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Projector, image sloping on top..

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Old 02-03-2008, 6:07 PM   #1
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Projector, image sloping on top..

Top part of the image slopes from left to right and i dont understand why...

the bottom is square and fine, but the top is sloping, lower on the right than the left.

Currently with a limited throw my image is 30" high on the left side, and 29" high on the right.

I cant find an option to correct this.

Projector is an hd65

any idea?
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Old 02-03-2008, 6:16 PM   #2
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Re: Projector, image sloping on top..

You haven't got it square to the screen - it can't be anything else!

Steve
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Old 02-03-2008, 6:21 PM   #3
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Re: Projector, image sloping on top..

Im pretty sure its square, surely if it was out, it would throw out the other sides?

the image is focused etc, ive only recently noticed it.

Im not home right now, but im sure as hell the projector is sitting square facing the wall.. hmmm
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Old 02-03-2008, 6:25 PM   #4
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Re: Projector, image sloping on top..

You need to think in multiple dimensions! It's quite tricky accurately lining up a projector.

At the moment, your image is bigger on the left than on the right. That suggests that you need to (ever so slightly) rotate the projector (looking from the top or bottom) to the right.

Once you have the image the same height at the left and right (by rotation only), you may then need to straighten the image again by rotating the projector slightly (looking from the front).

Once you have done this, you need to measure the width of the image at the top and bottom. If one is wider than the other, you will need to tilt the projector (looking from the side).

Each time you make a change in one dimension, you will need to recheck all the other ones

Steve
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Old 02-03-2008, 6:26 PM   #5
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Re: Projector, image sloping on top..

Hi,
I have the same problem. The picture is fine on the top but slopes on the bottom. I have had a spirit level on the screen and the projector but its got me puzzled....

John.
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Old 02-03-2008, 6:31 PM   #6
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Re: Projector, image sloping on top..

You can't really use a spirit level to do anything other than the initial setup because any tiny error will be magnified by several orders of magnitude once the image gets to the screen.

Also, a spirit level won't help with issues where the projector is rotated in the horizontal plane.

Try following my instructions above - the important bit is to get the horizontal rotation right first (make sure the image height is the same at the left and right) before doing anything else otherwise you are on a hiding to nothing!

Steve
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Old 02-03-2008, 6:36 PM   #7
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Re: Projector, image sloping on top..

Thanks for the explaination steve, but im still miffed.

The way i see it, if the projector is projecting closer on the left than the right, then the image on the right will be narrower on the right, causing it to slope up at the bottom, and down at the top.

I dont understand how it can be a 90º angle on bottom left, but on top left its not. surely both would be out

i dunno lol.

i tried moving it about but had no luck, but i never did it to the extent you mentioned.
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Old 02-03-2008, 6:44 PM   #8
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Re: Projector, image sloping on top..

Ah yes - you are quite right. But...

If the projector is rotated slightly to the left, the image on the right will be smaller than the left - agreed?

Now, what if the projector is also not quite level - pointing down towards the bottom right hand side for example. What you will now have is a bottom edge that is perfectly straight and a top edge that slopes down to the right.

As I said, it's the combination of all the different angles that make for a square image.

You have the following adjustments:-

1) Horizontal Rotation (clockwise / counterclockwise when looking from above / below)
2) Vertical Tilt (clockwise / counterclockwise when looking from the side)
3) Rotation about the axis of the lens (clockwise / counterclockwise when looking from the front)

All the above relates to getting the image square and has nothing to do with the position of the image on the screen. What you should do is get the image perfectly square first (irrespective of whether it is hitting your target area or not). Only when you have done that should you move the image to fit the screen using lens shift.

If you don't have both horizontal and vertical lens shift, and you have a square image but it doesn't fit the screen, the only option you have available to you is to physically move the projector - at which point you will need to start from the beginning!

Steve
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Old 02-03-2008, 6:52 PM   #9
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Re: Projector, image sloping on top..

Ah ha!...

maybe its sloping down and to the left, causing the top right to get a bit closer, seems like it could be it.

if it turns out i cant get it sorted, whats optoma like for returns, i bought the projector second hand but have the reciept and its only 1month old
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Old 02-03-2008, 7:28 PM   #10
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Re: Projector, image sloping on top..

I can't answer your question about the return. I can guarantee you though that it is not the projector which is to blame

It really is surprisingly difficult to correctly align a projector especially when you haven't got lens shift.

Steve
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Old 02-03-2008, 7:51 PM   #11
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Re: Projector, image sloping on top..

The thing that has me miffed is that i plonked it on the desk and aimed it at the wall, and it was fine, then i unhooked it, put it away in corner for a while...

hooked it back up on same desk and now im noticing this, its strange, but since im at my mams house now i cant try, but ill give it a go tonight.

cracking projector though

i see RBE at times, but i think my brain has learned to ignore it. i dont get headaches or anything
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Old 02-03-2008, 8:02 PM   #12
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Re: Projector, image sloping on top..

