|  IP: Logged

The process is straightforward. Clean the screen throroughly, both front and back, brushing off loose dirt first and then wiping down with a non-residue cleaner (spic-n-span) and rinsing down with water and drying with absorbant paper towels. Any dirt left on the screen front or back will ruin the job.

The critical holes are the ones in front of the speakers. These are the only holes that pass high frequency sound. You can take a chance that a thin (dry roller) layer of paint rolled on in that area won't occlude the holes, or you can ream the holes when the paint is partly dry, or you can stick round toothpick ends through them from the back prior to painting and remove the toothpicks as the paint dries.

Painting is done with a roller working from top to bottom, left to right, never stopping until complete. There used to be screen paints (there still may be) but most high titanium dioxide content ceiling paint will work well.

Painting will cover water stains, even out patches, and cover shiney spots where people have improperly cleaned a screen. Once a screen is painted, start budgeting for a replacement. There may be some sound muffling even if you keep the holes as clear as possible, and painting a second time isn't a good idea.

I've projected onto expensive screens, and I've projected onto painted sheetrock. I personally prefer the look of painted sheetrock because I feel screen holes can be distracting and allow specular reflections from rigging behind the screen. The problem is that this only works for a very small screen because speakers can't be properly placed behind the screen.

 |  IP: Logged

 |  IP: Logged

quote:

---

I've projected onto expensive screens, and I've projected onto painted sheetrock. I personally prefer the look of painted sheetrock because I feel screen holes can be distracting

---

There was one occasion, when I watched Runaway Bride on August 1, 1999 at the 13:35 showing at Regal River Oaks Cinema 8 in Decatur, AL, that I noticed the holes in the screen. It made the image look like it had a "pixel structure" to it. I was sitting in the fourth row and the focus was perfect, and I've found that perfect focus makes the holes more likely to be visible, maybe because it causes people's eyes to pay more attention to small details like that? I've never noticed the holes from farther back than the fourth row.

------------------
Evans A Criswell
Huntsville-Decatur Movie Theatre Information Site

For example, here is a link to information about Harkness Hall "mini-perf" in their "Happenings Newsletter - issue 4":
http://www.harknesshall.com/news1.htm

------------------
John P. Pytlak, Senior Technical Specialist
Worldwide Technical Services, Entertainment Imaging
Research Labs, Building 69, Room 7525A
Rochester, New York, 14650-1922 USA
Tel: 716-477-5325 Cell: 716-781-4036 Fax: 716-722-7243
E-Mail: john.pytlak@kodak.com
Web site: http://www.kodak.com/go/motion

 |  IP: Logged

Evans, what can I say? I'm easily distracted watching a movie. If there is any reflection at all from behind the screen it drives me nuts. I particularly notice the "ghosts" on high contrast scenes and credits.

Gordon, that is a cool idea to vaccum (never could spell that word either) out the excess paint from the holes. I'll bet it works like a charm. I still think rolling on the paint is a better idea because of the probability of overspray, equipment setup time, and general fuss. (Painting silver excepted of course.)

 |  IP: Logged

 |  IP: Logged

quote:

---

Evans, what can I say? I'm easily distracted watching a movie. If there is any reflection at all from behind the screen it drives me nuts. I particularly notice the "ghosts" on high contrast scenes and credits.

---

Yes, I notice reflections from behind the screen and I've noticed them in every theatre I've ever been to, and understand that it's just a "necessary evil". I would never mention it in my ratings or deduct for it unless it were really bad to the point that the average customer would notice it excessively. Even black objects reflect some light, especially those with smooth, shiny surfaces. Someone needs to invent a "dark bulb" that emits darkness instead of light for such uses. [I'm being very facetious].

------------------
Evans A Criswell
Huntsville-Decatur Movie Theatre Information Site

PS Hurley screens are about half the price of the competition. (At least mine was)
------------------
Greg Mueller
Amateur Astronomer, Machinist, Filmnut http://www.muellersatomics.com/

Paul
What kind of port glass is it?
What lenses are being used?

 |  IP: Logged