Evolution of Projection
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Some thoughts about the evolution of projection as part of live events.
Shadow Puppetry
Magic Lantern
1650s The light sources were initially candles and oil lamps. In the 19th century, kerosene and gas lights were added. Later, limelight was added (hydrogen + oxygen, directed at a piece of lime), along with arc lamps.
M197 Tri-unial limelight magic lantern
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From Strand Slide Archive
Phantasmagoria
1790s- Phantasmagoria shows took place in Paris, with magic lantern ghosts projected onto smoke
More information: www.magiclantern.org.uk
Linnebach Projection
Lighting technique pioneered by theatre designer Adolf Linnebach (1876-1963) around 1917.
Linnebach was the technical director at the State Schauspielhaus, Dresden, Germany.
The technique involves using a lensless and reflector-less lantern and a cut-out shape.
The inside of the lantern is painted black to minimise reflection.
The point source of the lamp casts a detailed shadow of the shape on a backcloth, and can (still!) be a surprisingly effective method to define a location.
The London production of Young Frankenstein used a similar technique, using a 8 foot (2.4m) wide roller, with tree cutouts, and a single lantern, behind the backdrop, to create an effectively lo-fi moving landscape.
Effects Projection for Theatre
- Strand Pattern 252
- Optical Effects Disks
- Objective Lens
- Strand Pattern 51 (1935)
- Box Wave Effect (1924)
Effects Projection for Music
Film Projection
Slide Projection
Overhead Projector
3M 1705 Overhead Projector
Video Projector
The Eidophor (1939) was the first way to project live television images to a large screen.
1979: Barco (Belgian American Radio Corporation) produced a video projection system for airplans, consisting of a 3 lens colour system, able to playback multiple video standards.
Data Projector
1980: Barco produced a data projector able to project crisp alphanumeric data and charts in colour, using CRT technology.
1992: Barco launch LCD 5000 projector range.
2002: Barco DP50 launched - digital cinema projector.
Digital projection first used on the UK stage for The Coast of Utopia (National Theatre, 2002) and The Woman in White (2004) by William Dudley
See also Video On Stage