How do I output three different images on three different projectors simultaneously using as few computers as possible?

January 3, 2008 7:20 PM

I'm looking for a way to output three different images on three different projectors simultaneously using as few computers connected to them as possible.

Here's the background: my boyfriend's father runs a community theatre and has asked him to figure out how to set up a system for projecting images for an upcoming play. The theater is a thrust so there would be a projector for the left, center, and right sections. There is a small booth behind the left section that houses the light and sound boards.

For whatever reason, his father would like to be able to project different media on each of the projectors, but would like to do it without having three different computers up in the small booth. As far as we can see, there isn't a way to set up a PowerPoint or a Keynote presentation for multiple displays. My boyfriend has an idea where the three projectors span one desktop and the "slides" are just really big (long) images that span the three displays. I'm not sure if it will work, however, as I can't imagine a presentation program spanning three displays.

For what its worth the theatre has a few PCs available to them, but my boyfriend would be willing to give up his iMac for the show if there is a solution for the Mac. If there is equipment that is required to make this happen, I'm fairly certain it can be purchased.

Oh, and having the setup be easy to control is also a concern as I cannot guarantee the technical aptitude of the operator for the duration of the show.

posted by Becko to computers & internet (10 comments total)

You can get a graphics card that supports mutiple displays (i.e. monitors, projectors). Though two is more common, I'm sure someone's made one for three. The last few versions of Windows have supported multiple displays.
posted by winston at 7:24 PM on January 3

I think winston has it. You don't require multiple computers, but you do require multiple video outputs (= fancy graphics card). Then you can run a presentation on each screen.
posted by Horselover Fat at 7:35 PM on January 3

Powerpoint can run on two displays. For more than two displays, there is a plug-in called OfficeOne PowerShow. Still, you will need hardware support (cards that do multiples like winston explained) to pull this off.
posted by bonobo at 7:37 PM on January 3

Sorry, I forgot to include the instructions for two-monitor PPT presentations.
posted by bonobo at 7:39 PM on January 3

Matrox's Parhelia video card will do triple-head in a spanning mode and PowerPoint will happily span all of them -- then you can do the "big (long) images that span the three displays" thing.

Matrox's TripleHead2go will achieve the same effect with the existing graphics card (assuming it's compatible).
posted by krisjohn at 8:32 PM on January 3

Seconding the Matrox TripleHead2Go. It gives you a really long desktop that spans three displays. It's relatively inexpensive and should work with your iMac out of the box.
posted by aparrish at 8:33 PM on January 3

Those all work.

If it looks like this is something that will be done more often in the future, look into a system called Watchout, which while it does require a separate headless box for each image surface is purpose-built for this sort of thing. As a bonus, it can also interface with DMX lighting control modules.

Disclaimer: I used to work for a company that uses Watchout extensively
posted by dirtynumbangelboy at 9:44 PM on January 3

Thirding the triplehead2go. It is exactly what you need (assuming you have hardware that supports it). You'll want the digital version if the graphics card of the computer has a DVI output and the projectors have DVI inputs (they probably do). Otherwise you'll want to go with the analog version. Make sure you check the resolution charts on the correct page to make sure your graphics card/projectors will support the resolutions.
posted by dujoducom at 9:48 PM on January 3

There are USB SVGA Video cards now that might be even cheaper for you on the hardware end.
posted by Skorgu at 10:24 AM on January 4

Seconding the USB VGA cards. These high-res VGA capture cards are great too. USB has been very, very good to me...
posted by ostranenie at 12:30 PM on January 4