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Topic: Portable screens and projectors

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For those of us Who are using VDJ to do mobile video...

Untill now I've been using 2 HD LCD TV's for video display. These are great for audiences of about 100-200. But for some groups nothing but a projector and screen will do.

How have you guys been setting up your screen and projector?

Have you been mounting it to your mobile truss system?

Do you simply stand the screen and place the projector on a table?

I've been searching screens and found some nice portable screens with 50" viewing areas with blackened area below the screen for nice presentation, but I'm still wondering about projectors.

some ideas would be helpfull.
 
Posted Wed 27 Aug 08 @ 11:53 am
Personally, I just use a separate screen and stand. I've been looking at a way to combine my light truss and screen, though. I saw this http://www.djscreen.com/ at the expo, and it seems pretty versatile. As for projection, my system is rear projection, and it doesn't matter much how it looks cuz people can't see it behind the screen. I just use whatever is available to set the projector up. As for the projector itself, IMO, lumens are very important. You want that screen to light up if the room has a lot of light. I wouldn't got with less than 2500 lumens. My projector is an Optoma with 3200 lumens. Even with the lights on, it's clear for the guests.
 
We use a projector which sits behind our setup and projects onto a homemade 4ft x 3ft re-projection screen which is bolted to the lighting rig.......



few more pics here ---> http://www.supreme-sounds.co.uk/photos.html
 
nice setup, but i'm sure glad as hell i don't have to go through that process anymore of setting up and stripping down, as much as i liked mobileing.
 
What did you make the screen form?

And those screen lights are right out of the 80's!!

Wish I could find those on this side of the pond.
 
The screen is made from the same plastic you use to cover the 80's style light boxes. all i done was got a 3ft x 4ft sheet and sandwiched it between a 1 inch thick wooden frame, put some brackets on to fit to stand and thats it - works a treat!!!

yer the light boxes are old school but do the trick untill i save my pennies for the new LED screens i have my eye on ;)
 
actually the construction of them is quite simple if you have the time, the best thing been custom made you can design your own shapes, it will also depend on how many channels you be using on a particular light controller.
 
Yer I agree, all the ones you see on my setup are built by me!
 
OKay are you speaking of clear sheet Lexan?

Or Sheet Acrylic?

should I look for smoked, or clear plastic, white plastic, semi clear?

just some minor details to clear up - I think I might clone your setup; I like the idea.
 
hi marcel. you want to be looking for smoke or opaque perspex, once again design you can have cartwheels (foster has a half cartwheel on the outside of his show) ladders, plain squares all depends on a couple of things, your diy skills, your imagination and how many channels you have on the light controller, when i used to build mine years ago i always would go for a balanced effect ie- what goes on in one segment is always mirrored in an opposing corner or segment, for squares it would be top left and bottom right lit as an example, for your centre box signage you will probably have to go to a printers for that or van sign makers unless you have access to a laser print/cutter, two ways to back light this, 1) different coloured bulbs ie red,blue, yellow or green with your holders randomly placed for a four channel controller etc, or 2) you could use just one colour in all the holders to get a shadow movement effect, hope that helps.
 
fatboyfoster wrote :
The screen is made from the same plastic you use to cover the 80's style light boxes. all i done was got a 3ft x 4ft sheet and sandwiched it between a 1 inch thick wooden frame, put some brackets on to fit to stand and thats it - works a treat!!!


Thanks Talya.
But this is the plastic I was referring to.

But since he said it was the same plastic I wonder if translucent plastic would work?

Sorry gents - I'm really interested in that portable screen. It looks good, even with all the lights on around it the image still shows up. (although it might have something to do with the really bright projector)
 
translucent will work just make sure when purchasing the plastic make sure its shatter proof you know what its like with all the drops and kicks it will go through, for the centre screen for a professional look you will have to go to some kind of sign maker over your way, as for lighting it other than what i have already suggested use flourescent tubes of one colour, or mixed with back walls in between your text line for greater effect, hope i explained that right
 
You explained it perfectly.

I was asking about the VIDEO screen

I just re-read the thread - I guess it was kind of hard to understand. LOL
 
So I guess the final answer for Plastic rear projection DIY screens is....

Plastic sheeting with a light diffuser coating. I guess I'll try and experiment.
 
hehe, re reading it, it did go off at tangents... somehow everything got inter linked, sorry.
 
Yer go for plastic which has a diffuser coating on it, not 100% but I think the plastic I use is called "Prismatic Opal"
 
cool thanks both of you.
 


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