Big flat screen or projector + screen?

Q. Me & my BF have decided to set up a nice home theater. Lots of our friends are into movies and sometimes we all get together to watch a show every week (like a Survivor party). My BF says we should get a projector and a screen and have a really gigantic picture. I say we should get a 52" lcd or something like that. What factors should we consider each way?

Answer
Is this in a dedicated HT room with good light control? If so, projector+screen is the only way to go. If not, then you need to consider the amount of ambient light in the room. If you're able to darken the room nicely (and don't mind doing so), you and your guests will enjoy the larger screen. If you can get the room reasonably dark, you could still do well with a bright projector (shoot for 2000 lumens or more) and/or a high gain screen.

An LCD can be watched in full daylight, almost without worrying about how bright the room is, and that's nice, but THX recommends a screen that's diagonal measurement is .84 times the viewing distance. So, for example, if you'll be sitting 10 feet away, THX recommends a 100" screen, so a 52" screen is really way too small. Especially for watching movies.

When picking out a projector, a couple of outstanding resources are http://www.projectorcentral.com which has detailed specs and an awesome projection calculator. (Here's an example: http://www.projectorcentral.com/CalculatorLoader.swf?MET=0&VERSION=2.14&PART_ID=3884) The other is http://projectorreviews.com - the most in-depth, thorough and helpful projector reviews on the web, in my opinion (lots of screen shots and comparisons, too!)

One last recommendation- don't skimp on or underestimate the importance of the screen. Many people spend a couple thousand dollars on a nice projector, then buy a $300 or $500 screen. It makes a much bigger difference than you might think. The best (commercial) screen I've seen is the Vutec Silver Star. (http://www.vutec.com/Products/Vutec_Fixed_Frame_Screens/SilverStar) it's a high gain screen, so it can help offset ambient light issues, too. It only comes as a fixed (doesn't roll up) screen, though, so it's best suited to a dedicated theater room. If you need something that rolls up (or something that's acoustically transparent- allowing you to place the center channel speaker behind the screen for excellent dialog localization), go with something from Stewart, (http://www.stewartfilmscreen.com/FrontProjection.html). Another option (if you or your boyfriend are handy) is a DIY screen. These are usually fixed, rather than retractable, but you can get very close to the performance of a Vutec SilverStar at a fraction of the cost. Get a good education and learn how on AVS Forum (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/forumdisplay.php?f=110).

Good luck and have fun!

Can I purchase transparent projector screens?

Robbie

Is there a company that sells transparent projector screens that i can purchase online
Transparent screens allow for images to be projected onto it but still remain transparent, like visionnet.ba, but that company does not sell online to North America

Answer
This is a broad assortment of transparent projection screens and screen materials currently available though the majority of products will be in the form of rear projection screens and digital signage screens. The prices for some of the more specialized screens can often be fairly expensive when one gets into the larger screen sizes.

I have provided a list of manufacturer resources below that you can use to help find distributors and/or dealers in the United States that carry that manufacturerâs products.

######################## RESOURCES ########################

ProScreen
â HoloProScreen using Hitachi AirSho⢠Technology
http://www.proscreeninc.com
â [PDF] Hitachi AirShoâ¢
http://www.proscreeninc.com/ftproot/AIRSHO.pdf

Woehburk - CristalLine
http://woehburk.de/en/index.php

Da-Lite Rear Projection Screens
http://www.da-lite.com/products/index.php?cID=10

Draper
â Draper Projection Screens
http://www.draperinc.com/ProjectionScreens/ScreensMain.asp
â Cinescreen® Rear Screens
http://www.draperinc.com/ProjectionScreens/ScreensProducts.asp?detail=430

Stewart Filmscreen
â Commercial > Site Map
http://www.stewartfilmscreen.com/corporate/site_map/site_map_commercial.html
â Commercial > Special Projects
http://www.stewartfilmscreen.com/commercial/special_projects/overview/overview_special_projects.html
â [FLV] High Resolution Video Wall in IAC Building using StarGlas 100
http://www.stewartfilmscreen.com/commercial/special_projects/overview/iac_video.flv
â Residential > Site Map
http://www.stewartfilmscreen.com/corporate/site_map/site_map.html

