Methods and apparatus for forming two orthogonally polarized beams of light from an unpolarized beam of light using one of at least two different image modes, the forming includes a color filtering process that is based on the image mode being used, and projecting the two orthogonally polarized beams to form an image on a viewing surface. Methods and apparatus for separating an unpolarized light beam into four beams as a function of wavelength and polarization; selectively modulating the four beams respectively using four light valves; and combining the four modulated beams to generate two orthogonally polarized light beams.