F. H. Richardson's bluebook of projection (1935)

U^ RICHARDSON'S DLVEBOOK OF PROJECTION will help reduce the projection angle and make vision from the front seats more comfortable. (57) If there is a balcony the floor in front of the screen should be covered with a black cloth or painted a non-gloss black. (58) Provided the viewing angle from the front seats is not too great the screen may be located in "one" with good effect, but whatever the location it is extremely important that its surroundings be inconspicuous. No object must distract the eye while the picture is on the screen. (59) The border should be plain non-gloss black next to the picture.. This may be shaded gradually over a distance of not less than three feet into some lighter tone (silver gray) in harmony with the surroundings. The theory has been advanced that the sharp contrast between a black border and the white light tends to raise the apparent screen illumination near the edges of the screen above its center. This might be true were the screen evenly illuminated, (60) but as a matter of fact screens are not evenly illuminated under the best condition. Illumination is always highest at the screen center. It falls off sharply to the outer margins. The difference is often as much as fifteen c. p. at center and as low as five at the margins. The effect of sharp border contrast therefore would be to level the illumination for all parts of the screen. A dead black border next to the screen allows the picture edges to overlap upon it an inch or two. This tends to make less visible any movement of the screen image as a unit. Paint, Kalsomine, Etc. Perforated screens cannot be improvised. The exhibitor must choose the one that meets the requirements of his theatre from those offered by manufacturers. But if he uses a solid surface screen, he may make his own, (61) since he, himself, can apply a coating that will have excellent powers of reflection and diffusion. (62) Such