User Manual

Once the respondents understood this, some 84 percent told the researchers that they want
manufacturers to include Color Brightness, also measured in lumens, in projector specifications. And an
overwhelming 94 percent of respondents stated that such a “Color Brightness specification” will have an
impact on purchase decision. As Art Feierman, president of ProjectorReviews.com, notes, “Many
projectors produce a hefty amount of white lumens, but come up very short when trying to produce
rich, accurate colors.”
“We have been tracking end-user purchase criteria in the projector market for the last 10 years,” said
Tanya Lippke, principal at TFCinfo. “In all market segments, from large corporations to education,
image quality has consistently been the most important factor in selecting a projector. Twenty years
ago, a typical projector presentation was text-based, usually plain black and white. Today, users
demand high quality photos, graphics and video in their daily presentations, driving the demand for
superior image quality.”
With the new Color Light Output specification, users will be able to quickly, easily and accurately
evaluate color performance between competing projector models. A number of leading projector
manufacturers, whose products are based on 3LCD technology, have adopted the new standard and will
provide Color Light Output information on web sites, spec sheets, boxes and other marketing material
for their projectors. If competitive projectors do not disclose their Color Brightness performance, Color
Light Output can also be easily measured by end users themselves with a simple light meter.
Studies such as those done by TFCinfo consistently show that image quality is the number one attribute,
and that brightness is the number one specification, called for by projector buyers. The new
specification provides a standard, objective metric for unbiased comparison of projectors by Color Light
Output. It also complements existing specifications, such as white brightness, resolution and contrast
ratio, to give buyers a fuller picture of projector capability.
Leading manufacturers have already begun to implement a Color Light Output awareness campaign to
better communicate the specifications of their projectors. Understanding color brightness will give
users an easy, quick and accurate way to compare color between projector models and brands.
No longer do even the simplest presentations need to be drab. As Walt Disney might note, it’s a
wonderful world of color.
Author Background
Michael Goldstein was editor-in-chief of PC LapTop Computers Magazine, and technology editor of
Successful Meetings and Presentations. He recently covered his 25
th
consecutive Consumer Electronics
Show as a journalist.