an electronic projector has a projection system that includes a spatial light modulator for importing image information to the projected light beam . the light beam leaving the slm is prepolarized in a defined orientation and the projected light is polarized in the same orientation so as to effectively block any light that has been scattered within the projector and become depolarized . the slm may be a digital mirror device . reflective surfaces within the projector may be covered or coated with material that alters the polarization of reflected stray light from the defined orientation or depolarizes the reflected stray light .