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| Issue 5 | 2008 |
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| Screens: Projecting Quality Imagery |
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Whether you’re setting up a conference room, auditorium or home theater, the screen selection shouldn’t be an afterthought. After all, the screen is the one element your viewers will actually be watching. Despite the misconceptions that a simple white wall suffices as long as a quality projector is used, the appropriate screen is vital to insuring your imagery is displayed with the best brightness and contrast and without hotspots, seams and other artifacts.
When searching for a screen, you’ll need to know not only the terms used to define screen specs, but also the best screen type, color and size to fit your room and use.
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| Screen Type |
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Depending on your use, there are several types of screens available, including portable, manual, electric and fixed.
Portable screens, as the name indicates, are easy to transport from place to place. They are useful for businesses that give presentations in multiple offices, for use in schools, hotels or other businesses that require the flexibility of giving presentations anywhere.
Manual, or pull-down, projector screens are easy to install and less expensive than motorized versions. Common in classrooms, they can be pulled down any distance and are available in either a standard or tensioned version. The tensioned version is highly recommended to insure the screen is always pulled completely flat.
Electric or motorized screens are convenient to use and offer high-quality choices, but are more difficult to install. With their motorized open and close capabilities and high-end features, electric screens are common in board rooms as well as home theaters.
Fixed frame screens are high-quality screens that are used for permanent locations. This style is also popular for board rooms, conference rooms, home theaters and venues that do not require a mobile screen.
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| Screen Features |
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Gain Factor
The first, and one of the most important, features to consider is the Gain factor. Gain is defined as the “measure of reflectivity of light compared to a screen coated with magnesium carbonate or titanium dioxide when the measurement is taken for light targeted and reflected perpendicular to the screen,” according to Wikipedia.org. The measurement is taken at the brightest point. As you move to the sides of the screen, the brightness decreases. Many white screens have a gain of 1.0, which means it reflects the same amount of light as a screen coated with magnesium carbonate. While many assume that the higher the brightness, the better the image quality – this is not necessarily the case. Higher brightness does not equate to higher contrast, therefore too high of a gain factor can create color shifts and hotspotting. A lower gain diffuses the light over a wider area, which means a better view for those sitting to the sides of the screen.
As a result, two things should be considered when choosing the appropriate gain. One, if most of your viewers will be seated center stage, a higher gain will work. If your room offers a wide seating area, you may want to consider a slightly lower gain to insure the best view for those seated on the sides. Two, your projector and screen should complement each other to eliminate too much or too little brightness. If your projector has a high lumen output, consider a screen with a lower gain. And, conversely, improve the image of projectors with low lumen output by using a screen with higher gain.
Screen Color
In conjunction with using the gain factor to determine the brightness, the color of the screen should also be considered. Typically in either white or gray, it’s the screen’s color than helps determine the contrast of the projected image. White screens are more widely used in business environments because they tend to produce more accurate colors for slides, Powerpoints, spreadsheets and other materials, and are best in environments where ambient light can be controlled. Gray screens work better in situations with moderate ambient light due to the reduction in glare. They also display deeper levels of black, which provides exceptional contrast when showing videos.
Within the white and gray screen categories, there are a growing number of options – from matte to high-definition finish. The best choice depends on your use, lighting control and the brightness of your projector. For an audio system placed behind your screen, there are also perforated options similar to cinema screens to insure the best acoustic quality.
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| Screen Size |
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Finally, the screen size must be taken into account. Several items should be taken into consideration such as the room configuration, the projector quality, and the size of the audience. Da-Lite recommends that “screen height should be approximately equal to 1/6 the distance from the screen to the last row of seats, allowing text to be read and detail to be seen in the projected image. Ideally, the first row of seats should be approximately two screen heights away. The bottom of the screen should be a minimum of 4 feet above the audience floor, allowing those seated toward the rear of the audience to see the screen. This may require additional screen ‘drop’ for ceiling hung screens.” Selecting a screen that’s too small can result in a diminished view for those furthest from the viewing area. Conversely, a screen that’s too large can result in significant degradation of the imagery if the projector isn’t powerful enough.
If you’re unsure of the best screen or projection package to fit your needs, let a professional analyze your room format, lighting, and desired uses to determine the best projection configurations to meet your needs and offer the best quality view for your audience.
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About The Brookfield Group
The Brookfield Group has become a leader in IT, ISP, ASP and web solutions by providing next level technology solutions managed by experts who give you peace of mind without the tech-talk. The company's services are customized to fit any enterprise-size businesses and include: IT project management; hosting solutions and maintenance; systems security and patches; telecommunications services, server and desktop setup, repair and applications; network infrastructure design; audio visual products; surveillance and security solutions; as well as a variety of other software, hardware, services and accessories. Located in Carmel, Indiana, more information about The Brookfield Group products and services is available at www.thebrookfieldgroup.com or by calling 317.524.6000.
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