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Topic: Masking Material

Greg Mueller
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1687
From: Port Gamble, WA
Registered: Jun 99

posted 03-11-2000 02:09 PM

I need a suggestion on masking material for the sides. I have fixed, solid masking for scope prints but I have film that goes all the way down to 1:33, so I need masking that I can move in. Here's the question. What can I use for masking material that will be transparent to the sound so the room EQ won't change when the masking covers the left and right speakers? Some kind of material, I figure, but what kind?

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Gordon McLeod
Film God

Posts: 9532
From: Toronto Ontario Canada
Registered: Jun 99

posted 03-11-2000 04:00 PM

There are several THX approved materials that are acoustically transparent
Also some people use speaker grill cloth
It is a good idea to make the leading edge of the masking of a heavy black commando to give the crisp edge

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Robb Johnston
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 147
From: St. Louis Suburbs
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 03-12-2000 01:40 AM

I do not know if this is the proper name, but we call the acustically invisible fabric we use "Sharks tooth."

Hope that helps

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Greg Mueller
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1687
From: Port Gamble, WA
Registered: Jun 99

posted 03-12-2000 08:52 AM

Is there a THX web page that has all the certified stuff on it, or do you have to find each manufacturer and see if they're certified? Does any one know where I can get "Sharks Tooth" material

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Gordon McLeod
Film God

Posts: 9532
From: Toronto Ontario Canada
Registered: Jun 99

posted 03-12-2000 11:35 AM

I beleive Melfabo fabrics in Newyork sells it
also I believe Harkness Hall has a fabric as well

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William Hooper
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1879
From: Mobile, AL USA
Registered: Jun 99

posted 03-14-2000 02:23 AM

quote:
I need a suggestion on masking material for the sides

Doesn't the law require it to be fireproof?

Remember the Iroquois.

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Greg Mueller
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1687
From: Port Gamble, WA
Registered: Jun 99

posted 03-14-2000 08:01 AM

This is an 8 seat private screening room.

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Greg Mueller
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1687
From: Port Gamble, WA
Registered: Jun 99

posted 03-14-2000 08:53 AM

DUM-dum
DUM-dum
DUM-dum
DUM
DAAAAAAH DAAAAAAH DAAAAAAH
DA-DA
DUM-dum
DUM-dum
DUM-dum
DUM

(Theme Music from 2001)

I'm an Expert!

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Martin Frandsen
Master Film Handler

Posts: 270
From: Denmark, Europe
Registered: Jun 99

posted 03-14-2000 09:29 AM

CONGRATULATIONS! im right after you, but i still need around 19 posts before im there

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Randy Stankey
Film God

Posts: 6539
From: Erie, Pennsylvania
Registered: Jun 99

posted 03-14-2000 08:58 PM

I just went through this last summer at Mercyhurst.

We used black SCRIM to mask the sides. The two inside edges of the scrims are made of Duvetine (sp?) Commando cloth is a good choice, too. There is a "Pipe pocket" in the bottom to weigh them down so they don't wave around, etc. They are fireproof. They were custom made by a theatre (stage) supply house. (Syracuse Stage & Scenery) I think they cost about $600.

Check out Mercyhurst in the Pic. Warehouse. You can see the masking around the screen looks transparent. That's becasue the backstage lights were on. Rest assured, when the lights go down you can't see through it. (It's a "black art" thing.)

Our masking/screen are hung on the fly system. The screen is on line 6 and the masking is on line 5. That way they can be moved independantly. If we want to change formats, we untie the scrims and slide them back and forth on the pipe. We have the pipe spiked (marked) with all the formats. We have 1.85, 2.35 & 1.33 now, but it's all just a matter of measuring for others like 1.65, etc. (Lenses and apertures are another thing...)

We considered using common width masking. If we did, all we'd have to do is move line 5 up and down to change the format. We decided aginst that. Common height is better!

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Bill Purdy
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 139
From: Seattle, WA
Registered: Oct 1999

posted 03-15-2000 09:50 AM

When I was doing a budget job in my own basement I had a small length of the Harkness material which is very good. However, in one of these low cost fabric houses where they have a lot of short ends, I found something called "Robing Velour". The sort of stuff from which they make cheap bath robes and the like. It was acoustically more transparent than the Harkness material and absorbed the spill light better than either the Harkness or regular Duvatine. I am sure that it would never meet fire codes, and I would guess that it would be too light weight for a drape of more than 10 feet or so (i.e., it would probably sag).

------------------
Bill Purdy
Comonent Engineering

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