Which factors affect the lowest level of luminance a system can produce?

The lowest level of luminance a system can produce is significantly influenced by maximum light and safety light. Maximum light refers to the brightest output capability of the projector or display system, impacting its ability to produce low luminance levels effectively. If a system can achieve high brightness levels, it often can also provide nuanced ranges in lower brightness settings, thereby affecting performance in dim environments or providing more detail in darker images.

Safety light, on the other hand, ensures that there is always some level of illumination, which contributes to the minimum luminance achievable. This could be important in situations where visibility is necessary for audience safety and comfort, even in scenarios where low light levels are desired for artistic or practical reasons.

In contrast, factors such as maximum contrast typically relate to how well a system can differentiate between the darkest and brightest elements of an image rather than affecting the lowest luminance directly. Screen material and projector type certainly influence image quality and light transmission, but they do not inherently determine the lowest luminance level. Similarly, the distance from the projector and lens type affect the overall projection efficacy and image sharpness, impacting brightness but not specifying the minimum level of luminance the system can produce.