an improved projection system that includes a conformal grating electromechanical system device for forming an image on a medium , and also including : a light source providing illumination ; a linear array of conformal gems devices receiving the illumination ; an obstructing element for blocking a zeroth order reflected light beam from reaching the medium ; a cross - order filter placed substantially near a fourier plane of a lens system for blocking a plurality of diffracted cross - order light beams from reaching the medium ; a scanning element for moving non - obstructed diffracted light beams relative to the medium ; and a controller for providing a data stream to the linear array of conformal gems devices .