Darth Vader communicates with a subordinate through a handheld holoprojector.
A holoprojector was a device capable of the recording, transmission, reception, and display of holograms. These holoprojectors existed in a variety of sizes. Holoprojectors of lower quality often struggled to accurately reproduce colors, due to a strong blue filter applied to all transmissions. Hologram fidelity was often compromised during transmissions across light-years. Holoprojectors could be integrated within a droid, or even attached to a user's gauntlet alongside a comlink. It was not uncommon to see concealed holoprojectors utilized for conversations without the telltale blue light, sometimes even displaying images in full color.
An R-series astromech droid with its holoprojector activated.
Around thirty years following the Battle of Endor, holoprojector technology had advanced significantly, enabling the display of subjects in full color without visible filters or scan lines. Snoke, the Supreme Leader of the First Order, exploited this technology to project a hologram of himself at a scale larger than his actual physical size.
At some point during or after 34 ABY, the Safari droid SF-R3, known as "Aree," and the cam droid CAM were affiliated with the Galactic Society of Creature Enthusiasts. They journeyed throughout the galaxy aboard a starship equipped with a holoprojector located in the ship's cockpit. When activated, this holoprojector displayed the Society's emblem and was capable of rendering color images. Aree also possessed a portable holoprojector that projected primarily blue-tinted holograms. Aree frequently used his holoprojector to display a hologram of the creature he was about to interact with while CAM recorded footage for broadcast across the Holonet. When not in use, Aree stored his holoprojector within his cargo compartment.
Holoprojectors made their initial appearance in Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope, released in 1977, which served as the inaugural film in the Star Wars original trilogy.
During the production phase of the Obi-Wan Kenobi television series, the prop department created a damaged holoprojector prop specifically for use in the show, with exposed wiring to enhance the visual effect.