Quantum Glass (by Saint-Gobain): PRIVA-LITE
http://www.quantumglass.com/solutions3.php?technologie=privalite

3M
â Graphic Solutions
http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3M/en_US/Graphics/Scotchprint/
â Digital Signage and 3M⢠Vikuiti⢠Rear Projection Film
http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3M/en_US/Graphics/Scotchprint/Solutions/Applications/UniqueApplications/DigitalSignage/
â Architectural Markets: Light Management Products
http://solutions.3mindia.co.in/wps/portal/3M/en_IN/Architectural_Markets/Home/Products/six/
 

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Plasma behind motorized projector screen?

solidsnake

Is this possible or would the projector reflect on the plasma screen behind it when the screen is down. What I want to do is play my console games and watch movies on my 150 projector screen but just tv on my plasma.

Answer
For what itâs worth I have long been a big fan of the basic TV/projector approach youâre using.

All high quality front-projection projection screens have an opaque backing (or at least offer it as an option) and therefore wonât pose a problem. Several projection screen manufacturers such as Da-Lite, Elite Screens, Screen Research, etc., produce front projection screens that are equipped with a black backing material to ensure maximum opacity.

P.S.

To achieve a high quality projected image on a 150-inch screen you would need an extremely high-powered projector in a completely dark room. I am not aware of any single home theater projector under roughly US$20,000 than can produce a high quality projected image of sufficient brightness and contrast on a screen larger than 120 inches. I highly recommend that you consult ProjectorCentralâs Projection Calculator Pro to verify the results for your projection system in addition reading through a few of the other resources listed below.

######################## RESOURCES ########################

Projection Calculator Pro - Throw Distance and Screen Size
http://www.projectorcentral.com/projection-calculator-pro.cfm
Home Theater Projector Buyerâs Guide: Brightness
http://www.projectorcentral.com/home_theater_buyers_guide_3.htm

Hey! Iâm Projecting Here!
http://www.printthis.clickability.com/pt/cpt?action=cpt&urlID=25682692&url=http://digitalcontentproducer.com/mag/video_hey_im_projecting/index.html&showBibliography=Y

[PDF] ClearPix2⢠Projection Screens Whitepaper
http://www.screen-research.com/documents/ClearPix2_eng_light.pdf

Stewart Filmscreen - Front Projection Screen Materials
http://www.stewartfilmscreen.com/commercial/materials/front_projection_screen_materials/intro_page/front_projection_screen_materials_commercial.html

Da-Lite Home Theater: JKP Affinity
http://www.dalite.com/dalitehometheater/products/view_category.php?category_id=11
Da-liteâs JKP Affinity High Definition Projection Screen
http://www.projectorcentral.com/da-lite_affinity.htm?print=1

Planning and Setting Up a Front-Projection Home Theater
http://www.isftv.com/Article_Planning_and_Setting_Up.html

How do I choose a home theater screen?
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20081214185050AAQcp0v
How to determine BEST screen size for home theatre projector viewing?
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20071121170743AAnVZ3T
What is the best full HD projector out right now for under $3000?
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090114235756AABgpHP
Building home theater in new home....?
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080411143533AAsovQB
Looking to build a two movie theatre - any suggestions on where to start?
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080104135319AA1OR89
 

colours on a projector screen...?

Q. I am a second year Education student and I was wondering if you could give me an answer to the following question I have as a student I am teaching on my rounds has asked me...

If movies are projected onto a white screen, how is it possible to see black, and other dark colours in films?

If you are unable to help me could you please refer me to someone who can.

Thank you

Emma

Answer
In a completely dark room, even a white screen will appear black, since there's no light reflecting off of it. So, the "black" portions of the image are just the areas of the screen where the projector isn't shining any light at all.

Even if the room isn't totally dark, the areas of the image that are supposed to be black will still appear to be black if the adjacent areas are much brighter. It's essentially tricking your eyes because your eye depends as much on the contrast between adjacent parts of the image to determine bright/dark as it does the actual brightness level of the image.

If you take a white screen in a moderately well-lit room and project an image consisting of alternating white and black squares, the black squares will still appear black (or at least a dark grey), just because the adjacent white squares are so much brighter.

Even though the screen looked "white" to you when nothing was being projected onto it, the non-illuminated portions will look dark compared to the portions that have bright white light reflected off of them.

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