Digital Projection, a specialist in laser projectors, has announced that its projection technology was chosen by French event and content creation agency e’motion and technical service provider ETC (Entertainment Technology Center) to support a major new exhibition at the Palace of Versailles.
Louis XV, Passions of a King is the first major exhibition devoted to Louis the Beloved. It celebrates the three hundredth anniversary of the return of the Court to Versailles and is running between 15 October 2022 and 19 February 2023. The exhibition brings together almost 400 works contributed by collections from all around the world, many of which have never been seen in public, shedding new light on the complex individual behind the monarch.
The iconic Passemant astronomical clock, a symbol of Louis XV’s reign and of his personal interests, serves as the exhibition’s star attraction. The clock welcomes visitors with historical papers, sketches, and archives projected on a curved screen, following complete repair work supported by Rolex France.
An immersive centrepiece
e’motion and ETC worked together to enhance the 18th Century clock with a video-mapped 270˚ curved projection, powered by Digital Projection.
One of Versailles’ key requirements was that the integration should be seamless with the exhibit so that guests would naturally focus on the centrepiece rather than the technology used in the space.
“This is the first time the Palace of Versailles has allowed a permanent, immersive exhibition inside the palace,” says Stéphane Bazoge, project manager at ETC. There were a number of requirements, including discretion, which was a must not only when looking at the end result, but also while setting up the exhibition.”
“Our approach to this project was actually similar to a high-end retail one: disruptions during the integration phase had to be kept to a minimum, with the utmost respect to the environment, and with the ultimate goal of enhancing what the visitors would see and provide them with an unforgettable experience.
“This was also our first project with the client, who was looking for reliable and responsive technical service. I was lucky enough to carry out mappings on various chateaux of the Loire Valley, so I knew the importance of such a task. In a way, our biggest challenge was to be able to disregard the weight of this iconic historical site and focus on the client’s goals and requirements.”
Choosing the right technology
ETC opted to use Digital Projection’s E-Vision Laser 11000 4K-UHD projectors, in order to deliver an impressive and reliable image. Three of these projectors are mounted on the ceiling of the exhibition structure, producing a seamless image on the 3.6-m high by 7-m wide wooden structure that faces the entry and whose curving shape spotlights the royal clock in the centre of the space.
Bazoge adds: “We worked with the Versailles internal workshops to ensure good stability on the wooden structure where the projectors are installed. We also used our expertise to make the right colour choices for perfect visual rendering, advised graphic designers on the visual project, and adapted some text effects to the structure.”
10,500 lumens are delivered by each of the three E-Vision Laser projectors used for the presentation, and the 4K UHD resolution produces dazzling detail. This means that the content projected around the astronomical clock helps the visitors without taking away from the performance.
“We needed projectors powerful enough to compete against the natural light coming from the exhibition’s main entrance, as well as the spotlights on the clock, a set-up that is not dissimilar to a retail lighting environment,” says Bazoge. “This meant that the projectors had to strike the right amount of lighting output and resolution.”
ETC’s proprietary Onlyview show control and media server package, which takes care of the essential warping and blending, controls and processes the immersive content that is projected on the curved wall. The 3840×2160 pixel image is delivered by a computer with a dedicated graphics card feeding the projectors via HDMI 4K. A specific 0.55:1 lens was installed on the E-Vision Laser 11000 4K-UHD projectors for the short projection distance of three metres.
“It was also essential to make the system easy as user friendly and as maintenance-free as possible for the client. We delivered a turnkey solution with on, off and bypass features, that met the customer’s requirements,” says Bazoge. “Digital Projection’s regional sales manager Stéphane Bourdon was also with us every step of the way, helping to make the integration process and delivery a success. The client was delighted with the technical relevance and selection as well as with the final result.”
Silvia Roman, head of Versailles’ castle exhibitions department, adds: “The work of ETC was carried out in accordance with the technical descriptions in the specifications; the entire project was carried out with great professionalism, rigour and respect for deadlines.”
Digital Projection also recently announced the appointment of two new hires for its EMEA team, enabling its training and support capabilities.
