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The Projector Recalibration is a Tool needed to set up the connection between a Calibration Link and other Pandoras Box software components for achieving an automated recalibration of a warped projector output.

This chapter covers the concept of Recalibration realized in WD. The next chapters Hardware Setup and Software Setup offer for more detailed information about how to use this feature.

The Principle Behind "Recalibration"

Imagine the following scenario:
You have a fixed installation with a projector (or several ones) and a screen. You set everything up and it's perfectly warped and blended. But it lies in the nature of such installations that they do not remain perfectly warped and blended. May it be because the projector mount is a bit slaggy and sinks a couple of millimeters every few months, or someone moved the projector or screen accidentally. At least every time the device needs a new lamp or filter, it will have to be moved away from its perfectly warped position.

Or an even more extreme example: A stage setup in a theater, on a cruise ship or a touring concert. It happens often that projectors and / or screens need to be dismounted for certain events on a regular basis.

Warping and adjusting anew from scratch is not only time consuming and pricey, it also becomes quite annoying after a while.
This is the situation where the Recalibration jumps in: an easy to use tool that re-calibrates and re-adjusts the whole warping completely automatically, simply by pressing a button.

Our recalibration method does not require cameras, only a device called Calibration Link and fiber cables of which the ends are mounted into the screen as described in the next chapter.
Furthermore, the normal setup procedure for the projection needs to be done, such as adjusting the focus and position. Then, you warp and soft-edge in PB once and store this setup with the Recalibration Tool as the so called "home location". From now on, this is your reference. If the projection is not perfect anymore and the recalibration process is started, WD calculates the offset and restores the home location. In other words, the projection is adjusted once in the beginning by video technicians. Afterwards, the recalibration process can be started with one button click and no further manual settings are necessary. This is useful when the installation is serviced by staff who does not know how to reset the warp and blend properly but also when time is short and the video technicians have many other jobs to do.

Of course the projected image needs to cover all calibration points (i.e. the fiber tips within the screen) at all times. So if the projection moved a lot, it first needs to be re-positioned and re-focused manually. The automated recalibration then takes care of the exact warping and blending to match the stored home location.

Currently only projections onto 2D-planes can be recalibrated.
The pixel accuracy that can be achieved in a best case scenario is 1mm / +- 1pixel accuracy.

The next chapters cover the Hardware Setup and Software Setup.