Projector screens are one of the more underrated tools in the technical trade, which is interesting when you consider the projection screen has almost as much to do with image quality as the projector. Some churches skip them all together. In a pinch, I have been known to project directly onto a wall to get through a weekend. However, when image quality matters, there really is no substitute for a quality projector screen, which is why so many churches have them permanently affixed to walls and ceilings of their worship environments. One of the issues with permanently affixing screens is, when they need to move, what seemed like a good idea at the time, is now not.
The simple solution is to use a motorized projector screen; however, they limit where you are able to project. Take for example a projector screen in the center of the stage. There are three options for where your projector screen can rest. First, dress it up against the top of the opening, the screen only comes down far enough to clear the proscenium. Second, drop it all they way to the floor with lots of black drop above the screen position. Last, split the difference and have some black drop with your projection surface hanging half way between the opening and the floor. Traditionally, what I would do is dress the screen to the floor and have lots of black drop. This would give you the most flexibility, because your surface could occupy any location from your proscenium opening to the stage. However, if your projector screen is like ours, when you project low against the stage, the black drop above looks terrible. It ends up blocking from view all of the hard work we put into set and lighting design. Da-lite is releasing a product that is revolutionary in its thinking about how projection screens are used in high ceiling venues. The new Da-lite Wireline Advantage is a ceiling mounted projector screen that uses thin steel cables to position the screen at proper viewing height, without the need for black drop above it.
Specs
The screen is available in 16'x9' or 16'x10' formats, and a variety of sizes including 159”, 188”, and 220”, diagonal for 16'x9' and 164”, 189”, 208” and 226”, diagonal for 16'x10'. Viewing area on these diagonals range from 6.5'x11.5' to a very large 12'x16'. The screen surface itself is available in four different options: 0.6, 0.9, 1.1, and 1.3 gain surfaces. The case for the Wireline Advantage screen meets Underwriters Laboratories (UL) Plenum Testing Standards for use in air handling space and installation brackets make it easy to mount the screen housing above a drop ceiling. The screen can be controlled by a radio frequency remote controller that comes standard.
How this changes the game
When it comes to large venue installs, the projection screen really only has two options for installation; motorized mount or direct mount. The motorized mount gives you the most flexibility, because the screens can be put away when they are not needed. Many times this gives a venue a much cleaner, open look and can be especially helpful in situations where a large venue is not filling a capacity crowd. Let's face it, huge projection screens with nothing on them just seem tacky. However, in many cases, motorized ceiling mount isn't an option because of the black drop required to get the screen down into place. Tacky as unused screens look, 20' of black material covering the wall above a projector screen looks even worse. This is where the Wireline Advantage projector screen is really going to shine, because the low profile wires on the screen just make it more visually appealing. Being able to position your projector screen anywhere along a 29' vertical or hide it away completely is a pretty serious advantage.
Why it's important
One of the things I really like about this product is that abides by the tech team principle, “Add to the service without being a distraction.” When it comes to mounting projector screens, having lots of black drop doesn't look good, but having empty projector screens is just plain distracting. I think venues that utilize the Wireline Advantage projection screens will have a much neater fit and finish than other venues. Honestly, I wish we had this option when we installed our side projection screens. We have a large venue and ten years after the original installation we painted the walls of our auditorium, only to discover the projection screens were originally installed before the original paint was done. Since it was such a hassle to move them, the painters simply didn't paint behind the screens. As a result, it took far more coats of paint to get even coverage on the wall. To this day, if the lights are on, the careful observer can still see the outline on the wall. If we had been able to simply roll the screens out of the way, it never would have been an issue.
As technical people, our stock in trade is to “go unnoticed.” I really like it when companies build products that operate on the same philosophy. Technology that can be an unquestionable presence when it's needed and be hidden when it's not, is a huge benefit. Having the flexibility to alter your venue from scaled down arena ready for a rock concert, to a solemn quite room of reflection at the flick of a switch is nice. In a time when churches are almost required to run the gamut of both extremes, Da-lite has delivered a product that can really help the house of worship market meet its ever changing demands.
