When choosing a projector, especially for uses like projection mapping, the type of display technology can make a huge difference in how the visuals are perceived.
While most people might not notice subtle differences, if you’re working on projects that involve dark imagery—like a starry sky in a planetarium or a title screen with white text on a black background—those details matter.
Let’s break down the key differences between 3LCD, 1DLP, and 3DLP laser projectors in a way that’s easy to understand.
3LCD Projectors:
Common but Limited in Black Levels
3LCD projectors are widely used and are often considered a reliable, cost-effective option for most projection needs.
Image from Projectorscreen.com
These projectors use three liquid crystal displays (LCDs) to create the image, one for each primary color—red, green, and blue. While they deliver vibrant colors and are usually bright enough for most applications, there’s a noticeable downside when it comes to projecting dark content.
The Issue: If you're projecting black—or something close to black, like a dark background—you may notice a slight grey or hazy tone. This happens because 3LCD projectors filter light, rather than fully blocking it, so some light “leaks” through. This becomes especially obvious in dark environments or in projects where multiple projectors overlap images, like in projection mapping or domes. It can break the illusion and make the projector seem lower in quality, even when the content is actually great.
When it’s Not a Problem: In brightly lit environments or with bright, colorful visuals, this issue goes away. Most users—about 90%—will likely never notice the difference, especially if they aren't focused on dark imagery.
See the slightly grey rectangles when the content is completely dark?
Same projectors, but no grey rectangles when bright content is displayed.
1DLP Projectors:
A Step Up with Some Trade-offs
1DLP projectors offer a middle ground between 3LCD and high-end options like 3DLP.
Image from Projectorscreen.com
Instead of using LCD panels, they rely on a single Digital Light Processing (DLP) chip to reflect light and create the image.
The Advantage: 1DLP projectors handle blacks a bit better than 3LCD, as they reflect light instead of filtering it. While you won’t get a perfect black, the image is typically sharper and less prone to the haziness seen with 3LCD projectors.
The Trade-off: One potential downside of 1DLP projectors is what’s called the "rainbow effect." If you move your head quickly or capture the projection on a camera, you might see brief flashes of rainbow-like colors. This happens because the projector cycles through colors so fast that some people can perceive the separation of colors, especially in high-contrast scenes. It’s not as common as with older models, but it can still be a concern for sensitive viewers or in specialized settings.
How 1DLP looks to the human eye.
How 1DLP can look to a camera eye.
3DLP Projectors:
The High-End Solution
For projects where black truly needs to be black, 3DLP projectors are the gold standard.
Instead of a single DLP chip, these projectors use three—one for each primary color; red, green, and blue. This setup allows for far better control over the light, leading to much more accurate blacks.
The Big Advantage: Unlike 3LCD, 3DLP projectors use tiny mirrors to physically redirect light when displaying black. This ensures that no light “leaks” through, which means you get deep, rich blacks and a cleaner image. This technology is especially valuable in high-end environments like planetariums or any situation where dark visuals are key.
The Drawback: Cost. 3DLP projectors can be significantly more expensive—sometimes 5 to 10 times more than their 3LCD counterparts. While the improved performance is worth it in specialized settings, most people don’t need this level of precision for everyday use.
3DLP, when projecting a completely black image there are no hazy rectangles.
Just how we want it!
Summary:
Pros and Cons
Conclusion:
Which One Should You Choose?
If you’re working on a project where deep blacks and high image quality in dark scenes matter—such as in a planetarium or high-end projection mapping—3DLP is the clear winner.
However, for most general purposes, a 3LCD projector will do the job just fine, especially for bright, colorful content.
Keep in mind that while 3DLP offers superior performance, the significant price increase may not be necessary unless your project demands the best in black-level performance.
