Highjinx Posted May 15, 2009 Posted May 15, 2009 I currently have a fairly decent projector, however due to room reflections and screen gain at times the blackness of the "black AR bars" are far from ideal. If one has an electric screen, the bottom bar is not a problem...simply roll up the screen so the black bar falls "beneath the projected active area", of course doing this increases the top bar 2x if ones preference is a constant image location. It is possible to raise the screen and shift the image higher to get rid of the bars on the screen all together, but then the image can be too high. I have decided to install an electric roller blind parallel to the existing projection screen that can be dropped down to effectively mask the top bar area. I was wondering if any of you have done something similar. I know there are some electric screens that have this feature inbuilt......but cost an arm and a leg. I have experimented using some stick on fabric to simulate where the blind would drop down to.....and the results are very promising. Will post some pics once the install is complete.
CAVX Posted May 15, 2009 Posted May 15, 2009 I currently have a fairly decent projector, however due to room reflections and screen gain at times the blackness of the "black AR bars" are far from ideal. If one has an electric screen, the bottom bar is not a problem...simply roll up the screen so the black bar falls "beneath the projected active area", of course doing this increases the top bar 2x if ones preference is a constant image location. It is possible to raise the screen and shift the image higher to get rid of the bars on the screen all together, but then the image can be too high. An interesting concept, but are you not bothered that your screen size is now being reduced?
Highjinx Posted May 15, 2009 Author Posted May 15, 2009 An interesting concept, but are you not bothered that your screen size is now being reduced? As Chopsus sais it will only used when watching 2.35 material on a 16:9 screen. But a similar arrangement could be used for those with 2.35:1 screens when viewing 16:9 material, by using two blinds to mask the side bars. I think it's only a temporary measure when watching non-16:9 material in order to increase perceived contrast.I was reading the other day about screens with fully adjustable motorized masking like this (top, bottom, and sides even!). Expensive though. High-Jinx's idea sound pretty clever. As you said it is only will only be used when viewing 2.35:1 material on the 16:9 screen. The percieved contrast increase is quite significant based in draping some black fabric where the blind will drop to......as a bonus there are no AR bars visible for 2.35:1 or 16:9 material(16:9 projecting to full screen without the blind in place) The blind can also be used for "non standard" wide screen AR films, such as 1:87?....n' thanks for the compliment!
Nevyn72 Posted May 16, 2009 Posted May 16, 2009 Someone posted a thread recently where they had done exactly this..... The images were of a setup in a unit and I think they had B&W speakers. I've seached back as far as 2007 threads and I just can't find it though, I'm pretty sure it was in the Projectors forum.
davep Posted May 16, 2009 Posted May 16, 2009 MarkH I think did a similar thing with using rigid peices of somthing within the frame of the screen - thought of doing something similar myself
InterestedUser Posted May 16, 2009 Posted May 16, 2009 Someone posted a thread recently where they had done exactly this.....The images were of a setup in a unit and I think they had B&W speakers. I've seached back as far as 2007 threads and I just can't find it though, I'm pretty sure it was in the Projectors forum. Is this the thread you were thinking of. Tidy home unit setup... & THE BENEFITS OF MASKING!! http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1117258 Cheers.
Highjinx Posted May 16, 2009 Author Posted May 16, 2009 Is this the thread you were thinking of. Tidy home unit setup... & THE BENEFITS OF MASKING!! http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1117258 Cheers. Good find!.....and some good tips. The benefit of using an electric projection screen would be the ability of not having to fiddle with the lens shift or zoom as the image width will be constant using a 16:9 screen and the image centre will remain constant irrespective of the aspect ratio of the viewing material. Here "Electric Haggis" views 16:9 material at 80" and 2.35:1 at 92" so there must be a bit O' zooming going on at least.
Guest Posted May 16, 2009 Posted May 16, 2009 MarkH I think did a similar thing with using rigid peices of somthing within the frame of the screen - thought of doing something similar myself Indeed I did mate, and they work a treat, and cost about $20 to make.
Highjinx Posted May 16, 2009 Author Posted May 16, 2009 Indeed I did mate, and they work a treat, and cost about $20 to make. Mark, How do you move you're masking to cater for different aspect ratios? Thanks.
Nevyn72 Posted May 16, 2009 Posted May 16, 2009 Is this the thread you were thinking of. Tidy home unit setup... & THE BENEFITS OF MASKING!! http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1117258 Cheers. That's the one I was thinking of!! Cheers mate!
betty boop Posted May 16, 2009 Posted May 16, 2009 for those probably at the starting point of all this, the hd advisor is a good read http://www.highdefdigest.com/news/show/Jos...Projection/2798
Cameron_S Posted May 17, 2009 Posted May 17, 2009 I made some masking for my 16:9 screen a while back pretty easily.. Just buy some thin foam board (say no more than 10mm thick) (In WA from Clark Rubber), but it to the height of each black bar with a sharp stanley knife.. Buy some spray on craft glue. Buy some black velveteen from your local fabric store (In WA from Spotlight or Lincraft). Cut and overlock the edges if you don't want it to fray. Then spray the craft glue on the back of the velveteen, and then apply it to the foam board nice and smoothly and wrap it around. Then once done, all you need to do is press it into the frame (make sure the length is just right for a snug fit) and hey presto. Masking. You just have to put it up for 2.35:1 films and take it down for 16:9. Works very well and the velveteen absorbs the light and masks the screen beautifully.
