Runco Vx 44d Projector User Manual

							Installation
Runco VX-44d/-55d Owner’s Operating Manual 59 
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Lamp Mode: Select the Lamp Mode you want to use in order to control the light output. 
You can choose to run the lamp as bright as possible, you can power the lamp with a 
specific wattage appropriate for the installed lamp or you can set a specific intensity 
(brightness) to maintain. Keep in mind that higher lamp power settings can shorten lamp 
life.
Use the lamp mode that best suits your brightness needs:
 Max Brightness: The lamp will always burn as brightly as possible, driven by 100% of 
the power level rating for the installed lamp (1,000 Watts for the VX-44d or 1,200 Watts 
for the VX-55d). Keep in mind that the “maximum brightness” for any lamp gradually 
diminishes with the “Intensity” option.
sity: Brightness will remain close to a specified level for as long as possible. If you 
select this option, enter a number representing the intensity level (brightness) you want 
to maintain – the VX-44d/-55d automatically adjusts power as needed to maintain this 
intensity as closely as possible.
This value and slidebar represents the current brightness of your lamp, decreasing over 
time when you are operating in Max Brightness mode or at a specific Power level. 
When you operate in Intensity mode, this value remains at the chosen Intensity setting 
and cannot be adjusted. 
To use “Intensity” mode, judge by eye (or use a meter) and set the level as desired for 
your application. Over time, the projector will automatically increase the power supplied 
to the lamp as needed to maintain the chosen intensity as closely as possible. 
The power supplied to the lamp will remain at your specified wattage level. 
Once you select this option, enter the number of watts representing the power level you 
wish to maintain.
This slidebar and number indicates how many watts are applied to the lamp. You can 
apply anywhere from approximately 60% to 65% of the maximum power intended for 
the installed lamp up to 100% of the lamp rating. Set for the number of watts as 
desired, keeping in mind that lower power levels produce dimmer images. When in 
either Power or Max Brightness modes, the power level remains constant. Specifying a 
maximum power level here is the same as operating in Max Brightness mode. 
HOW LONG CAN I MAINTAIN BRIGHTNESS? The VX-44d/-55d can maintain your 
“Intensity” setting until the required power reaches the maximum rating for the lamp. The 
lower the setting, the longer it will take to reach this threshold and the longer you can 
maintain the desired brightness. Keep in mind that once the lamp power reaches its 
maximum wattage (see “Power,” above), this tracking is no longer possible. At this point, 
the lamp will gradually begin to dim as usual, even though your original “Intensity” value 
will still appear in the menu. To resume accurate tracking, reduce the intensity setting so 
that the resulting “Power” value is less than its maximum—the lower the intensity, the 
longer it can be maintained. 
The Intensity value is not the actual lumen output, but rather a 
correlated value only – 1246 may represent 3500 lumens, for 
example. Note 
						

							Installation
60 Runco VX-44d/-55d Owner’s Operating Manual
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For example, a 1000-Watt lamp can be driven at no more than 1000 Watts. To produce 
desired brightness at the screen, a new lamp would likely need less than this maximum 
rating — perhaps 812 Watts (example only). Over time, however, the lamp requires more 
and more current in order to generate the desired light, until eventually the lamp wattage 
reaches its 1000-Watt maximum and the lamp power automatically levels off. At this 
point, the tracking function terminates (that is, the power level stabilizes) and the lamp 
begins to dim normally. Either reduce your “Intensity” setting or replace the lamp. 
Do not lower the “Intensity” so much that the corresponding “Power” value reaches its 
minimum — the intensity setting will be inaccurate and cannot be maintained. 
RVR (Reflectance Volume Regulation): The optical aperture inside the projector 
controls the diameter of the light beam passing through the system. With a fully open 
aperture (slidebar default of “0”), the maximum amount of light passes through for 
maximum brightness in your images. Increase the slidebar setting to reduce the aperture 
diameter and maximize contrast ratio instead. 
Lamp History (read-only): Lamp History shows the lamps most recently installed and 
recorded in the projector. The Lamp History automatically updates whenever you record a 
new lamp serial number; the new lamp is added to the end of the list. 
Change Lamp: Select Change Lamp from the Lamp menu to record the serial number 
for a newly-installed lamp. For detailed lamp replacement instructions, refer to 
Lamp and 
Filter Replacement on page 79. 
1. Lamps become more stable over time, thus a specific intensity is 
more easily maintained as the lamp ages.
2. Intensity can be set only if the lamp is in “Intensity” mode 
3. Intensity cannot exceed the output of Max Brightness mode.
Note
     RVR    7 
						

							Runco VX-44d/-55d Owner’s Operating Manual 61 
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4.1 
Using the On-Screen 
Menus
Press the MENU button on either the remote control or the DHD Controller front panel to 
display the Main Menu. 
To select a menu item, use the  and  buttons on either the remote control or the DHD 
Controller front panel to highlight it. Press ENTER to confirm your selection. 
The VX-44d/-55d OSD menus are arranged hierarchically, as shown in Figure 4-1. 
Depending on the selected input source and signal characteristics, some menu options 
may not be available. 
4. Operation 
						

