have also been part of the company's upgrade program.
In order to provide Muse's recent Drones world tour with the required brightness output, PRG XL Video upgraded its inventory to become W30 Flex units. The projection system was used to display a combination of playback content commissioned and created by Moment Factory, and live IMAG camera footage. The content was projected onto semi-opaque lazer voile supplied by J&C Joel, and was a major part of the show's visual presentation.
PRG's director asset strategy EMEA, Paul Weaver comments, "The ability to upgrade the Barco projectors was a key reason for selecting them. This upgrade program enables us to give our clients greater flexibility when specifying technology for projection jobs, and can also mean that fewer units can be used, which helps keep budgets in check."
(Jim Evans)
