Welcome to BigScreenBiz.com

I was wondering if any theatres out there are using silver screens instead of the white matte/pearl screens? If they reflect light better, then why don't more theatres use them? I would like to pick up a used silver screen for the possibility of showing a 3d print. I don't want to paint a screen. Anyone out there have this type of screen in their theatre or could tell me why I shouldn't use one? Know of a good source for a used, but not abused silver screen?????

A silver screen surface is required for polarized 3D, since other types of screens do not maintain the polarization of the light.

But silver screens are very high gain and DIRECTIONAL, almost mirror-like. They MUST be installed curved to evenly distribute the light throughout the auditorium, unless you have a very long and narrow auditorium. See SMPTE Recommended Practice RP95 "Installation of Gain Screens": http://www.smpte.org/stds/index.html

Installing a high gain silver/aluminized screen flat will usually give very poor light distribution, with a "hot spot" and lots of fall-off in the light.

---

John P. Pytlak
Senior Technical Specialist
EI Worldwide Technical Services
Research Labs, Building 69
Eastman Kodak Company
Rochester, NY 14650-1922
Telephone: 716-477-5325
Fax: 716-722-7243
E-Mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Thank you John. Are there 10 people in the world who could answer that question as succintly? Your expertise is valued!

---

Mike Hurley
www.bigscreenbiz.com

Thank you for the compliment!

I try to help projectionists and theatre personnel whenever and wherever I can. I don't always know all the answers, but I can usually find someone who can help.

Please let me know if you ever have film-related questions or problems, and I'll try to help.

---

John P. Pytlak
Senior Technical Specialist
EI Worldwide Technical Services
Research Labs, Building 69
Eastman Kodak Company
Rochester, NY 14650-1922
Telephone: 716-477-5325
Fax: 716-722-7243
E-Mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

John, thanks for the advise. We do have two narrow auditoriums. But, we don't want to replace the screen, just have a 3d screening of some type. Our old 3d setup is just stored away in a box, and I'd like to use it again. Along with a box of dusty glasses from the days of "Spacehunter". The owner of the theatre told me that if I wanted to paint the screen silver, that he would invest in a new screen and use the silver screen for backup or special events.

If you decide to paint the screen yourself, be sure to run tests to be sure the "silver" paint you use maintains the polarization. Repainting or refinishing a gain screen is very hard to do properly. Problems include non-uniformity, streaking, and filling-in the screen perforations, not to mention the paint fumes. You might be better off purchasing a new "sheet", rather than trying to refinish it.

---

John P. Pytlak
Senior Technical Specialist
EI Worldwide Technical Services
Research Labs, Building 69
Eastman Kodak Company
Rochester, NY 14650-1922
Telephone: 716-477-5325
Fax: 716-722-7243
E-Mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it