Modern screens

[Dominique De Bast]

I was wondering if the screens currently sold now for digital projections are the same as the cine/slides projectors. I once read that the professionnal screens found in cinemas are (or were ?) not as reflectives as the home movie screens. Since digital projectors are brighters than our cine ones, is it possible that the screens manufactured now reflects less light or are they just the same as the ones sold 30 or 40 years ago ?

[Ed Gordon]

Cinemas mostly use perforated screens to allow sound to pass through the screen. Some 3D systems require a silver screen. Home screens were mostly glass beaded which have a higher gain than matte white, but brightness drops dramatically the more off-center your viewing angle is. In my home cinema I use matte white (built with black-out cloth) and tensioned to prevent the wrinkles. I started with a 110 inch glass beaded pull down screen which always had wrinkles in it which would show image distortion especially during movement on the screen. I am very happy with the 12 foot scope image I get with my custom built matte white screen. The image with a video projector in pin-sharp and very bright (even when projecting in 3D).

So the answer to your question in "yes and no", and "it depends"!

[Brian Fretwell]

I believe some IMAX (15 perf 70mm) screens were light grey, I don't think it was silver. Perhaps if the screen wasn't the maximum size it would have been too bright if pure white.

[Dominique De Bast]

So the answer to your question in "yes and no", and "it depends"!

How can you know if you see a modern home "movies" screen if it would fit for cine projectors ?

[Ken Finch]

Hi Dom. I think you will find that most screens for home cinema use. will be matte white. Yes, you used to be able to buy beaded, silver, ribbed or lenticulated silver as well as matte white screens. Silver screens were directional and the ribbing or lenticulating tended to offset this. They were or are necessary for some3d systems e.g. Polaroid. I once played around with a ‘Spacial’ system which made ordinary films look like 3d. In my home cinema, the screen wall is painted brilliant white Matt emulsion and it works well for everything. Ken Finch😊

[Dominique De Bast]

In my home cinema, the screen wall is painted brilliant white Matt emulsion and it works well for everything. Ken Finch😊

Thanks, Finch, Ed and Brian.

[Ed Gordon]

Here is an article that summarizes things to consider when choosing a screen:

https://www.crutchfield.com/S-2LXqHb...ing-guide.html

[Dominique De Bast]

Here is an article that summarizes things to consider when choosing a screen:

https://www.crutchfield.com/S-2LXqHb...ing-guide.html

Thanks. Although, as expected, they only mention digital pojectors, they give some good informations.

[Ed Gordon]

When digital video projection was fairly new, low gain (grey) screens were used to overcome the greatest weakness of digital video projection: lousy contrast ratio. That is no longer the issue it was. If you go back and read about the conversion from film to digital, you won't find much being said about screen replacement.

For projection of smaller film gauges, a high gain screen looks better. Practically speaking, matte white works fine for film or digital regardless of film gauge or digital resolution.

Another good source of information is https://www.stewartfilmscreen.com/en

[Gary Sayers]

My digital projector is currently used on a wall that is painted green! The projector's settings allow you to set what colour you are projecting on and it adjusts accordingly. Image quality is great.

[Dominique De Bast]

digital projector's settings allow you to set what colour you are projecting on and it adjusts accordingly.

I have no digital projector, I just want to project with cine projectors

[Steve Lee]

Dominique,
In my house I have two screens. The first is a large 5m wide fixed perforated mat white cinema screen, that gets used most of the time for projecting tv with a digital projector and occasionally used for 16mm and super 8 film.
The other is a very cheap pull down screen that I have in my workroom/office, this screen has a slight reflective texture to it. It was purchased from Darty and was about 50 € delivered.
Tomorrow I will have a go at projecting a super 8 film onto both of the screens, using the same film, projector and distance. I will take some screenshots to see if there are any notably differences between them, as they are like chalk and cheese.
It would be very interesting to see the results.
Steve

[Graham Ritchie]

Hi Dominque

Good question, I cant see the modern home movie screen would be any less reflective than ones made years ago for film projection. I myself just use a large sheet of painted custom wood. Its now due for its 10 year booster shot with Dulux Wash and Wear semi gloss vivid white.

Years ago I used a sheet of hardwood painted matt white with a around 2 inch black border painted with school board black and that worked fine. Whatever screen you choose do make sure it has a decent black border. There are still plenty of tripod screens around or finding a old cheap white window roller blind, once again it would need to be painted with some black school board paint for a border, black border is a must for anything you choose.

I guess the bottom line is you don't have to spend a lot of money on any screen to achieve results that you will be more than happy with

[Dominique De Bast]

Thanks, Steve !

Graham, I wouldn't mind projecting on a (perfect) white wall but because of the configuration of my living room, I have to project where the windows are. I'm currently using a good tripod screen but would like to replace it by a larger wall screen (also, the tripod does'nt allow me to put the screen as fas as possible from the projector). There is no emergency (and sadly, I have other bills to pay before considering an investment in a new screen).

[Ken Finch]

Hi Dom. Just a suggestion, if your projector is facing toward the window and it is of a suitable size. Why not obtain a sheet of hardboard and fit it into the window alcove. Paint it with brilliant white emulsion, it will need a few coats preferably using a roller. Then put a black border around it. Job done at low cost and the room blacked out as well. Of course much depends on the window size. Alternatively you could hang it on a window curtain rail.Ken Finch😊