709er Posted May 18, 2009 Posted May 18, 2009 I made some masking for my 16:9 screen a while back pretty easily..Just buy some thin foam board (say no more than 10mm thick) (In WA from Clark Rubber), but it to the height of each black bar with a sharp stanley knife.. Buy some spray on craft glue. Buy some black velveteen from your local fabric store (In WA from Spotlight or Lincraft). Cut and overlock the edges if you don't want it to fray. Then spray the craft glue on the back of the velveteen, and then apply it to the foam board nice and smoothly and wrap it around. Then once done, all you need to do is press it into the frame (make sure the length is just right for a snug fit) and hey presto. Masking. You just have to put it up for 2.35:1 films and take it down for 16:9. Works very well and the velveteen absorbs the light and masks the screen beautifully. Sounds very effective, but where do you keep it when not in use? Do you have a piece for top and bottom or do you use the lens shift to take care of one?
Highjinx Posted May 18, 2009 Author Posted May 18, 2009 I made some masking for my 16:9 screen a while back pretty easily..Just buy some thin foam board (say no more than 10mm thick) (In WA from Clark Rubber), but it to the height of each black bar with a sharp stanley knife.. Buy some spray on craft glue. Buy some black velveteen from your local fabric store (In WA from Spotlight or Lincraft). Cut and overlock the edges if you don't want it to fray. Then spray the craft glue on the back of the velveteen, and then apply it to the foam board nice and smoothly and wrap it around. Then once done, all you need to do is press it into the frame (make sure the length is just right for a snug fit) and hey presto. Masking. You just have to put it up for 2.35:1 films and take it down for 16:9. Works very well and the velveteen absorbs the light and masks the screen beautifully. Like the idea of the velveteen, might have some of it bonded on the motorised blind.
Cameron_S Posted May 18, 2009 Posted May 18, 2009 (edited) Sounds very effective, but where do you keep it when not in use?Do you have a piece for top and bottom or do you use the lens shift to take care of one? On top of the cabinet that sits under my screen.. Piece for top and bottom. If the top doesnt stay in, I used a couple of velcro velveteen tabs. Dont have that setup any more though. But I am building, and my Home Theatre is coming along nicely. 5.5m long by 4.4m wide, conduits for rear speakers and side wall mounted speakers, 31course ceiling, with 34 course recess and lighting sill for rope light. Just researching the new projector, blu-ray player and extra speakers I need. Edited May 18, 2009 by Cameron_S
davep Posted May 18, 2009 Posted May 18, 2009 The Spotlight Velveteen is great stuff, it drapes almost all the walls in my pj room to help light reduce light spill back onto the screen - if only it were a little cheaper per metre
709er Posted May 19, 2009 Posted May 19, 2009 The Spotlight Velveteen is great stuff, it drapes almost all the walls in my pj room to help light reduce light spill back onto the screen - if only it were a little cheaper per metre I just finished building a large drama room/hall for our school. one of the companies that quoted for the theatre curtain and valance - Theatrical Supplies Australia in Clayton, Vic ( big one 4.4m drop by 8m wide) had a great wool product for backstage legs. I think it was 3.3m wide at around $30/m. The wool behaves very similarly to velveteen in absorbing the light. Maybe this would be a cheaper alternative. There are also theatrical supply companies that sell second hand theatre drapes from cinemas etc. You can get a huge amount of fabric for a fraction of the new price.
Highjinx Posted July 19, 2009 Author Posted July 19, 2009 Completed installing a motorised blind(black suede type material) on top of the existing motorised screen case, the bottom metal bar was a tad reflective so stuck on some Velcro loop to tame it. The masking effect of this material is better, at least 2x, than the screen masking borders! The resulting image with the black bars being invisible is spectacular. Caters to all AR's except 4:3. Works better with a motorised screen than a fixed one as the projector lens does not need to be touched(to get rid of the bottom black bar). Well worth considering for anyone with a 16:9 screen or even with a 2.35:1 screen for films that are more than 2.35:1.
kwarrior Posted July 20, 2009 Posted July 20, 2009 Completed installing a motorised blind(black suede type material) on top of the existing motorised screen case, the bottom metal bar was a tad reflective so stuck on some Velcro loop to tame it. The masking effect of this material is better, at least 2x, than the screen masking borders!The resulting image with the black bars being invisible is spectacular. Caters to all AR's except 4:3. Works better with a motorised screen than a fixed one as the projector lens does not need to be touched(to get rid of the bottom black bar). Well worth considering for anyone with a 16:9 screen or even with a 2.35:1 screen for films that are more than 2.35:1. Interesting HJ...any pics ?
Highjinx Posted July 20, 2009 Author Posted July 20, 2009 Here ya are gents! Just the screen and masking, will get around to taking some screen shots later. Power tap taken from existing screen power supply. RF remote for masking, IR for screen. Will add some covers to hide the LHS & RHS brackets.........soon! Please excuse the shakey photos!!! Mask and Screen LHS RHS Screen full 16:9(no masking used) Wide AR(masking dropped down and screen raised a bit) Wider AR(masking dropped down more and screen raised more!) Very happy with the end projected image quality............adds a much greater percieved CR/Dynamic range.
kwarrior Posted July 20, 2009 Posted July 20, 2009 Here ya are gents! Hi HJ...that looks fantastic !! Maybe I should pop in once more to have a look....Well done!!
Highjinx Posted July 20, 2009 Author Posted July 20, 2009 Thanks Gents! Anytime KW!..........I was going to give you a call and drop by sometime today if you were free. HJ
The D-Train Posted July 20, 2009 Posted July 20, 2009 Nice work HJ. It would be nice to have a top and bottom masking option to save adjusting the picture around though wouldnt it. Easier said then done.
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