As I've read in other posts such as this one , some people think that grey/silver screens will become extinct as front projector contrast levels improve. While I understand the point and why its made, I have to wonder if they aren't missing something.
Others have mentioned that the black on any given projector screen is only as black as the combination of the screen, the light of the projector, and the light in the room allow. This statement has a lot of issues so I'll separate the ones I can think of.
First of all, if a projector screen is white, how are you going to turn it black? Shoot black light on it? I don't think so. At best, you can shoot dary grey light onto it. After all black is the absence of light.
Next, there's the brightness in the room. As you add light to something (even black), it grows lighter in color. (That's why I like looking at my black car at night better than during the day -- but I digress). If you point a flashlight at a black area on the screen, it will disappear. Smaller amounts of light do the same -- in smaller degrees.
And, the projector itself is a source of light. To create the best contrast, I'd think a projector would need to be as capable of producing ultra bright light as it is capable of producing black. Yet the brighter the brights on the screen, the more the room (and screen light up). So, it's this somewhat of a paradox?
So, after thinking about it, my screen can never produce brightness levels that are equivalent to being outdoors on a sunny day. Otherwise, the screen would totally wash out, right? However, a grey/silver screen can bring blacks down to the level that is totally acceptable -- while not ruining the brighter colors of a scene nearly as much.
Some people argue that grey/silver mutes colors and/or whites and is inaccurate. In fact, one of Tryg's screen reviews shows how mixing grey with a color -- changes that color. I agree with that assessment, but the way it's presented (by the author -- not Tryg), makes the reader think the result is totally unacceptable. Well, I can think of examples where that's not true.
A painter will add grey (black) to a color to make it darker/richer. When I look a colors outside (in the bright summertime), I notice I enjoy colors better when I'm wearing (greyish) sunglasses. In fact, while trying to pick the perfect color to paint a custom car, I showed a red to a painter and then asked him to put on my sunglasses. Then I asked him if he could make a red that would look as good as the sunglasses made it. All he could say was he could add some black and see what happens.
Actually, I think the correct answer is that darkening over-saturated light levels (from the sun) is the only answer. This is why I suspect there is a recommended ft/L brightness to create the best theater.
If you go WAY over the recommended 20-25 ft/L recommended for a screen, colors will wash out (for the reasons stated above). If you go less, than the result is less than satisfying. So, it seems that any improvements made within this range are worth the extra effort.
One of those improvements would be to add a screen like the Firehawk. Not only does it darken the blacks at one end of the spectrum, it helps reduce ambient lighting (from the projector), and it even helps with interscreen coloration. And, the reflective surface adds with the reproduction of lighter colors and whites. In fact, I suspect much of the light is reflected back to the viewer BEFORE it has a chance to hit the grey, underlying surface and experience some "coloration".
Finally, my CRT TV and my RPTV has dark screens. As a result, I think this has to help there blacks as well. And, these devices are capable of much higher contrast than front projector will be -- for some time to come.
Now that I'm done presenting my argument, I'd like feedback. Most of what I say is unbacked by research or facts. These are merely ideas that seem to make sense. Additionally, I'm NOT trying to sell the Firehawk or any similar screen. I'm merely trying to find holes in my logic in order to determine if I'm headed down the right path toward my first screen purchase. (Guess how I'm leaning,
).
Thanks for any feedback.
gp
P.S. If there's nothing wrong with this view on darker screens, it would seem that grey/silver screens will be around for a long time to come.
Others have mentioned that the black on any given projector screen is only as black as the combination of the screen, the light of the projector, and the light in the room allow. This statement has a lot of issues so I'll separate the ones I can think of.
First of all, if a projector screen is white, how are you going to turn it black? Shoot black light on it? I don't think so. At best, you can shoot dary grey light onto it. After all black is the absence of light.
Next, there's the brightness in the room. As you add light to something (even black), it grows lighter in color. (That's why I like looking at my black car at night better than during the day -- but I digress). If you point a flashlight at a black area on the screen, it will disappear. Smaller amounts of light do the same -- in smaller degrees.
And, the projector itself is a source of light. To create the best contrast, I'd think a projector would need to be as capable of producing ultra bright light as it is capable of producing black. Yet the brighter the brights on the screen, the more the room (and screen light up). So, it's this somewhat of a paradox?
So, after thinking about it, my screen can never produce brightness levels that are equivalent to being outdoors on a sunny day. Otherwise, the screen would totally wash out, right? However, a grey/silver screen can bring blacks down to the level that is totally acceptable -- while not ruining the brighter colors of a scene nearly as much.
Some people argue that grey/silver mutes colors and/or whites and is inaccurate. In fact, one of Tryg's screen reviews shows how mixing grey with a color -- changes that color. I agree with that assessment, but the way it's presented (by the author -- not Tryg), makes the reader think the result is totally unacceptable. Well, I can think of examples where that's not true.
A painter will add grey (black) to a color to make it darker/richer. When I look a colors outside (in the bright summertime), I notice I enjoy colors better when I'm wearing (greyish) sunglasses. In fact, while trying to pick the perfect color to paint a custom car, I showed a red to a painter and then asked him to put on my sunglasses. Then I asked him if he could make a red that would look as good as the sunglasses made it. All he could say was he could add some black and see what happens.
Actually, I think the correct answer is that darkening over-saturated light levels (from the sun) is the only answer. This is why I suspect there is a recommended ft/L brightness to create the best theater.
If you go WAY over the recommended 20-25 ft/L recommended for a screen, colors will wash out (for the reasons stated above). If you go less, than the result is less than satisfying. So, it seems that any improvements made within this range are worth the extra effort.
One of those improvements would be to add a screen like the Firehawk. Not only does it darken the blacks at one end of the spectrum, it helps reduce ambient lighting (from the projector), and it even helps with interscreen coloration. And, the reflective surface adds with the reproduction of lighter colors and whites. In fact, I suspect much of the light is reflected back to the viewer BEFORE it has a chance to hit the grey, underlying surface and experience some "coloration".
Finally, my CRT TV and my RPTV has dark screens. As a result, I think this has to help there blacks as well. And, these devices are capable of much higher contrast than front projector will be -- for some time to come.
Now that I'm done presenting my argument, I'd like feedback. Most of what I say is unbacked by research or facts. These are merely ideas that seem to make sense. Additionally, I'm NOT trying to sell the Firehawk or any similar screen. I'm merely trying to find holes in my logic in order to determine if I'm headed down the right path toward my first screen purchase. (Guess how I'm leaning,
).Thanks for any feedback.
gp
P.S. If there's nothing wrong with this view on darker screens, it would seem that grey/silver screens will be around for a long time to come.
