Drive-in parking lot guidance needed

[Scott Tallal]

After weeks of unproductive online research on this, we're hoping someone here might be able to answer the following questions:

1. Does the 10° minimum recommended viewing angle (e.g.: 5.715X screen width) also apply to placement of the back row in the parking lot? If not, where should the back row be placed for, say, an 80' wide screen?
2. For a flat (not curved) screen, what is the maximum recommended off-axis viewing angle?

We're hoping to start up by August and need to stripe our lot before then, so any info other readers can provide would definitely be appreciated!

[John Eickhof]

depending on the reflectivity of the screen surface and if it is corrugated or not you can be off axis by as much as 30 degrees to center of screen, row spacing would depend on slope and ramping of the parking area in order to maintain sight libes without car roofs in the way, generally drive in theatres had 5-15 degree upslope on ramps higher slope closer to screen, and ramp spacing of 30 feet a corrugated screen surface affords more off axis viewing as the screen acts like a lenticular indoor screen by illuminating the corrugations. a flat surface smooth screen will not afford a very high off axis view without great loss of image brilliance

[Scott Tallal]

Many thanks -- great information!

[Barry Floyd]

There used to be some good drive-in design related websites back in the late nineties and early 2000's... however most are gone none. We use 40 degrees maximum from the centerline of the screen for maximum viewing angle.