							Operation
62 Runco VX-44d/-55d Owner’s Operating Manual
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Figure 4-1. DHD Controller OSD Menu Structure for VX-44d/-55d
Service
Test VideoGrey Bars 1
Grey Bars 2
Color Bars 1
Color Bars 2
Input Names Rename, Restore or Save
Remote ControlPrimary
Secondary
Analog Out Mode RGB--, RGB++ or RGBS
Display Device: ConfigureInstallationPicture Orientation
Keystone
Lamp Hours (read-only) 
LensFocus
Zoom
Shift 
Auto Setup
Digital Bypass
HD FormatHD/RGB 1
Auto, RGB or YUV
HD/RGB 2
ADC Bandwidth Auto, 75 MHz, 150 MHz or 300 MHz
YPbPr Input Resolution Auto, 480i/p, 576i/p, 720p or 1080i
Triggers 1 / 2 / 3 / Save
MiscellaneousLanguage (currently, English only)
Menu Mode
Timeout
Side Bar Color
Film Mode (SD sources 
only)
Resolution800x600 ... 1400x1050 
480i ... 720p ... 1080i 
System Reset
Restore Saved Settings
Note: Virtualwide 2.35 is 
available only on 
VX-44d/-55d projectors 
equipped with the CineWide 
option (secondary 
anamorphic lens). 
Input Source
Composite
S-Video 1
S-Video 2
Component SD
HD/RGB 1
HD/RGB 2
HDMI 1
HDMI 2
Aspect Ratio
Anamorphic
Standard 4:3
Letterbox
VirtualWide
Cinema
Virtualwide 2.35
Picture
Brightness
Contrast
Color
Tint
Sharpness
Input Position
Left/Right
Up/Down
Width
Height
Overscan
ISF Presets
Recall ISF Night
Recall ISF Day
Recall/Save Custom 1
Recall/Save Custom 2
Reset Custom 1 & 2 to Factory Default
Information(read-only)Serial Number
Hardware
Firmware
Date
Calibration
ISF Night - Display ColorLamp Power
Lamp Intensity
ISF Night - Input ImageBrightness
Contrast
Color
Tint
Sharpness
ISF Night - Input ColorGain
Offset
Chroma Delay
Phase
Noise Filter
ISF Day - Display ColorLamp Power
Lamp Intensity
ISF Day - Input ImageBrightness
Contrast
Color
Tint
Sharpness
ISF Day - Input ColorGain
Offset
Chroma Delay
Phase
Noise Filter
Save ISF Settings Back / Confirm
Output ShiftLeft/Right
Up/Down
Width
Height
Save
Splash ConfigureOwner Name
ISF Calibrated
ISF Other
OSD Position 
						

							Operation
Runco VX-44d/-55d Owner’s Operating Manual 63 
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Main MenuThe Main Menu is the starting point for accessing all projector functions. 
(The Calibration and Service menus are hidden and not accessible until you enter a 
passcode.) 
Input SourceFrom the Main Menu, select Input Source to choose a video signal source. 
The active source is indicated by an arrow (>) to its left; in the example at left, Composite 
is the active source. 
Aspect Ratio To change the aspect ratio (size and shape) of the projected image, select Aspect Ratio 
from the Main Menu and press ENTER. Select the appropriate aspect ratio for your 
screen size and the type of program material being viewed; refer to 
Table 4-1. 
The currently-selected aspect ratio is indicated by a “7” to its left; in the example at right, 
Anamorphic is selected. 
  
Runco Video
Input Source
Aspect Ratio
Picture
Input Position
ISF Presets
Information
Calibration
Service
Input Source
>
Composite
S-Video 1
S-Video 2
Component SD
HD/RGB 1
HD/RGB 2
HDMI 1
HDMI 2
Aspect Ratio
7Anamorphic
…Standard 4:3
…Letterbox
…VirtualWide
…Cinema
…Virtualwide 2.35
The aspect ratio selection is automatically saved for each input and 
resolution.Note 
						

							Operation
64 Runco VX-44d/-55d Owner’s Operating Manual
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Table 4-1. Aspect Ratio Settings 
Aspect Ratio
Remote 
Control
Key
Description
AnamorphicANASelect Anamorphic to view 
16:9 DVDs and HDTV 
programs in their native 
aspect ratio. 
4:3 images are stretched 
horizontally to fit a 16:9 
screen. 
Standard 4:34X3Standard 4:3 scales the input 
signal to fit in the center of 
the 16:9 screen. 4:3 is the 
aspect ratio used by 
computer monitors, standard 
television programming and 
most VHS video cassettes. 
LetterboxLET
BOXLetterbox mode scales 
(zooms in on) a 4:3 image 
linearly (by the same amount 
on all sides) to fill a 16:9 
display. 
Letterbox is best suited for 
viewing LaserDisc movies or 
non-anamorphic DVDs on a 
16:9 screen.
4:3 Image, stretched to fill
16:9 Screen (Display)16:9 Image on
16:9 Screen (Display)
4:3 Image on
16:9 Screen (Display)
4:3 Image on
16:9 Display
(Letterbox aspect ratio) 
						

