DIGITAL PROJECTION ANNOUNCES NEW 2K x 1K RESOLUTION LARGE-VENUE PROJECTION SYSTEM

The LIGHTNING 35HD Unlike Any Display Available in the Commercial AV Market

KENNESAW, GA, (December 15, 2003) - Digital Projection International (DPI), an Emmy Award-winning manufacturer of high-performance projection systems, announced the launch of the LIGHTNING 35HD, the third-generation LIGHTNING series projector. Positioned as the premier large-venue projection system, the 2K x 1K native resolution LIGHTNING 35HD has operational features and mechanical design elements that make it unlike any product currently on the market. The projector will begin shipping in Q1 2004.

The LIGHTNING 35HD delivers 18,000 center lumens (16,000 ANSI lumens) and 1200:1 full-field contrast through Texas Instruments' new 2K x 1K Dark Chip II DMD's, enabling the product to support native display of sources with resolutions up to 2048 x 1080. It employs a proprietary xenon lamp and is complimented by a variety of motorized zoom lenses. In addition, the new LIGHTNING is the most compact product in its performance class-just 40-inches long and 242 pounds (excluding lens).

The LIGHTNING 35HD can support every large-venue and critical imaging application due to its modular electronics design, which enables virtually limitless input capabilities. When paired with Digital Projection's easy-to-use, rack mountable Multi-Media Switcher 1000 (MMS 1000), the LIGHTNING 35HD displays any analog component, digital video, HD or DVI input source. The link between the L35HD and MMS 1000 is DPI's DigiLink, an elegant, single-wire, ultra-high bandwidth fiber-optic solution. DigiLink supports loss-free signal runs up to 1,000 meters that are impervious to electromagnetic and radiofrequency interference.

Many of the LIGHTNING 35HD's operational features also set it apart from the other products in the market. Along with ultra-accurate P7 colorimetry calibration and multi-point intelligent lens positioning, the LIGHTNING 35HD is "ready to rig" right out of its transit case, eliminating the need for additional rigging hardware or a flying cage. In addition, the projector has three integrated chassis-leveling "jack" points, which enable users to quickly optimize projector pitch and roll to the exact application requirements. This is a critical feature for simplifying the alignment process when stacking or edge-matching multiple projectors.

"This 35HD was specifically designed with vital input from the staging community, thus, the platform delivers far more than just powerful lumens and rich contrast," said Mike Levi, president of Digital Projection, Inc. "The staging community's insight combined with the benefit of DPI's past experience brought about a product that provides incredible imaging performance along with mechanical elements that simplify and optimize integration. The combination assures spectacular imaging accuracy with supreme simplicity and efficiency."

The 35HD is the successor to the LIGHTNING 28sx which, when introduced in 2001, was the world's brightest 3-chip DLP™ projector. LIGHTNING displays have been used exclusively during the Academy Awards®, Grammy Awards® and Emmy Awards® shows, and are a widely regarded as the most precise imaging tools available in the staging and large-venue entertainment industries.

   Emmy is a registered trademark of The Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.
DLP is a registered trademark of Texas Instruments.

About Digital Projection International

Founded in 1989, Digital Projection International (DPI) has been instrumental in the development and application of Digital Light Processing™ technology by Texas Instruments for projection systems. DPI introduced the world’s first 3-chip DLP™ projector in 1997, and has since delivered expert system engineering and world-class customer services, thus maintaining its position as a digital imaging pioneer.

DPI’s groundbreaking projection research and development has garnered the admiration of industry professionals around the world. This has included many awards, including two Emmy® Awards for Outstanding Achievement in Engineering Development by the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. DPI remains the first and only projector manufacturer to win the coveted award.