If it's just sat on a surface pointing at a wall, then I'm sure you won't have any problems. Just twist it to the right a bit and it will be fine.

The difficulties arise when you are trying to aim it at a screen. You've got it easy at the moment

Steve
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Old 02-03-2008, 8:47 PM   #13
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Re: Projector, image sloping on top..

stevelup is right. If the image is smaller on the left than on the right, that part of the lens is closer to the screen than the other side, hence the other side is bigger. You need to physically move the pj to the right (as little as half an inch in some cases) and rotate it to the left to realign the image with the screen.

If the pj is projecting from the ceiling, the slope will be on the bottom but be straight everywhere else. If it's table mounted than the top will slope instead.

Moving the screen is another option if that's more convenient and then you just have to rotate the pj and not necessarily move it.

Gary.
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Old 03-03-2008, 10:55 AM   #14
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Re: Projector, image sloping on top..

I know I'm pointing out the obvious here. But just in case, have you checked to make sure the digital keystones are both set to 0?.
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Old 03-03-2008, 2:05 PM   #15
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Re: Projector, image sloping on top..

I dont know if you understood what i meant guys...

The image was smaller at the top right corner, whereas the rest was fine.

Keystone makes the image a trapezium shape.. the pic wasnt a trapezium, that would mean it would be symetrical on both sides. Mine wasnt. It was sloping on top from left to right, but perfectly straight from left to right on the bottom.

Anyway with a bit of fiddling last night i improved it a bit, but its not 100%.

Once i get a ceiling mount sorted it shouldnt be a problem
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Old 03-03-2008, 2:31 PM   #16
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Re: Projector, image sloping on top..

Hi Anderzz,

I know what keystone does, my point was if it's not set to zero it would make aligning your image harder. Another thing, are you projecting onto a wall?, you'd be amazed at how far walls can be out, eg. in your case maybe the wall is slightly leaning out at the top right.
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Old 03-03-2008, 3:10 PM   #17
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Re: Projector, image sloping on top..

Hi Chris,
Hope you are well. Sorry to hear you having slight problems setting up the projector I sold you!!

Don't worry. I would say most of the people here are right. It is a set up issue most probably I would have thought, - or it could be faulty I suppose but that is probably unlikely.

As you know the HD65 has vertical keystone correction but not horizontal keystone correction. You can therefore position it up and down easily (ceiling or coffee table) and correct the image distortion with the vertical keystone. But there is no room for error with sideways alignment at all as there is no horizontal keystone correction. I remember when I had that projector I set it up at what I thought was correct (dead centre) but it was quite a way off and needed to be moved to the right quite a bit more, - possibly due to the position of the lens confusing you like other has stated. It might also be possible I suppose that projector is projecting the image at a slight sideways angle amplifiying the problem you are describing. The answer is to try to move it left or right, rezoom, refocus, and see if there is a sideways point where it eventually looks right. It might be quite a way to the left (or right) to where you originally thought the centre actually was.

If not it might be faulty

Please let us know how you get on,
All the best,
Colin

Last edited by Colin151; 03-03-2008 at 8:37 PM.
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Old 03-03-2008, 3:20 PM   #18
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Re: Projector, image sloping on top..

Has the projector not got a test patern? if not get a disc that has one, its simple a set of crosshatched squares, white on black, will make setting up the geomertry a doddle.
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Old 03-03-2008, 3:32 PM   #19
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Re: Projector, image sloping on top..

Quote:
Originally Posted by Anderzz View Post
Keystone makes the image a trapezium shape.. the pic wasnt a trapezium, that would mean it would be symetrical on both sides.
Yes... but if the projector is rotated, you will get the symptoms you describe.
Quote:
Mine wasnt. It was sloping on top from left to right, but perfectly straight from left to right on the bottom.
Because your projector is rotated!
Quote:
Once i get a ceiling mount sorted it shouldnt be a problem
I wouldn't count on it!
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Old 03-03-2008, 4:10 PM   #20
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Re: Projector, image sloping on top..

Thanks for the replies fellas

I think with a bit of fiddling it will be fine.

I love the projector anyway and even with the current minor image problem (although probably my own fault) im loving using it.

Been playing lost odyssey on it for 20hrs since friday lol
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Old 04-03-2008, 2:15 PM   #21
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Re: Projector, image sloping on top..

Thanks for the info Steve.

Was never sure which order to correctly get a projector square.

I have the same issue with mine (bottom totally square top slightly slanted), so i will be redoing it tonight to get it totally square as have some focusing issues.
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