An image may be formed in a projection system by forming a light beam with substantially a first polarization. The light beam is directed onto a first color wheel that transmits a first selected color portion of the light beam and reflects a second color portion of the light beam. The reflected second color portion is converted to a second polarization. A first portion of the image is produced with a first spatial light modulator using the first selected color portion of the light beam having the first polarization. A second portion of the image is produced with a second spatial light modulator using at least a portion of the reflected second color portion of the light beam having the second polarization. The first portion of the image and the second portion of the image are combined to form a combined image for projection.