A digital projection apparatus has a first light modulation subsystem with a first light source producing linear illumination of a first spectral color and a second light source producing linear illumination of a second spectral color. A first light modulator chip (110a) has at least two independently addressable linear arrays of light modulating devices. A first spatial filter (108) blocks reflected light and transmits diffracted light along a first optical path. A second light modulation subsystem has at least a third light source producing linear illumination of a third spectral color. A second light modulator chip has at least one independently addressable linear array of light modulating devices. A second spatial filter blocks reflected light and transmits diffracted light along a second optical path. A color combining element directs modulated light onto a common optical path. Projection optics direct modulated light toward a scanning element (122) for projection toward a display surface (124).