3D Projecting Solution on the cheap? Any experts out there to breakdown solutions?

[Clint Nitkiewiz Hernandez]

Can someone please help me out with this?

I am trying to project onto a wall a 3D image, where one must wear 3D glasses to view. Superb quality is not the priority, I just want it to work, I have a very low budget for this;

What would be the easiest/ cheapest solution? And some alternatives? If you can give a detailed writeup on "how to" set up, along with file types, programs needed, that would be great.

1. Fancy Christie 3D projector ( + 3D Blu-ray (not ideal), or can also use converter playing out of Scratch software
(no writeup needed for this, this is out of budget)

2. Cheap 3D projector off ebay (could be scam?) + 3D blu-ray

How to do? If you could please tell in detail how to set this up.
3. Cheap 3D projector off ebay + playing digital 3D files off laptop

4. Standard Def or HD projector (1 or 2?) + playing 3D Blu-ray

5. Standard Def or HD projector (1 or 2?) + playing 3d files off laptop (what are the file types, how to play this?)

6. Cheap 3D projector off ebay (could be scam?) + 3D blu-ray


Thank you very much for your 3D projecting expertise.

[Captain Pierce]

Well, what I have isn't in any way "expertise," but here's what I know:

To project in 3D, you have to have a 3D capable projector and 3D content, so options 4 & 5 are off the table. (Well, you could theoretically do some kind of two-projector thing, we have clients that do it, but that's in very expensive visualization labs--I don't think it's realistic to try it as a temporary setup.) 3D capable projectors fall into two categories: those designed for home theater use, and those designed for corporate/education/etc use. I'm most familiar with the corporate/education/etc models, which are designed primarily to take their 3D content from computers, not Blu-Rays; they're also almost all XGA resolution, although a few WXGA (or 720p in video terms) models are starting to appear. (There might be rental operations that have these types of projectors available; most XGA resolution DLP projectors out there now are 3D capable, they're just not used for 3D because there's no content.) Home theater 3D projectors are going to be designed to play 3D Blu-Rays, and would probably have a higher percentage of wide-screen models.

If your content is on Blu-Ray, then (assuming the projector likes 3D Blu-Ray) things should be fairly simple from there. If it's on PC, then there are some hoops to jump through, that are probably going to be different based on what exactly the content is.

[TERRA Operative]

A 3D projector with compatible shutter glasses and a suitiable 3D source will be the easiest, most streamlined way to do it.

However, if you are able to get your hands on a set of 2 identical 2D projectrors, some decent polarising filters and some polarising 3D glasses, teamed up with a way to split the 3D video stream to each projector and then position them just perfectly, then you could do it that way.
The only problem there is you need *BRIGHT* projectors as you will be filtering out most of the light with the polarising filters. Of course, this method won't work with LCD projectors, as they polarise the light as a function of their operation (one side will work, the other will be black, try rotating your polarised sunglasses infront of an LCD to see what I mean). The only way to use LCD would be to actually get inside one projector and rotate the polarising elements on the LCD pannels by 90 degrees. (but as an upside, you won't need additional external polarising filters).

[nosys70]

the word "cheap" usually does not fit with 3D projection project. there are many way to reach your goal, but we are missing here some information.
First, you have to find were are the cost. Active glasses cost the hell, so if your project suppose a big audience, or glasses left as self service, unnattended (stolen, broken glasses)
this is not the way to go (not even speaking about hygien if the same glasses are worn by hundred of people on a same day).
so , usually the passive polarized glasses are choosen for such project, so you can go either plastic glasses or cardboard, and even left as giveaway for advertising.
Unfortunately, passive glasses are pushing the cost back to the screen and projector, where active glasses could use a plain white wall and a $1000 projector.
So you will need a sliver screen, and either you can paint it yourself (using cheap metallic spray) or you have to buy it (usually costly).
then you will need polarized picture, and the easy way is to go with dual projectors (any cheap DLP will fit) plus a pair of polarized filters (can be also cheap).
You will mount projector stacked and a simple plywood frame can be mounted for very cheap.
You can even get the filters for free if you ask for some samples.
As usual , devil is in the detail, so choose a projector that has fan exhaust on the side or the rear, since you have to stack the projector (front exhaust is bad for filter and bottom or top will just heat the projector located above or under.)
you also need a projector that has keystone adjustement, since stacking projector will require it.
you also need to know the lens specification, since distance from projector to screen greatly vary among brand and model.
a long throw lens (allowing to place projector far from screen, while keeping picture small) is better for 3D, so the ray light are more parallels.

Then you need to split left and right side to send each side to each projector. Sterescopic player with a dual output vga card is great for this, but require a pc to play the movie.
Splitters exists, but the cost is probably bigger than a full pc including software licenses.