Cinema projectors today may use a single xenon arc lamp, an array of mercury discharge lamps, or a sophisticated bank of lasers. Each type has unique characteristics in terms of colour temperature, brightness uniformity, cost, and maintenance requirements.

At Harkness, we focus on ensuring that every photon of light generated makes its way efficiently to the cinema screen and ultimately to the audience. We provide expert advice on choosing the optimal light source for your projection system, improving light path efficiency, minimising losses, and monitoring system performance to maintain the highest image quality.

It all started when…

… cave-dwellers noticed the dance of light on a shaded and dappled rock face as sunlight shone through the leaves of nearby trees gently swaying in the summer breeze …

… at Newgrange in Ireland, stone-age farmers built a temple where on the winter solstice the light from the rising sun enters through a small roof-box above the entrance, and a narrow beam of light shines down a long passage to the centre of the structure where it illuminates the walls of an interior chamber – possibly the first deliberate use of light to dramatically illuminate a scene for an audience …

… the wonders of visual illusion and the spectacular effects of light lead to our desire to generate, manipulate, and display light in all its colours and intensities…

… and continues today with our penchant for plush cinema auditoria and our passion for
picture perfect presentations…