We use Optical Character Recognition (OCR) during our scanning and processing workflow to make the content of each page searchable. You can view the automatically generated text below as well as copy and paste individual pieces of text to quote in your own work.
Text recognition is never 100% accurate. Many parts of the scanned page may not be reflected in the OCR text output, including: images, page layout, certain fonts or handwriting.
305
SCREENS
Screen Surfaces
Some ¥acts on brightness and Distortion
By CHESTER COOLEY
President, Da-Lite Screen Co., Inc.
A clean bright picture, such as every theatre owner desires to bring before his patrons, requires a combination of projectors, arc lamps, rectifiers or generators, all i.i good condition — and a new screen.
Everyone conversant with motion pictures knows that the screen plays an appreciable part in improving picture definition, and I intend to go into the details of this subject more thoroughly a bit later. You will find that a new screen also makes for better sound. A sound screen, as we know, has holes in it so that the sound from the loud-speaker system located back of the screen may come through to the audience. These holes have a tendency to become clogged with dirt and grit, or plugged up with paint, all of which detracts from sound quality.
So that while buying a new screen is more important than ever today, buying the right kind of a screen is equally important. Don't just buy a screen — or don't pick your screen on price alone. Real economy lies in purchasing equipment that gives satisfaction and possesses wearing qualities. Look for fabrics that will stay white and pliable, or in a beaded screen, one in which the beads will not shatter off. And buy the one that best complements the projection angles and the equipment you have in your booth — whether it be a white, a silver or a beaded screen.
I have no intention of endeavoring to cover the whole subject of screen qualities in this one article. The primary function of a screen is to reflect and distribute the projected light so that it is neither lost nor diminished in value. This brings us to the subject of screen surfaces, which determine the lighting and brightness of the screen.
If all motion picture theatres were exactly the same, and if all projection equipment was equally efficient and possessed the same light capacity, it would be an easy matter to standardize on one type of screen surface. As a matter of fact, these conditions vary greatly. We therefore have three general types of screen surfaces — white, silver and glass beaded. All of these have certain reflective characteristics in common, but there are well defined conditions under which each will function more efficiently than any of the others. These conditions are based largely on whether high or low intensity arc lamps are employed, the length of the throw, and the projection angles and consequent degrees of brightness and distortion.
Screen Image Distortion
The House Plan illustrated herein affords a fairly accurate representation of the seating arrangement of most theatres. Two viewing areas are outlined on this drawing