1 of 5
1. Draper TecVision Engineered Screen Technology
2 of 5
4. ELITE screens Darkstar Projection Screen
3 of 5
3. DNP Supernova Infinity Optical Front Projection Screen
4 of 5
5. Stewart Filmscreen Grayhawk RS G3 Screen Surface
5 of 5
2. Da-lite HD Progressive Screen Surface
When the church I grew up in purchased its first pair of video projectors, I couldn't wait to fire them up and point them at something—anything. I was very young, and projection systems like this in churches were the exception, not the norm. Only megachurches and movie theaters had the ability to project video. I remember when our church finally mounted them, shooting them onto the manually retractable 4:3 screens that flanked the giant wooden cross on the back of the stage. We weren't really concerned with hot spots or viewing angles, and I had no idea what screen gain was. I just figured you pointed the unit at a screen and the projector did all the work.
You wouldn't think a lot of technological changes could come to the projection screen. Many people, myself included at first, think the vast majority of the technical developments happen in the projector. As I learned, that is just simply not true. Creating a brilliant image in our sanctuaries and auditoriums these days starts with having the right material to reflect the projected light. You can buy the biggest, baddest, brightest projector out there, but if you haven't researched what you're going to point it at, you're just throwing money away.
Before we get to the specifics on new products now available, let's go over a few key elements to consider when selecting a screen:
Size
The bigger the screen you have, the bigger the projector you will need to illuminate it. I always strive to admit to my mistakes, and I am not to proud to say, this concept for some reason did not click with me in my early days as of being a technical director. I was doing my first installation and I did not take this into consideration. I focused all my time on the proper lens calculations to fill a screen, and then realized it looked bad because I was spreading the light too thin. The mark of a good video installation starts with knowing your audience size and viewing angles. You don't want to overpower the people in the front few rows, or conversely, prevent the people in the back from being able to see anything.
Gain
This is the term used to measure the amount of light a screen reflects. It is typical to see screen gains anywhere from 0.8 all the way up to 5.0. The gain is measured from directly in front of the screen and is the ratio of how the image would look if projected on a typical magnesium oxide white board. I was never great at ratios in school, but a gain of 1.0 would have the same reflective properties as that of a whiteboard. The higher the gain the brighter the image, but there are trade offs to that, as well, such as increased hot spotting and a decreased viewing angle. At a gain factor of 1, the light is evenly distributed in all directions allowing for a wider viewing angle. As the gain increases, the image appears bright and vibrant to those in the middle and quickly tapers off to those further out.
Selecting the right gain screen can be tricky, and techs would do well to call the manufacturers and talk to installers before spinning the wheel to pick one.
Shaun Miller
Writer.
Selecting the right gain screens can be tricky, and techs would do well to call the manufacturers and talk to installers before spinning the wheel to pick one. Each manufacturer brings its own chemistry to the table in the quest to offer a top projection experience. Since projection will always be a two-part system, the screen will continue to evolve and change as does the projection technology. Luckily for those of us who are blessed to work in churches, there are as many screen variations as there are church building designs. Whether you have an auditorium that is essentially a black box, where ambient light isn't going to be a problem, or one that is flooded with natural light, there is a screen for your situation. Who knew so much technology went into such an inanimate object?
1. Da-lite HD Progressive Screen Surface
Da-Lite HD Progressive Screen Surface starts off our round up. Created with a desire to perfectly reflect the projected image, Da-Lite's own in-house chemists created a screen free of microscopic variances, allowing for a rich vibrant image [that] simply “disappears.” Da-Lite's HD Progressive line comes in four styles, with gain ratings from 0.6 to 1.3.
2. DNP Supernova Infinity Optical Front Projection Screen
dnp Supernova Infinity Optical Front Projection Screen is designed to control ambient light and enhance contrast by a factor of seven times over conventional screens. Outfitted with high-contrast optical filters that absorb ambient light, the Supernova Infinity's technology aims to deliver extraordinarily clear images, even in brightly lit surroundings such as houses of worship. The large-format Supernova Infinity is designed to provide superior viewing for large audiences, even from a great distance with ultra-wide viewing angles.
3. Draper TecVision Engineered Screen Technology
Draper's TecVision line of screen materials comes in several “flavors” depending on your room conditions. The engineering behind these screens is to provide a wider viewing area for those sitting off axis of the screen. With a low gloss finish the TecVision screens are designed to create less distortion of the projected image. With six different finishes, from high-gain white to ambient-light-rejecting grey, this product is designed to help the user save money by reducing the need to purchase a super-bright projector.
4. ELITE screens Darkstar Projection Screen
Elite Screens offers a new line of Ambient Light Rejecting (ALR) screens. The screen material is designed to incorporate optical filters that reflect a projected image, while combatting ambient or indirect light [that causes] a washed-out image. The Dark-Star is a standard front projection screen, while the PolarStar is a polarized 2D-3D material. These screens are designed for worship centers with uncontrollable light that can spill onto the screen. For information:
5. Stewart Filmscreen Grayhawk RS G3 Screen Surface
Stewart Filmscreen is known for creating giant screens. Its GrayHawk RS G3 is designed to maximize the image quality of 1080p projection. With so many churches able to get into high-definition projection today, this screen is designed to make images pop. It is also designed to provide great performance in rooms with moderate ambient light. And finally, for film buffs,
