provided are several apparatus and methods to attenuate illumination light in a projector . illumination light may be attenuated by directing polarized light toward a liquid crystal attenuation panel . the panel selectively modulates some , all , or none of the polarized light passing through . the light from the panel is then directed toward a polarization device . the polarization device analyzes the polarized light , and allows or denies the light to pass therethrough based on the polarization of the light .