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This web page describes one part of the quality puzzle for electronic projection systems. We present test patterns used in characterizing electronic projection systems. The patterns and a viewer for PC-platforms are available for download. The viewer is also documented.

The present test patterns are intended for use in characterizing electronic systems that are used to project imagery. The measurements are based on the IEC [1] and VESA [2] standards. The characteristics of the systems may depend on the projectors, the storage system, interfaces, and converters.

In the recent (June 2001) MPEG digital cinema compression tests, two display systems were used, with differing interfaces and image formats. The IEC and VESA projector measurement standards are employed in a slightly extended sense to characterize the display systems. Two sets of test patterns were used: one for the DLP and one for the G90. Each set of patterns were stored and played out using the same system components that were employed for the subjective viewing tests. For a comprehensive discussion of the measurements used in characterizing the projection systems used in the MPEG tests see the NIST Interim Report [3].

The introduction of digital projection as an alternative to film for entertainment cinema raises a number of challenging issues including: transfer, security, storage and preservation, and quality of the imagery. For a broad view of these challenges, the DC2001 Conference Proceedings, http://digitalcinema.nist.gov/agenda.html, provide a good start.

Image Formats

The formats of the test patterns are the same as those of the materials that were used for the MPEG digital cinema subjective tests. While the patterns described in [1], Electronic Projection, are given by analog specifications, the present digital patterns are the corresponding digital ones as specified in the relevant SMPTE standard [4]. The digital formats for the test patterns for the two projectors are as described in the following table.

Table 1: Image Formats for Projection Systems

Image Attribute	CRT Projection system	DLP Projection System
Color-coding components [5]	Y’C’BC’R	R’G’B’
Addressable active pixels per frame	1920 X 1080	1280 X 1024
Addressable stored pixels per frame	1920 X 1080	1920 X 1080
Image file format	YUV	DPX [6]
Sampling structure	4:2:2	4:4:4
Bits per sample	10	10
Code value range	[64 - 940] for Y [64 - 960] for CB and CR	[64 - 940] for R, G, and B

Table 2: Test patterns

Pattern identifier	(1280x1024 = Small and 1920x1080 = Big images.) Reference: IEC [1] or VESA [2];	Pattern shown. Illustrative image (Small pattern.)
Blue Red Green Blue with alignment circles Red with alignment circles Green with alignment circles	VESA [2] section 302-4 Pattern shown: Blue with circles
Gray64 Gray189 Gray314 Gray439 Gray564 Gray689 Gray815 Gray940 With/without alignment circles	VESA [2] section 302-5 Pattern shown: Gray439 + circles
Alternating lines patterns (horizontal and vertical) Hor_1x1, Vert_1x1 Hor_2x2, Vert_2x2 Hor_3x3, Vert_3x3 Hor_4x4, Vert_4x4 Hor_5x5, Vert_5x5	IEC [1] section 6.1, VESA [2], section 303-2. Illustration suggests a vertical pattern having line width >> 5 pixels.
Chess Chess with alignment circles	IEC [1] Figure A.3 Pattern shown: Chess
Grille64 GrilleMid Grille940 GrilleCircle GrilleMultiCircles	IEC [1] Figure A-1 VESA [2] section 501. Pattern shown: Grill Circle

References:

1. IEC, 61947-2 ED 2/CDV, Draft International Standard, Electronic Projection – Variable Resolution Projectors, Draft 2, August 2000.
   
2. VESA, Flat Panel Display Measurement Standard Version 1.0, [May 1998].
   
3. P. A. Boynton and C. Fenimore, NIST Interim Report, Characterization of Projection Systems for the MPEG-4 Digital Cinema Compression Scheme Evaluation, to appear [8/01].
   
4. SMPTE Standard 274M, 1920 X 1080 Scanning and Analog and Parallel Digital Interfaces for Multiple Picture Rates, [1998.]
   
5. ITU-R BT.709-2, Parameter Values for the HDTV Standards for Production and International Programme Exchange.
   
6. SMPTE 268M-1994, File Format for Digital Moving-Picture Exchange.