Projection screens QampA

How do you select the materials for screens?

The worship market encompasses a wide variety of room types, from multipurpose rooms with high ambient light to purpose-built venues with elaborate show control, with all sorts of room conditions in between. We assess the venue for appropriate image area, projection light output requirements, and then we use proprietary metrics to pre-determine the effect of the venue’s lighting on image quality. We select a fabric that produces the highest performance for the total factors within that specific venue. 

We furnish screens that will function in any lighting condition at any scale. There is no consensus choice: our approach is to use specific metrics to make specific, application-driven selections that determine the choice. Any other way of approaching the market is bound to furnish results of diminished fidelity and quality. In front projection, Stewart has matte and angular reflective white types: the StudioTek and UltraMatte lines that span from unity or 1.0 gain up to 2.0. We make grey screens that bridge from well below unity gain matte types to technically advanced grey fabrics above unity gain. In rear projection we mirror this flexibility. A StarGlas 60 or tinted rear projection material may be used in high ambient light, or the AeroView line may be specified for large scale, wide angle viewing in venues with better light control. For passive 3D, we’d recommend different materials such as our Silver 3D or Silver 5D material. Basically, the screen’s material depends on the application.

What advantages do you look for?

What you want to consider in any venue is which material best suits the conditions present. Using a white-based material may not be best suited for high ambient-lit areas due to the diminished contrast off the screen, so a grey-based material may be best or a rear projection solution could be considered. Switching to a higher gain is not always the solution as you may have issues with colour shift or hot spotting, and unsatisfactory off-axis viewing.

Selecting the right projection material can be a challenge. That’s why we at Stewart Filmscreen are trained to use proprietary metrics to provide you with the assistance you need to select the right projection material for each and every situation. Our customer service representatives will help you assess the right screen choice for every venue and every environment, so you don’t have to.

Is there a screen material that best suits the house of worship market?

Typically, for this specialised market, we assess the situation and will recommend the right screen depending on the venue and visual parameters provided. But in most cases that I’ve come across, you’ll definitely need to consider the contrast levels.

Is there a screen material that A/V users are adopting more and more?

Consumers have become more educated and selective these days, especially with the economy affecting many consumer-buying decisions. Many remain passionate about attaining the best quality image they can achieve, and so are seeking out long-range solutions without sacrificing quality.

One example of this is the demand we’ve received for materials suited for 3D systems but also offering a good standard-definition image. We’ve come up with a Stewart Silver 5D material. This specialised, dual-purpose screen material not only preserves polarisation for 3D but also can be used for today’s hi-definition images. You can watch the latest passive 3D movie as well as a Blu-ray movie all on one screen without any of the artefacts associated with a typical polarisation-preserving material. We listen to the dealer, the designer and the consumer in order to provide the best solutions for any installation.

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