							Operation
Runco VX-44d/-55d Owner’s Operating Manual 65 
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VirtualWideV-WIDEVirtualWide scales a 4:3 
image NON-linearly (more on 
the sides than in the center) 
to fit a 16:9 screen. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
On a 2.35:1 screen, the 
image is centered between 
black bars on either side. 
CinemaCINEMASelect Cinema to view 2.35 
source material in its native 
aspect ratio.
With a 16:9 screen and a 
non-CineWide projector (no 
anamorphic lens), the upper 
and lower portions of the 
screen are masked, but the 
geometry of the active image 
area is unchanged.
With a 2.35:1 screen and a 
CineWide-equipped 
projector, the DHD Controller 
scales the 2.35:1 image so 
that the active image area fills 
the 16:9 chip surface, 
eliminating the black bars. 
The secondary, anamorphic 
lens then restores the proper 
geometry to the 2.35:1 
image. 
Table 4-1. Aspect Ratio Settings (continued)
Aspect RatioRemote 
Control
KeyDescription
4:3 Image on
16:9 Screen (Display)
4:3 Image on
2.35:1 Screen
with VirtualWide4:3 Image on
16:9 Screen
with VirtualWide
2.35:1 Image on
16:9 Screen
(Cinema aspect ratio / no CineWide)
2.35:1 Image on
2.35:1 Screen
(
Cinema aspect ratio / CineWide) 
						

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66 Runco VX-44d/-55d Owner’s Operating Manual
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PictureUse the controls in the Picture Menu to calibrate your VX-44d/-55d for optimum picture 
quality.
The VX-44d/-55d has been designed to incorporate setup and calibration standards 
established by the Imaging Science Foundation (ISF). The ISF has developed carefully 
crafted, industry-recognized standards for optimal video performance and has 
implemented a training program for technicians and installers to use these standards to 
obtain optimal picture quality from Runco video display devices. Accordingly, Runco 
recommends that setup and calibration be performed by an ISF certified installation 
technician.
All signal types require separate processing. Therefore, you need to calibrate each DHD 
Controller input separately. 
Although it may be possible to obtain satisfactory picture quality using the naked eye and 
regular program material, Runco recommends using the following calibration tools for best 
results: 
 External test pattern source – Ovation Multimedia, Digital Video Essentials or AVIA test 
DVD or equivalent.
 A blue filter (provided with many test DVDs), for color level and tint adjustments.
Connect your test pattern source to the input that you are calibrating and proceed as 
follows. Perform the adjustments in the order listed here.
Virtualwide 2.35SVCA 16:9 image is scaled 
NON-linearly (more on the 
sides than in the center) to fit 
a 2.35:1 screen. 
 
Virtualwide 2.35 is available 
only on CineWide-equipped 
VX-44d/-55d projectors. 
Table 4-1. Aspect Ratio Settings (continued)
Aspect RatioRemote 
Control
KeyDescription
16:9 Image on
2.35:1 Screen with
VirtualWide 2.35
16:9 Image on
2.35:1 Screen16:9 Image on
2.35:1 Screen
Picture
Brightness
Contrast
Color
Tint
Sharpness
➤
When you change a picture quality setting, save the change to a 
preset afterwards. Otherwise, the change will be lost when a 
different input is selected. (Picture quality settings are saved for 
each input separately.) For information about saving settings, refer 
to 
ISF Presets on page 71. 
Note 
						

							Operation
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Brightness: On your external test pattern source, select a PLUGE pattern. (PLUGE is an 
acronym for “Picture Line-Up Generation Equipment.”) 
Figure 4-2 shows a typical PLUGE 
pattern.
Figure 4-2. Typical PLUGE Pattern for Adjusting Brightness
PLUGE patterns vary but generally consist of some combination of black, white and gray 
areas against a black background. The example above includes two vertical bars and four 
shaded boxes.
Select Brightness from the Picture menu and press ENTER. Adjust the brightness so that:
 The darkest black bars disappear into the background. 
 The dark gray areas are barely visible.
 The lighter gray areas are clearly visible.
 The white areas are a comfortable level of true white.
 The image contains only black, gray and white (no color).
Below Black
Above Black 
						

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Contrast: On your external test pattern source, select a stepped, gray-bar pattern like the 
one shown in 
Figure 4-3. 
Figure 4-3. Typical Gray Bar Pattern for Adjusting Contrast
Select Contrast and press ENTER. Adjust the contrast to a point just below which the 
white rectangle starts to increase in size.
Color Saturation: On your external test pattern source, select a color bar pattern like the 
one shown in 
Figure 4-4. 
Figure 4-4. Typical Color Bar Pattern for Adjusting Color Saturation and Tint
Brightness and contrast controls are interactive. A change to one 
may require a subtle change to the other in order to achieve the 
optimum setting. Note
gray
yellow
cyan
green
magenta
red
blue