Abstract: A color projection system is disclosed, comprising a light valve device (4) for modulating light incident thereon in accordance with information of the image to be displayed, an AC-operated light source (1) for generating light of at least two different colors, and an illumination unit (3) for illuminating said light valve device with said generated light of different colors in a sequential fashion. The light valve device is controlled in synchronization with said illumination unit (3) in order to produce a colored output image. Furthermore, the sequential color cycle of the light valve device (4) and the AC cycle for the illumination unit are adapted to be out of phase with each other. A method of operating such a projection system is also disclosed.