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May 2012

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Projection Screen Primer

When we asked a panel of experts what makes churches unique from other users of projection screens, several consistent themes emerged: aesthetics, budget and time constraints, the frequent issue of ambient light, and the tendency of churches to jump on the first product that fits their budget without fully evaluating the situation.

by Rob Connelly

When CPM asked our panel of experts what makes churches unique from other users of projection screens, several consistent themes emerged: aesthetics, budget and time constraints, the frequent issue of ambient light, and the tendency of churches to jump on the first product that fits their budget without fully evaluating their situation.

Despite the fact that a video projection system is the single most prominent element of technology employed by most churches, implementation is often an afterthought. Many times the reason is simply that the principle focus during a design or re-design process is on audio and lighting, with the feeling that video is fairly straightforward. The reality, however, is that integrating a video projection screen into a church's worship space requires planning, knowledge, and awareness of the products available on the market.

The purpose of this article is to provide perspective on the types of planning and knowledge involved in the integration of video projection screens, and to let a few of the companies that manufacture church-specific products weigh in on how they approach the church market. It will also provide an opportunity to highlight some of these products as examples of what is available. Many thanks to Amy Madden from Draper, Wendy Long from Da-Lite, Jesse Walsh from DNP, and David Rogers from Elite Screens for their input and ideas.

What you should know
When CPM asked our panel of experts what makes churches unique from other users of projection screens, several consistent themes emerged: aesthetics, budget and time constraints, the frequent issue of ambient light, and the tendency of churches to jump on the first product that fits their budget without fully evaluating their situation.

Every manufacturer has a slightly different approach to addressing the needs of churches. Most, such as Draper and DNP, do not sell directly to the end user, but work through integrators and consultants. Da-Lite primarily operates this way as well, but also has outside sales consultants that often come alongside the industry professionals and even work directly with churches if needed. Elite Screens takes a more dualistic approach. According to David Rogers, marketing manager at Elite, the majority of its church involvement comes through the industry professionals who specify their products as part of an overall install. Yet, the company also has a direct retail avenue that many churches use to purchase screens that require less expertise to deploy, such as in portable or temporary situations.

Draper, which has been in business for over 100 years, found itself pulled into the church market by its dealers who were responding to the increasing video needs of churches. Two of the issues that have been formative for Draper's approach to meeting church needs are the pervasiveness of ambient light environments and the often related aesthetic concerns. Amy Madden, projector/flatscreen product manager at Draper, relates, "A church cares more about the aesthetic than a high-school gymnasium-so we've developed products and added features to products to have both form and function within a certain price-point." Draper also makes window shades that can help to address the ambient light that works against a video system-a product line she says has been tweaked significantly over the years to meet this church-specific need.

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Rob Connelly currently serves at North Wake Church in Wake Forest, NC as director of technology and communication. He is the owner of Connelly Audio, providing technology, ministry and systems consulting to churches. Rob is also a student at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. He and his wife Ashley have two young sons.