Sol 7 test onto the cylindrical screen setup

I have a meeting with a high quality screen manufacturer scheduled within a few days. I might be able to write a mini-review for both products; Sol7 and the screen which has a very high gain value, that is 10. I am not an expert by any standard, however, since I am pretty sure that there are folks who want to see what the outcome of the combination of the two products, I will post at least a short review and throw my two cents on the issue.

Has there been any review or feedback on Sol7?, just curious.

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Originally Posted by simyoke

Has there been any review or feedback on Sol7?, just curious.

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Not a lot, I think many are still waiting to not only hear from someone as yourself with it used with FS, but for the compatibility with the Matrox TH2Go possibly.

Thanks for your report, it is going to be appreciated.

I got an email from that company in AU for the sol software, I think they out of the Alpha stage now for the TH2go DH2go. So im sure it's for sure going to be supported. A review of it would be very nice indeed. By the sounds of it, it looks like the next best thing since sliced bread!

The main reason for the test is to see how the potential focus range problem would affect the whole setup. The projector lens is designed to throw images onto a flat surface in such a way that when one tries to adjust the focus of the image (s)he doesn't have to look everywhere on the flat screen surface, rather the right focus can be achieved by referencing only one point on the surface which would certainly render the focus of the other parts of the screen right; therefore, as long as a flat screen is used one does not have to worry about the focus. However, when it comes to a cylindrical or curved screen and, to make matters more complicated, the curvature of the screen gets too big--which is tentamount to saying that the radii of a screen gets too small--a certain part of the screen can be out of focus.
One simple calculation for my two tentative screen setups that have the radius of 1600mm and 2400mm yields 200mm and 700mm throw distance difference respectively. Oh, I forgot to note that the setup will have three projectors each of which will cover 60 degree-field of view. Have I been clear so far? I am not good at this....

If I have been understood....has anybody thought of the focus problem?

If there has been anybody with curved screen projection, please, let me know.

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Originally Posted by simyoke

If there has been anybody with curved screen projection, please, let me know.

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Hi,

May be you can ask those guys, one of their screen solution seems to have a small radius and I am almost sure they use standards projectors and optics.

http://www.alsim.com/G-Sim-BITD-Flig...ge=G-Sim_3.jpg

Hi,

I have a front curved screen, flanked by 2 flat screens (caused by the room width), a TH2Go setup with 3 identical projectors.

The front screen is 2500mm radius and 2600mm in width but due to limitations in the projector mounts, on a frame below the ceiling, the images are of different sizes.

The result is - on the curved screen -no percievable loss off focus from edge to centre with an image width of about 1.8m, and two trapezoid images joined on the curved screen, and extending on the flat angled side screens - also interestingly, there is no real loss of focus on the side screens.

The problem is the alignment of the images - as there is a different focal length between the side and centre projectors, mounted in line on a frame above the shell. This is really only noticable on the ground, when you have reference ponts like buildings or paving slabs - in the air, your eye does not see the "joins", and the result is more than acceptable.

I am told that you really need a semicircle of at least 5m to get a realistic image - that is outside of most builders room sizes, and probably needs NicD's 5 views, or 5 projectors!

I am looking at revising the idea of back projection for the front view and 2 x 24" monitors for side views.

Good luck in finding the right solution.

We've used and tested a fair amount of projectors and as long as the curvature of the screen is not extreme (i.e. very tight) then focus is not an issue.

Because most projectors have a good throw range, the focus also has to be able to compensate for the different locations. Therefore, focal ranges are also generally pretty good.

The only very small downside we've found is that focus is slightly more time consuming for curved screens so an even focal spread is achieved across the entire screen. But this only takes an additional 10% time wise at worst.

Thanks Andy, Paul and Inferno.

I am relieved to hear that focal range problem is not likely to be another hurdle that I have to get over. Just what I needed to hear.

By the way, Paul, you 've got a very impressive setup in your house.

http://pds64.cafe.daum.net/image/10/.../48002b8587059
As can be seen from the picture above I took a crack at geometric calibration of the image using Sol7 and MSFS screen shots. Please, bear with the fault line.
It turned out to be a rather burdensome to do the calibration manually. I guess I might as well use some sort of a measuring device to make the checkerborad look normal on the screen surface.
Contrary to my worries the potential focal problem didn't seem to be much of an issue as long as I keep a certain amount of distance between the screen and the projector.

http://pds64.cafe.daum.net/image/10/.../48002b7f3babb

Although it certainly looked feasible for Sol7, which is exactly why it was made in the first place, to cope with the make-shift cylindrical suface that was used you need to be really patient.
If there is anyone who has done this--I am sure there are some--please, share the pictures.

