Photo of Matthews United Methodist Church, Matthews, NC courtesy of All Pro Sound.
Due to continuing developments in projection technology, presentation software and affordable hardware, even the smallest churches—along with many traditional churches—are incorporating projected images and video into their worship services. And those that have been using projection for years have an opportunity to improve their presentations in ways never before possible. Projectors and lenses are now available to meet every demand and budget, but you'll need the right screen surface to get all the color, brightness and clarity from your projector investment.
Front VS. Rear Projection
Many experts say that rear projection images will appear brighter. That's because the projector is sitting in a projection room that is always dark, which allows for the projected image to transmit a brighter, higher-contrast image. “There can also be practical advantages to rear projection,” notes David Rodgers, marketing manager for Elite Screens in Garden Grove, Calif. “You can get the benefits of a large display without having to worry about a shadow when a presenter steps in front of the screen.” Drawbacks to rear projection can include higher equipment and installation costs that come along with the dedicated space for a projector room.
Front projection is generally considered the most versatile, efficient and cost-effective choice for houses of worship. “It's not only about cost,” says Rodgers. “There are value incentives to front projection, as well, like the engaging environment that can be created by using an acoustically transparent screen. Locating speakers behind the screen also offers a clean look and significant space savings.” Disadvantages of front projection include the complications of where to locate the projector and difficulties maximizing brightness in ambient light.
Where screens for front projection are typically matte white and reflective, allowing for the efficient utilization of a projector's brightness, translucent gray and transmissive rear projection screens allow a projected image to pass through the screen to be viewed by the audience. As a result, rear projection screens tend to drop in brightness when viewed at an angle greater than 45 degrees off-center. The bottom line here is that deciding between front or rear projection will most likely depend upon budget, the conditions in your venue, and available space.
Matching Screens to Projectors
Projected content looks its best when screen dimensions match the relative height and width of the projected image. Referred to as aspect ratio, a 16:9 ratio is 16 units wide by 9 units high and is the familiar format for HDTV. The new 16:10 or WXGA aspect ratio accommodates the latest computer formats, as well as being compatible with standard 16:9 projection. Other ratios, like 1:1 (squared) and 4:3 (or NTSC) are also in use, but have limited application in modern sanctuaries. The important point is that the projector and screen should have a shared aspect ratio. According to Vijita U.G., marketing communications specialist at Stewart Filmscreen in Torrance, Calif., “Screens can be customized to meet virtually any need, but standard fixed sizes, like 16x9 feet, are manufactured to meet today's popular projector aspect ratios of 16:9 and 16:10 and can offer a notable cost savings.”
The material your screen is made of is another area of compatibility and should match your projector's performance. When a projector is producing enough lumens to create a nice bright image at the screen, the popular matte white screen generally provides the best picture at the most reasonable cost. However, your installation could benefit from different screen colors and coatings if lighting conditions aren't ideal.
"You'll need the right screen surface to get all the color, brightness and clarity you paid for from your projector."
Andy McDonough
Reviewer.
Dealing with Ambient Light
Any light not coming from a projector will tend to wash out images on the screen, leaving a dull, “milky” picture. In cases where ambient light can't be sufficiently controlled using window shades or other lighting control there are two popular fixes: Use a more powerful projector to “overpower” the ambient light or help increase the contrast of the projected image by using a gray screen or one coated with a specialized reflective material.
There are two basic types of non-white screens: one a standard matte gray and one with layers of reflective materials that can both enhance contrast and retain brightness. Amy Madden, product manager at Draper Inc. in Spiceland, Ind., reminds screen buyers, “A typical matte gray improves contrast, but does not enhance brightness—it can actually decrease it. So gray is typically the best choice for enhancing contrast with a higher lumens projector and reasonable control of ambient light.”
Screens with reflective coatings can retain brightness where ambient lighting is high because the reflective formulations concentrate the projected light back at viewers. The use of reflective materials, however, typically results in a narrower viewing angle. So, reflective screens work best when most viewers are directly in front of the screen and not off to the sides.
Where ambient lighting conditions are at their worst, consider a screen specifically designed with a lensing component to solve the problem. “Optical screens ‘know' the difference between projected light coming from the front and ambient light,” says Douglas Brasher, director of sales for dnp North America in Anaheim, Calif. “They can cost a bit more, but can solve ambient light problems and are still much less costly than LED, LCD or laser flat screen alternatives.”
Screen Size
Brightness is important, but on a screen that is too small your message will be lost; too large and the size of your screen will overpower the viewers and dominate the room. According to Manfred Freiberger, sales and marketing manager for the Americas with ScreenLine in Costa Mesa, Calif., “Custom screens can be built to 30 feet across and larger but, for most houses of worship that will support it, installing one or more of the common 16- x 9-foot screens provides the best recipe for success. They are easiest to design with and implement.”
While thoughts on a precise formula for screen size vary among industry experts, popular screen manufacturer Da-Lite of Cincinnati, provides design advice that indicates ideal screen height should equal 1/6 the distance from the screen to the back row. Factors of 1/6 and 1/8 seem to be the most popular guidelines used by designers.
Madden points out that while one big screen might be the most cost effective, aesthetics play a huge role in a church's design criteria. “In many cases,” she suggests, “a wide room will benefit from multiple screens, both aesthetically as well as to get the best viewing angles.” A popular configuration is a fixed center screen and supplemental side screens.
Screen Installation
Most experts agree that for optimal performance a fixed projection screen is the best choice, but even with the advantages of a professional look, being economical and easy to install, a permanently installed screen might not meet the aesthetic criteria or multi-purpose requirements of your space. “Rigid screens require a fixed surface and that's not always available where you need it,” says Vijita U.G. “For those cases, there are many choices for deploy-able screens and delivery systems to accommodate just about any architectural difference.”
Where a screen will be located and how it will be installed will likely be a factor of how often the screen will be used and if the room is serving other purposes. Manual or electric retractable screen systems can virtually disappear into a wall, floor or ceiling for aesthetics or protection. “Because the screen is so critically important,” Freiberger says, “many church designers like to determine possible screen locations first along with projector mount points.”
If a retractable screen is to be mounted in a hard-to-reach location, consider an electric version with a reliable hardwired switch, RS-232 connection or radio frequency (RF) control option. Be wary of infrared (IR) controlled screen deployment for its distance and angle limitations. Where wall or suspended installations are impractical, don't overlook the option of a freestanding projection screen that can be recessed in the stage floor or wheeled about on a floor mount.
Screen Materials
Traditional projection screens are made of economical PVC, but spending a little more for a more lightweight, versatile or durable screen material can be a wise investment. Churches may also want to invest a little more in a screen material that is compatible with high-definition formats and is 3D- and 4K-capable, ensuring they get the most mileage out of their screen down the road. “Screens that are 4K-ready are made from new optical coatings that are much finer than previously used materials,” says Vijita U.G. “The finer surface makes for a really crisp and very even projected image.”
Some churches are getting away from the traditional screen materials altogether and have converted an available flat surface into a screen with one of the new high-performance screen paints from companies like Goo Systems and Paint on Screen. Be sure to research specifications and reviews closely—the word “screen” appears on paints that don't necessarily have good reflective properties and that produce noticeable color aberrations.
Rodgers confirms what savvy installers and AVL integrators are telling their clients about screens. “The constant evolution of projector and screen technology means that, in many cases, the prices of screens have come down and their quality has gone up, so churches can get more today for their investment,” he says. “There are more choices than ever and higher quality products are available for less.”
