Screens Vendors Stretch To Meet Specialty Setups

By John Laposky On Sep 19 2011 - 4:01am

INDIANAPOLIS — CEDIA Expo showgoers this month were greeted by an ever-growing number of new projection-screen materials and models, including some specialty designs for non-traditional home theater environments such as outdoor setups and brightly lit rooms.

Denmark’s DNP displayed at the show its Supernova screen, which it is calling “the world’s first front projection screen designed for brightly lit environments.” The Supernova boasts an “active optical system” made up of seven material layers that DNP said doubles the image brightness and increases contrast by up to seven times. Layers include an optical lens film to reduce the impact of ambient light, an advanced reflection layer for half-gain angles up to +/- 85 degrees, a black color layer for improved color reproduction, and a hard surface coating for screen scratch-resistance and a shimmer-free image.

The series is made up of three types of optical screens — fixed, retractable and portable — available in a variety of finishes, formats and sizes.

Supernova screens feature an active high-contrast filter that reflects the projected image while effectively absorbing available light from other angles. DNP said this technology means the screen is virtually unaffected by diffused ambient light.

Draper displayed its new Nocturne projection screen designed for outdoor use.

The Nocturne is available in motorized (series E) or crank-operated (series C) versions.

The weather- and insect-resistant solid-aluminum head box includes a built-in hinge to ease installation and service. Hardware comes standard in white, but is also available in silver, ivory, charcoal bronze or black. A weighted dowel and side cable guides provide maximum stability in breezy situations, the company said.

The motorized Nocturne works with a wall switch or remote, or it can be integrated into existing homeautomation systems.

The crank-operated version is intended for areas where power is unavailable.

Viewing surfaces available include matte white or high-contrast gray. HDTV format sizes are available from 65 inches to 133 inches diagonal. CinemaScope and other formats are available up to 10 feet wide. Custom sizes are available.

For traditional dedicated home-theater rooms, Draper has added curved frame versions of its existing Clarion and Onyx projection screens. Draper said the curved screens with Vel-Tex covered extruded aluminum frames help offset pin-cushion distortion from a horizontal expansion lens, and provide greater engagement with the projected image. In addition, the curved image is reportedly subject to less ambient reflected light and the projector’s light is more accurately reflected.

The curve is defined by its radius in feet. Custom radii are available.

Curved Onyx is available in sizes up to 19 feet wide.

Curved Clarion is available in sizes up to 13 feet wide. Custom sizes are also available.

Both screens include mounting brackets.

Da-Lite Screen Company showed its HD Progressive 1.1 Perf screen, an acoustically transparent front projection fabric which allows speakers to be placed directly behind the screen.

The fabric provides the same optical characteristics as the company’s HD Progressive 1.1 screen surface but includes specially designed perforations that allow the speakers to transmit the full range of a soundtrack with maximum clarity, Da-Lite said.

Both iterations of Da-Lite’s HD Progressive projection screens feature low gain for a wide viewing angle and image uniformity. The new HD Progressive 1.1 Perf material is available on tensioned electric and fixed frame screens.

The material is washable with a gain of 1.1 and a viewing half angle of 85 degrees.

Elite Screens came to CEDIA with a range of screen options, but featured two new acoustically transparent materials, the AcousticPro 1080P2 and 4K.

The A1080P2 material is an enhancement of Elite’s current acoustic material. The 4K is a premium-grade product that provides a virtually sheer acoustically transparent surface that upon the first glance, appears to be a solid matte white material.

Also on display was the company’s Lunette, a fixedframe projection screen with a curved design that the company said enhances the aesthetic appeal of the presentation by giving its viewers the sensation of being physically drawn into the image.

Elite said the curved design eliminates pin-cushion distortion commonly experienced when projecting in the 2.35:1 format.

Elite also displayed it Evanesce Series of disappearing electronic screens. The series features a durable plenum-rated casing and ships fully assembled with ull IR/RF and Ethernet controls functions included.

Diagonal screen sizes range from 84 inches to 139 inches with choice of tensioned or non-tensioned matte white material.

It is available in 4:3, 16:10, 16:9 and 2.35:1 aspect ratios.

Screen Innovations came to CEDIA with the latest generation of it Black Diamond series, the new Zero Edge projection screen.

The Zero Edge is an ultra-thin, rigid panel with a ultra-thin bezel, the company said, which gives the appearance that the projected image is floating off the wall.

Among the multiple mounting options, the Zero Edge includes recessed (unframed), flush-to, and projected off the wall options. No assembly is required.

According to Screen Innovations president Ryan Gustafson, “Our dealers have been telling us that they love the Black Diamond big-screen experience but the problem is their customers don’t want a projection screen in the living room. Now with Zero Edge, you can have the same big-screen experience with cutting edge aesthetic appeal.”

Standard screens are available in 80-inch to 142- inch diagonal sizes. Custom screen sizes are available as well.

Screen materials include Black Diamond 2.7, Black Diamond 1.4 and Black Diamond 0.8. The Black Diamond Zero Edge will be shipping in October.