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

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

Becko — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 19:20:54 -0800

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.

By: winston

winston — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 19:24:19 -0800

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.

By: Horselover Fat

Horselover Fat — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 19:35:06 -0800

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.

By: bonobo

bonobo — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 19:37:23 -0800

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.

By: bonobo

bonobo — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 19:39:32 -0800

Sorry, I forgot to include the instructions for two-monitor PPT presentations.

By: krisjohn

krisjohn — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 20:32:35 -0800

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).

By: aparrish

aparrish — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 20:33:23 -0800

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.

By: dirtynumbangelboy

dirtynumbangelboy — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 21:44:54 -0800

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

By: dujoducom

dujoducom — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 21:48:29 -0800

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.

By: Skorgu

Skorgu — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 10:24:21 -0800

There are USB SVGA Video cards now that might be even cheaper for you on the hardware end.

By: ostranenie

ostranenie — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 12:30:18 -0800

Seconding the USB VGA cards. These high-res VGA capture cards are great too. USB has been very, very good to me...