[Frances144]

I have been asked to show a film of mine (on DVD on a loop) at a small local airport on an internal wall, which has been painted pale blue!

So I realise that I have to make a white screen to fit into the area (about 9' x 5' - approx) but I need a dvd projector that will work in this environment.

I have never worked with this medium and have a couple of questions:-

1. Is such a projector in existence. The airport is fairly light with lighting and windows (but not glaring) - so can a dvd projector show the images clearly or is this a non-starter?

2. How far would the projector be from the screen? Can you place it at a slight angle off another wall to show the film?

Cheers
Frances

[AV Nik]

Frances,
If the area is in 'Daylight', you will struggle to see the image unless you use equipmemt powerfull enough to see during the day.
From experience, there are a couple of things you need to concider.

If the viewing area is controlled (ie: a narrow seated area) then some would use a Glass Beaded or high gain screen but this is of no use to wide audiences as the viewing angle onto the screen is very narrow (like the old rear projection TV's where you cannot see the image if your looking at the screen from an angle).
Some would say that the really expensive Supernova screens will work but in my experience, they are the same as Glass Beaded screens which again have narrow viewing angles.

If you want people to see the projection from a wide area then you will struggle to see the image, no matter which surface you use, unless you have a powerfull enough projector and the right environment.

Unfortunately the projectors with 'Built In' DVD players are more like toys than professional presentation equipment so you may have to concider using a projector at one point and DVD player/Playback at another position.

On average, I would not recommend anything less than 4000 Ansi Lumens of power for the projector and an airport would be more in-line with the 5000-6000 lumen projectors.

One installation I was involved with in a Museum was a perspex hanging screns which could be clearly seen on both sides, therefore offering a greater viewing pleasure. We suspended the screen up in the ceiling where it was a lot darker so that everyone could see and it worked very well.

Your main problem will be finding an area for the screen which is not in direct light. Preferably a dark/shaded area. If you can find a spot like that then you could get away with 2500-3000 Ansi Lumens or less if the area was dark enough.

With regards to distances, a few manufacturers offer interchangeable lenses for their projectors. For example, the Sanyo XF or XT range can use a very short throw lense offering a brighter image.
The average static lense projectors project from 2.5 to 4 metres away but there are a few ultra short throw projectors around 2000-3000 lumens which can project at 1.5 metres away, which would help fight against the ambient lighting (the closer the projector is to screen the brighter the image may be).

How long will the projection run for? Days? Weeks? If purchase prices now seem out of reach, Brendan @ Insight Lighting (Insight Lighting Ltd, London. Lighting and Projection design, installation, hire) is one of the few specialist projection hire companies in the UK whom will certainly have a hire option you could concider?
Alternatively, if the airport is paying, I would recommend looking at Sanyo XT or XF range plus the Panasonic PT-D range with daylight viewing technology. If they are too expensive maybe have a look at the Optoma EP782 or similar.

Concider High Gain Matte White screens like the Beamax Fxed Frame screens. Another alternative would be something like a Draper or Da-Lite Fastfold screen with Wide Power surfaces.
Works calling!
Hope this helps.

[Frances144]

Many thanks for that info - I will look into it.

Appreciated, as always
Frances