Customized Projector Screen
The five most crucial criteria when designing a motorized screen
Multitasking is something we all do on a regular basis. We make the most of our time since it is limited. The same may be said for business space. Space is expensive, so employing it for many uses is beneficial to your company, church, hotel, or theater.
You’ve opted on a motorized projection screen that rolls up and down to make the most of the available area. Excellent decision! Whether you want to put the screen against a wall, in the ceiling, or above a stage, retracting it while not in use frees up room for other purposes.
These are the top five factors to consider so that your screen provides you with the years of enjoyment you desire.
1. Size
This is a large topic, so we developed a separate post to go through all of the main points. See “When Bigger is Better: DISCAS, AVIXA Standard” on the Strong MDI blog. For help with general image size planning, go to this page. The following are important factors to consider:
Image Height – According to DISCAS, the ideal image height must also meet the available area. If the space does not allow for the optimum height, indicate the maximum picture height that may be accommodated. Ceiling height, lecterns or other furniture, and presenters who may need to stand in front of the screen are all limitations.
Image Width – Consider the aspect ratios (shape) of the content you’ll be displaying when deciding on the design of your image screen. Only one aspect ratio of material is rarely presented. There will be a variety of videos, presentations, and films. Consider how different aspect ratios will look on a particular screen and choose the best compromise.
2. Material Choice
In our article “Choosing the Right Screen Material,” we go through this issue in great detail. This link will assist you in selecting the appropriate material.
3. Tensioning or not?
With or without side tensioning, motorized screens are available. Side tensioning, sometimes called tab-tensioning, is used in better displays. Tab-tensioning permits higher-grade PVC screens to be used, which benefit from side tensioning to keep the screen entirely flat from side to side. The outcome will be a better screen if your budget allows for a tab-tensioned screen.
4. Borders: What borders do you require based on the position?
Once you’ve chosen the ideal location for your motorized screen, you’ll need to design the boundaries so that the picture area of the screen is in the greatest possible position. These are the main points.
Casing Height – Determine the location of the screen’s case. This can be determined by the final ceiling height, the height of a beam or proscenium, or a suitable location on the wall for the screen’s enclosure. Hidden or apparent motorized screen enclosures are available. Screen cases can be hidden by recessing them into the ceiling or soffit, or by concealing them with drapery or other aesthetic treatments. Cases can also be mounted on visible surfaces such as walls, ceilings, or beams. It is critical for your screen provider to understand your mounting plan in order to choose the appropriate enclosure. Visible casings are often white or black in color, thus the provider should be aware of this.
Image Above Finished Floor – The bottom of the image should be positioned such that it is visible to all viewers and that viewing is pleasant. Stages, risers, furnishings, and presenters all have the potential to cause problems. When you add them all together, the image shouldn’t be too high for comfort. No one enjoys having to crane their neck and look high up to see a picture. Calculate the optimum height for the image’s bottom based on these considerations.
Bottom borders – It’s possible that bottom borders are crucial. In certain cases, an extra-long bottom border is required to cover behind-the-screen furniture or speakers, or simply to lower the screen down to floor level for aesthetic purposes. Determine the extra bottom border length in these cases and incorporate it in your design.
Top Drop — When the distance between the bottom of the picture and the bottom of the case is more than the image height, the gap is filled with a top black border, which is commonly referred to as a drop. The screen should be positioned so that the average viewer’s eye level is 1/3 above the viewing surface in a textbook position. When furniture or other barriers prevent the screen from falling into position, this may not be feasible. That’s the part when you have to make a compromise. The picture should be placed such that the average viewer does not have to look up too much to see the entire screen. The top border, also known as drop, is the gap between the top of the picture and the bottom of the screen’s cover, regardless of how the screen is ultimately positioned. This information is required by your vendor in order to provide an accurate estimate.
Side Borders – Typically, the width of the side borders is determined only for aesthetic reasons. What contributes to the image’s well-balanced appearance? There is one consideration a designer must make. The whole width of a motorized screen must be at least 1.33 times the overall height. Side boundaries may need to be increased when there is a lot of top drop.
5. Perforation
Finally, do you want speakers behind the screen to further the realism and immersion of the experience? A perforated screen is required if this is a key design aim. Small or even minuscule holes can be punched in screens to allow sound to pass through. Perforation can be divided into two categories. The smaller the holes must be to ensure that they are not apparent to the audience as the front viewers go closer.
Because everyone’s eyes are different, we recommend a distance of fifteen feet when most people can’t see the holes in regular perforation. In movie theaters, this is the most popular option. The bulk of spectators sit more than fifteen feet away from the screen and are unable to notice the holes.
Microperf is the name of the upgrade option. Microperf’s tiny holes are usually not visible beyond 10 feet of viewing distance.
