Hello Burners!
I'm currently working on an installation that involves projecting images and videos onto fabric, and I'm hoping to connect with Burners who have experience with projectors on the playa. Specifically, I'm wondering about how to dust- and wind-proof the projector, and what alternative methods of projection might be effective.
If you have any experience or advice to share, please reach out!
Cheers,
Suzan
Art Installation Projection/ looking for Advice
-
regionbobcat
- Posts: 1
- Joined: Sat Jul 26, 2025 12:22 am
- Burning Since: 2000
Re: Art Installation Projection/ looking for Advice
For dust and wind protection, try a clear, sealed enclosure with ventilation and dust filters. Short-throw projectors help keep gear close and protected. Rear projection on fabric or semi-transparent screens can work well too. Just be sure to clean lenses regularly.
-
some seeing eye
- Posts: 5007
- Joined: Tue Sep 09, 2008 12:06 pm
- Burning Since: 1999
- Camp Name: Woo
- Location: The Oregon
Re: Art Installation Projection/ looking for Advice
Playa dust goes down to sub-micron size as demonstrated by the Particle Camp found on the Internet Wayback Machine, it may be in one of my old posts. So the dust is smaller than filters, even some is smaller than HEPA filters.
Many years back there was a video installation where you could dance in front of a camera and it would be real time processed into a moving image. Easy today, custom code 25 years ago. That artist put the projector in the cab of a closed pickup and projected out the back window. So that is an approach, a large volume with no need for ventilation.
You can use an air-to-air heat exchanger or a cryo (solid state electric) cooler for a sealed box.
Ideally you would like to coolest projector, which is of course the most expensive, LED or laser. At the viewer distances and projecting on fabric, you can use lower resolution, you don't need 4K.
Depending on size, consider wind on your screen. Rosebrand Fabrics has scrim fabric and other projection fabrics in wide yardage at very reasonable prices for their specialty nature. You will loose effective brightness on mesh fabrics. You can ask Rosebrand about seaming the edges and how to anchor it to a frame. They may suggest vendors for that. A long time ago we did an auditorium concert with a dimly lit orchestra behind a scrim on risers, a modern dancer in front on the forestage, and projection on the scrim. Very successful event.
Fortunately at night, when you may be projecting, ambient temperatures can be lower.
What's the name of your installation so we can see it on the playa?
Many years back there was a video installation where you could dance in front of a camera and it would be real time processed into a moving image. Easy today, custom code 25 years ago. That artist put the projector in the cab of a closed pickup and projected out the back window. So that is an approach, a large volume with no need for ventilation.
You can use an air-to-air heat exchanger or a cryo (solid state electric) cooler for a sealed box.
Ideally you would like to coolest projector, which is of course the most expensive, LED or laser. At the viewer distances and projecting on fabric, you can use lower resolution, you don't need 4K.
Depending on size, consider wind on your screen. Rosebrand Fabrics has scrim fabric and other projection fabrics in wide yardage at very reasonable prices for their specialty nature. You will loose effective brightness on mesh fabrics. You can ask Rosebrand about seaming the edges and how to anchor it to a frame. They may suggest vendors for that. A long time ago we did an auditorium concert with a dimly lit orchestra behind a scrim on risers, a modern dancer in front on the forestage, and projection on the scrim. Very successful event.
Fortunately at night, when you may be projecting, ambient temperatures can be lower.
What's the name of your installation so we can see it on the playa?
increasing the signal to noise ratio with compassion