Projection system using a high-pressure discharge lamp adapted to d.c. lighting, and method of operating the same

A projection system comprising:

• a d.c. high-pressure discharge lamp;
• a color filter comprising a plurality of color segments including red, green and blue color segments and a color segment comprising a green ND filter having a relatively low lightness;
• and
• a d.c. glow starter configured to light the high-pressure discharge lamp by feeding d.c. lamp current thereto, as well as to make lower a crest value of the d.c. lamp current fed for a first illumination period during which the color segment comprising the green ND filter is illuminated than a crest value of the d.c. lamp current fed for a second illumination period during which any one of the other color segments is illuminated, in synchronism with the first illumination period,
• wherein light emitted from the high-pressure discharge lamp being lit with the d.c. lamp current is passed through the plurality of color segments of the color filter sequentially and then reflected by an optical element to project an image on a screen.