The angle defined by the numerical aperture of the illumination and projection optics at the DMD optical area should be the same. This angle should not exceed the nominal device mirror tilt angle unless appropriate apertures are added in the illumination and/or projection pupils to block out flat-state and stray light from the projection lens. The mirror tilt angle defines DMD capability to separate the ON optical path from any other light path, including undesirable flat–state specular reflections from the DMD window, DMD border structures, or other system surfaces near the DMD such as prism or lens surfaces. If the numerical aperture exceeds the mirror tilt angle, or if the projection numerical aperture angle is more than two degrees larger than the illumination numerical aperture angle, objectionable artifacts in the display border and/or active area could occur.