Screens

[DocSavage]

Well, not really 'hardware' like everything else is hardware, but if fit the forum description, so...

I'm interested in knowing the variety of things that can be projected on. I just have a simple 15X15 cloth sheet that I use if the location doesn't have one, but I know some people use parachute fabric and some people project onto cubes etc. etc. etc.

Ryan

[francisj]

The question of using parachutes, etc, I guess comes down to whether you're trying to project a recognizable image or just attractive patterns...not sure how much the quality of screen/etc affects the image quality in the first case - at the moment I'm projecting onto a white(ish) wall, the colour balance/contrast aren't perfect (OK-using a Barco CRT, they're pretty damn good, so any flaws in the signal, screen etc will be very visible) but it's more than adequate.
Main issue seems to be that it's impossible to focus/converge on someting that's not flat...theoretically you might be able to compensate for this, but not with any hardware I've ever seen....

[LEVLHED]

I actually made a small screen for a gig out of a white vinyl shower curtain! I bought a curtain for a single shower stall and cut off a portion from the bottom to make it proportional (4:3).
It got pretty wrinkly, so I'd throw it in the clothes dryer for a short time and stretch it out while it was still warm. (carefully lay it out in the back of my van to bring it there) Then I finally figured out a way to just leave in place. It worked perfectly for that application. And was CHEAP.

Otherwise, I use parachute nylon. Made from a looong bolt of 5' wide stuff I got off Ebay. Had a 7.5'x10' and a 15'x20' made at a sign & awning manufacturing place. Needed sewing machine that could work w/ light material.
I like them, they fit into VERY compact sacks. And work excellent for rear projection.

At the club The Quest in Minneapolis they stretched out white spandex, pulled from the corners, in front of the speaker stacks. Made a kind of weird "spider" shape, but very efficient for what they need there. Very smooth,flat surface area. Rigged so they can be put "up" out of the way when not needed.

I remember one guy posting here(?) about using polypropelyne material (much like spandex I would imagine). Claims the material had great amplification properties, if I remember correctly.

[bigloose]

I think the post was from Isobrown and it was a french company who was doing the material.

[unjulation]

in reality you can project upon anything, and it will create a perticular efect depending, so i serpose it depends on what you whant to do.

nice efect is to layer scrim/shark touth gause/net certan about 5 feet apart ( as meney as you whant , but focuseing becomes a problem with the more diverse spaces )

very simple 3d efect,

it creates layers of image that will make an indervidual question the internal verlidity of what they see,

again focusing is a problem and you will have to experiment with it to find what is best for your self and your audiance's eyes,

plastick neting is also a good one as unless it is lit the audiance won't see it,

floting image and all that,

i've even used smoke as a tempory screen before, must admit i found it out by acident, a lot depends upon angel of veiw, so it's kinda limeted, i think?

shark's touth gauze=a scrim type merterial that depending on which way the lights is taken from will either show one side or anouther, very usefull for back projecting and makeing reale things diserpier for if it is lit from one side then the audiance wont see it in a clear atmosphear, it's definetley worth playing with.

[MoRpH]

I'm not a roadie or production crew so I don't look after screens but in the past I have projected onto many things...... walls, sheets, large white balloons.... but I would have to say the best was a HUGE cinema screen coated with special powery reflective paint that reflects like 99.somthing% of the light..... nothing short of friggin beautiful :)

[DocSavage]

I'm basically just wondering if what I'm doing is making me lose brightness...it seems like a lot of light shines through the sheet, enough so that I can do back projection if I want. But is there some product that I can put on my sheets to make things better?

Ryan

[MoRpH]

I would first try something a little thicker or tighter weave..... then maybe there is something you can get ina can from a hardware or paint shop that could make it a bit more reflective.... I think you can actually buy the paint/power stuff I was mentioning... dunno where though or what it would be called :)

[francisj]

So is it possible to buy this 'nothing short of beautiful' paint, then? sounds like you could take almost anything & make it into an at least decent surface...

[MoRpH]

Sorry (but since I'm not a roadie :p) I don't really get involved with the screens.... honestly I would go to your local cinema (or meet someone that works there) and ask them about their screens as I believe its a common cinema screen thing... they might know of a store that sells some sort of replacement/extra paint/powder..... seriously a lot of this was just specualation on what I was told... but I tell you it was the brightest, most reflective screen I have ever seen.

[wellREDman]

a while back we bought a proper fastfold screen with both front and back projection sheets, and even tho it's now put us in real financial difficulty I dont regret it cos the difference it makes is phenomenal compared to everything else we tried out,
I.d recommend if you can make the budget stretch to it hiring a pro screen(tho maybe dont buy one :( )

[plc]

in some occasions its fun to use buttermilk (or is it curdled/sour milk). just spread it with a paint roll or whatever on a piece of glass such as a window. as it dries, it makes a splendid back projection screen, stays for days and can simply be washed away when not needed anymore.

