Monday, June 1, 2009

Non-print equipment & services: Slides

35mm slides – suited for small to very large audiences, dim to no light preferable.Typical problems with slide presentations include:


  • Out of focus slides
  • Going backwards instead of forwards on remote
  • Out of order slides
  • Upside down or backward slides
  • Slides sticking in projector
  • The dumped upside down or lost slide carousel

General tips on operating a slide projector include the following:

  • Many of the projectors have a “timer” function. The purpose of the timer is to allow the slides to automatically advance after a specified time. It is important to check this feature and turn it off if you are advancing slides manually via a remote control.
  • Two types of slides trays are available for the Ektagraphic projectors, an “80 count” and “140 count” tray. The “80 count” tray is recommended. The “140 count” trays have a tendency to jam in the projector.
  • Some projectors have a built-in auto-focus feature. This feature allows slides in similar types of mounts to keep their focus. It is important to manually focus the first slide, then turn-on autofocus. When using slides of various types and thicknesses of mounts do not use the auto-focus feature.

Setting up the projector
Unpack the projector from its case, and set it on the table, cart, or projection stand.

The lens might not be attached. If it isn’t, grasp the front end of the lens barrel and align the teeth on the side of the lens with the notch at the edge of the lens opening on the front of the projector. Do not force the lens into place! The focus knob is spring loaded… pull the knob sideways, towards the outside edge of the projector, and slide the lens into the projector body. Then release the focus knob, which will lock the lens into place.

Examine the back of the projector, and find the power cord.

  • Some projectors have two metal pins sticking out from the back, just below the five-pin remote-control socket. In this case, the power cord should be in the carrying case.
  • On other projectors, the power cord is hard-wired into the unit, and often stored under a trap-door in the bottom of the projector.

Connect the power cord and plug it into the wall outlet.

Connect the remote control if desired.

To connect the remote control, locate the dot on the top of the round, five-pin connector at the end of the remote control cable. With the dot at the top, plug the remote control into the five-pin socket on the back of the projector. It will only fit one direction.

Note: On a few projectors, there are no frame-advance buttons, and the remote control must be used. Otherwise, the remote control is operational.

Disable the self-timer, if any.

Some projectors have built-in interval timers, operated by a slide switch on the back of the unit. If your projector has one, slide the timer switch to the MANUAL position.

Turn the projector on.

Turn on the projector by moving the power switch to one of the lamp-on positions.

Note: You may get a screenful of light, as some projectors do not have empty-slot shutters.

Attach the slide tray to the projector.

Position the tray with the 0th slide position to the right, as you look at the back of the projector. Notice that the arrow on the top of the projector will cover the notch in the edge of the slide tray.

Advance to the first slide.

Advance to the first slide by pressing the FORWARD button on the remote control, or the push button nearest the front of the projector (if the projector has one).

At this point, you should see your first slide on the screen. You can make some adjustments at this point—

  • To raise or lower the image, rotate the foot adjustment knob under the front-center of the projector.
  • To straighten a crooked image, rotate the foot adjustment under the rear corner of the projector.
  • To focus the image, rotate the focus adjustment knob on the top of the projector.
  • If the projector has a zoom lens, you can resize the image by rotating the end of the lens barrel.

Slide show presentation

  • To project your slide show, use the FORWARD and REVERSE buttons on the remote control, or the two buttons on the side of the projector.
  • To select a particular slide, press and hold the SELECT button on the side of the projector, and rotate the slide tray by hand until the slide you want lines up with the arrow on the top of the projector. When you release the SELECT button, the slide will appear on the screen.
  • At the end of the show:
    o Move the power switch to the FAN position.
    o Press and hold the SELECT button, and rotate the tray to the Slide 0 position.
    o Lift the tray off of the projector.

If you need to remove the tray from the projector without moving it to the zero position, use the following procedure:

Use a coin or screwdriver to rotate the screw in the center of the top of the projector. This will release the tray from the top of the projector. Then lift the tray clear of the projector. Be very careful! One of your slides will remain in the projector. Also, the metal pan on the bottom of the tray will not be locked. If it rotates, it can allow other slides to fall out of the t ray. To remove your slide from the projector, press the SELECT button, and it should literally fly out of the opening in the top of the projector. To reset the tray, make sure that the locking ring is in place on the top, then turn the tray upside-down, and rotate the metal pan until it locks into place under the blocked-off zero position.

When you are finished, disassembly of the projector is the reverse of set-up.

  • Allow the fan to run until the exhaust air is cool before moving or unplugging the projector.
  • Disconnect the projector from the wall outlet, and disconnect the remote control (if you ever connected it in the first place).
  • If the carrying case requires removing the lens, do so by sliding the focus knob sideways and sliding the lens straight out of the projector body.
  • Pack the projector into its case.

Lamp change
If a lamp blows in the middle of a presentation:


  • Leave the projector plugged in while you locate the spare lamp. This cools down the socket which otherwise would be too hot to touch.
  • Remove the slide tray from the projector, making a mental note of the slide number that was being shown when the bulb expired. Be sure that the locking ring is secure.
  • Hold the tray upside down and rotate the plate on the bottom of the tray so that the slot on the bottom plate lines up with the “0” notch on the plastic tray.
  • Unplug the projector and turn it upside down.
  • Unscrew the large silver screw that holds the lamp door for the socket and the lamp.
  • You should be able to use your fingers. If not, a coin will do the trick.
  • Depress the wire that secures the old lamp in position, gently lifting up the on the old bulb at the same time. As you do so the old lamp should come out.
  • Remove the new lamp from the box, being careful not to touch the lamp with your bare fingers. Oils from your skin could cause the lamp to burn out prematurely.
  • Raise the wire out of the way and place the new lamp in position.
  • Lower the wire into position making sure the lamp pins are securely in the socket.
  • Secure the wire to the metal clip.

Troubleshooting

Symptom Problem Solution
Lamp on but no light on screen Projector has blanking slide feature
Slide has not dropped into gate
Lenscap still on
Advance slide so there
is a slide in the gate
Push select button
Remove lenscap
Projector will not focusLens not seated
properly on focus rail
Adjust lens so it moves
with the focus nob
Slides will not drop into gate Bottom plate not set to "0"
Using 140 trays with glass
or thick mounts
Slides are warped or bent
Rotate bottom plate to "0"
Use 80 tray

Try to straighten the slide
Slides will not advance past a
certain slide
Plastic pin broken off bottom of
tray
Bottom plate on tray is wraped
Jammed slide
Manually advance tray past
missing pin
Replace the tray
Unscrew centre
Take off carousel
Press select button
Slide will fall out of machine
Turn carouel upside down
Small ring press to slide around
Put carousel back on projector
Take ring off
Set back to 0
Reposition

Caramate projector

  • Projects 2X2 slides onto a built-in screen or onto a room screen
  • Uses Kodak Carousel slide trays
  • Built-in cassette player for automated purposes
  • Can be used in normal room light
  • Not suitable for more than four viewers unless projected onto screen

Suitable for
  • Reviewing slides before a presentation or individual or small group self-instruction, review, or study.

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