As a measuring "device" pick up a laser level at your local Home Depot or other DIY store. They'll project an absolute straight line across (or up and down) the cylinder regardless of curvature and you can use the checkerboard pattern against it.

Steve

Thank you very much,Steve.
A laser leveler that is. I will just have to skededdle to a local store to get one.

It was more or less hard to get to this point with limited size space and a make-shift quasi-circular screens.
However, look at the overlapping area between the two projectors or I may as well tell you not to pay too much attention on the region.

http://pds67.cafe.daum.net/image/10/.../48112bde61fda
http://pds67.cafe.daum.net/image/12/.../48112be28f048

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Originally Posted by simyoke

http://pds67.cafe.daum.net/image/6/c.../48112bd79d4ba

It was more or less hard to get to this point with limited size space and a make-shift quasi-circular screens.
However, look at the overlapping area between the two projectors or I may as well tell you not to pay too much attention on the region.

http://pds67.cafe.daum.net/image/12/.../48112be28f048

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Interesting...how are the views curved but the upper and lower windows bars not?

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Originally Posted by Tomlin

Interesting...how are the views curved but the upper and lower windows bars not?

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Sorry. The images you saw are for edge blending trial and here are a couple more shots with "quasi-circular screens."

For these pictures the fault line is still there even though the line seems a bit smudged off. Please, look at the pre-distorted images that are thrown on a coarsely curved screen.

http://pds67.cafe.daum.net/image/11/.../48112beb2e0d9
http://pds67.cafe.daum.net/image/11/.../48112beb2e0d9

Sorry guys, but is it only me unable to see the attachments. there is a red "X" I think where the pics should be

Same here, not seeing the attachments. PM me the links and I can fix it.

Matt Olieman

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Originally Posted by Matt Olieman

Same here, not seeing the attachments. PM me the links and I can fix it.

Matt Olieman

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Sorry for putting up X'es instead of pictures.
The pictures were there when I first posted and then disappeared for reasons unkown.

I just reattached the pictures anyway.

Well, that's strange, I don't even see the pictures or the red X's, just the message text.


Regards,
Henry

still cant see pics

It is strange.
The pictures posted are visible only when I remain logged onto the website that contains the pictures.

Anyone knows why?

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Originally Posted by Tomlin

Interesting...how are the views curved but the upper and lower windows bars not?

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Sol7 seems to distort/warp only the FS not windows.

Where did you put the pix?

http://pds67.cafe.daum.net/image/6/c.../48112bd79d4ba
http://pds67.cafe.daum.net/image/11/.../48112beb2e0d9

The above two places are where I posted the shots.

...and both links don't work. Suggest you put the images in the image library on this site.

The base URL for those links doesnt even work right.
I agree with Nic. Put the pix here in MCP.org

Hi Guys,

While I agree that putting the pics onto the MCP.org site is probably the best thing, I'm wondering if you guys are having a firewall or security problem.
I can see the pics that were included within simyoke's postings and also have no problems using the links that he has provided.

maybe I'm just lucky.....:smile:

cheers

Paul

Sorry Paul, no pictures for me also.

Eddie

Yes , both links didnt work. I think the problem is because the cut and paste feature. example when you highlight the link -> copy -> paste. Somehow if the url is long it truncates it to http://www.mypics.com/....../imgae.jpg something linke this. I had this problem myself but Matt O fixed the link in no time.

Hi, gentlemen.

It's been a while since my last visit.

I wanted you to see a few shots taken during the testdrive of Cessna 172 trainer from Simkits.

Please, note the runways, taxiways and roads that run across the adjacent two screens; they are supposed to be straight but they are not. I set the projectors so that one projector makes 60 degrees with the one next to it.

Of course, I configured Wideview with the same 60 degrees.

If there is anyone that can shed some light on this I am more than willing to buy you nice dinner if you get a chance to visit Seoul, Korea.:D

http://pds51.cafe.daum.net/image/1/c.../4857aefb42bba

http://pds51.cafe.daum.net/image/7/c.../4857aefd63dad

http://pds51.cafe.daum.net/image/2/c.../4857af00a88fe

http://pds51.cafe.daum.net/image/15/.../4857b0df18055

Links are broken, no pictures in the thread :(

Eddie

Simyoke

Can you upload the pictures here at the photogallery? Would love to see them:)

It has been very quiet for long time now about Sol7 software. What has happened?

sorry guys, I posted the pictures in the photogallery.

I uploaded 7 pictures but the gallery seems to have only 5 of them.
I will let you see more pictures if you want. I am the one who needs help here after all.:p