New Color Brightness Metric Solves Projector Color Evaluation Problem

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands, January 30 /PRNewswire/ --

3LCD today confirmed its support for the new Color Brightness metric. The 
Color Brightness metric is being submitted to the ISO for approval as an 
update to the International Standard for light output measurement. Color 
Brightness specifies a projector's ability to deliver color. The Color 
Brightness metric addresses the failure of current projector specifications 
to measure color performance, allowing purchasers to evaluate color 
performance at a glance. 3LCD joins a growing list of industry players 
supporting the new metric.

Today all video, DVD, HD, digital camera and computer signals are encoded
in an RGB color space. In all of these devices and in the world around us,
red, green and blue added together equal white. If this is not the case, a
full and balanced range of color cannot be reproduced. 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 that combined equal the
brightness of white, true, accurate and balanced color is possible. If Color
Brightness does not equal the White Brightness, accurate color reproduction
is impossible.

Karl Lang, chief color scientist at Lumita said: "the projector product
landscape has wide variation in color performance at all price points. To
most end-users color performance is unclear and difficult to evaluate until
after purchase. Many projectors have significant undocumented defects in
color performance, it's impossible for consumers to fairly evaluate a
projector purchase based on the existing specification metrics. Given the
costs of projectors, and the dizzying array of models, it's high-time for the
industry to adopt Color Brightness and to provide end-users with a simple
metric that follows existing methodology. The addition of this metric will
require no change to existing product qualification procedures."

Other industry experts and market specialists agree with the proposal.
"This proposal makes a lot of sense, especially given the number of expensive
projectors we have tested that can't even accurately reproduce sRGB," said
Steve Upton, CEO of Chromix. "Consumers expect a projector to reproduce color
at least as well as a cheap display and they don't find out it can't until
after the purchase. The methodology of this spec is firmly rooted in existing
standards and prevents companies from hiding poor color performance."

The new proposal modifies the International Standard IEC 61947-1 to
provide purchasers with additional information on a projector's color
performance. The existing brightness standard provides consumers and
purchasing managers a critical metric often communicated as "lumens" or "ANSI
lumens." The updated specification will not affect this current white
illuminance measurement. It simply adds another metric that specifically
measures color illuminance. Color Brightness is measured using the same
industry-standard methodology. The new number is also reported in lumens,
providing a familiar and relative number. If both the white illuminance
(brightness) and color illuminance (color brightness) are equal, the
projector will accurately deliver the proper energy to the primary colors of
red, green and blue exactly as they are in the source video signal.

Studies are underway around the world to confirm the utility of this new
metric. The first such study was presented November 6th, 2007 at the 15th
Color Imaging Conference in Albuquerque, NM. "Analysis of the proposed IEC
'Color Illuminance' digital projector specification metric, using CIELAB
gamut volume" and is available for download at http://www.lumita.com

Further details, comprehensive examples and demonstrations will be
presented at key industry events over the next several months.

About 3LCD Technology

3LCD is the world's leading projection technology, delivering
unbelievably bright and natural color, amazing detail and road-tested
reliability. Using an advanced, 3-chip design, 3LCD offers full-time color
for brilliant quality images without the possibility of color break-up. 3LCD
is based on LCD technology, which is used by leading manufacturers worldwide
for the ultimate viewing experience in flat panel and rear projection TVs and
projectors. To find out why more users choose 3LCD than all other projection
technologies combined and to get the latest list of leading companies
offering 3LCD technology in their products, visit the 3LCD website at
http://www.3LCD.com

Web site: http://www.3LCD.com