[MoRpH]

Eeeeewwww I can't imagine off/curdled milk screens would smell to good

[LEVLHED]

HAH hah HAH!

[plc]

:) really, it works, but of course you shouldn't spill it everywhere. :) but for instance if you want to make beautiful projections that the people can watch outside from the street, try it on a window and you may be surprised.. I have heard people using the same "screen" for a week without any probs. it does't smell when it dries... unless you don't forget the bucket of this fancy "screen paint" lurking in the corner.. :)

of course you have to wait some hours to let it dry, but then its really smooth and transparent enough for back projection. if you won't risk you won't find, boys ;)

but I highlight the fact that this is feasible only on some occasions.

[Amukidi]

I'm with wellREDman on this one - I've been lucky enough to use 2 10'x 7' pukka rear projection screens! They look a bit like thick, milky polythene, but they are the dog's bollocks. Spend some of your fees renting these, and your clients will come back for more!

[xsocyst]

I have constructed a number of screens and just thought I would add this, For material that has excellent light reflection you need to get thick curtain back, it has light reflective particle on it and is very strong, can be found in most large fabric places. We built an awesome 4 x 3 metre screen for about 35$ AU. its awesome for what we do! and it gives awesome brightness.

[Amukidi]

I've seen some cracking results using white dressmakers gauze (the stuff tutus and bridal veils are made of) its dirt cheap and is a lot better than you'd imagine!

[antifunker]

Im gonna share this one with you all 'cause Im feeling kinda generous :D

I was doing a show where the script called for an apparition to appear in the middle of the stage out of thin air. The apparition then had dialogue with a live character on stage.
The director wanted this effect to appear out of thin air, with no screen visible prior to the apparition actually appearing (directors... they never ask for much).

I came up with the idea of making a silk screen that blew up from the stage using a high powered fan (the kind they use to inflate jumping castles). It took a lot of experimentation with many different samples of material, but I eventually found a lycra/cotton composite material that held up its own weight in the air stream. We shot the actor who played the apparition, with an ECU of white facepaint and on a black background.
A little collaboration with the LD (the live character was softly lit with no other light on stage) and we had an effect that was given a standing ovation on opening night!! To the audience it really did seem like a giant ghostly head came from nowhere and was floating above the stage.

I have since used this 'floating screen' system at a few dance parties, and believe me, to a bunch of pilled up party goers this is truly a freaky effect.

Feel free to rip/develop this idea - just let me know how it goes.

[dedhedgehog]

sounds similr to the method used in flame lights.

ragging flames shaped silk material attached to a fan, that waves the silk in mid-air. then orange/red and blue uplighting used to create the flame colour.

except you projected on it insted - nice.....

reminds me of a post somebody made a while back about cylindrical screens - cxan't remember who or in which thead though...?


dan

[ecin]

I'm convinced you can project almost anything after this weekend. Any1 ever spent any time in Burlington, VT? I did a gig with a local band at Club Metronome. The walls are covered in kitchen grade aluminum foil. I was going to just use the sheet a normally carry around but was interested to see the effect on foil. Looking directly at the wall it was super bright becasue of the reflection of course. If you stood at an angle, say about 45-90 degrees, the projection slowly started to disappear similiar to some laptop screens.

So i guess it wasn't a great solution but with 10 foot ceilings, my only option was to project half on the wall and half on the ceiling.

To answer the main question of this post, I typically use a sheet. You can't beet cheap. I also have a home made 6 x 4 screen that i built. Its basically just a window shade i bought from home depot, you know the ones that roll up. I built a metal frame for it and it can either hang from the ceiling of be mounted on a tripod.

When I have the budget for a fast-fold - i'll buy one.

[WordVirus23]

what did you use as a frame? or was it just hung on a wall?
I have made a nice pair of matching 12'x9' screens, my only problem is that at this size, the frame is sloppy and in general a pain to deal with... so I'm curious how and what you made your frame out of....

..james...
PS. my frame is PVC (schedule 40) pipe in sections no longer than 4.5' so it all fits in a not too huge bag and can be crammed into most cars.

Originally posted by xsocyst
I have constructed a number of screens and just thought I would add this, For material that has excellent light reflection you need to get thick curtain back, it has light reflective particle on it and is very strong, can be found in most large fabric places. We built an awesome 4 x 3 metre screen for about 35$ AU. its awesome for what we do! and it gives awesome brightness.