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*
indicates available in front or rear projection type
STEP 2 - SCREEN SIZE
In
many venues the layout and architecture will influence the
practical size of screen to use - too large and it becomes
obtrusive, too small and it can't be seen from the rear
of the venue.
As
a rule of thumb we recommend the screen width to be around
10-15% of the distance to the furthest viewer e.g. if the
distance from the furthest viewer is 20m, the ideal screen
width would be 2-3m.
Remember
that multimedia projectors generally display in 4:3 format
i.e. rectangular 4 units wide by 3 units high. Screen sizes
are sometimes given as diagonal measurements so it is important
to check which dimension(s) are referred to.
STEP 3 - SCREEN POSITION
Screen
position is important as the human eye has a reflex attraction
towards light and movement (sometimes known as the TV syndrome).
On this basis the congregation will naturally tend to look
towards a bright moving image.
In
order to optimise this there are a number of guidelines
to follow. However, we recognise that most venues differ
in layout and functionality so special solutions are sometimes
required.
If
using a portable screen, position is obviously flexible.
1)
What are the lighting conditions?
Try to avoid direct sunlight or spotlights on to the screen
as this will seriously reduce the apparent brightness and
colour definition of the image. Bear in mind that projectors
can't project black, they simply block projected light to
such areas so the blackest black possible is the base colour
of the screen (white!).
2)
Central or side screen(s)?
In general we recommend a central screen to maintain even
viewing from either side of the venue and in general, most
activities take place centrally at the front. If this is
not practical it may be better located to one side as close
to the speaker as possible to maintain eye contact position.
3)
Practical considerations
If you are a church and have a stained glass window it may
not be ideal to obscure this with a permanent screen. There
may be ornate architecture or inscriptions that exclude
certain positions. It may be that the only way to mount
a screen is from a tall archway, or there may be local restrictions
governing what is or isn't permitted, particularly in listed
buildings.
4)
Screen height?
We recommend that the bottom of the screen is above head
height if possible for 2 reasons: Firstly, it can generally
be seen by everyone in the venue when standing up (check
sight lines from the back), and secondly, it reduces the
chances of anyone looking directly into the projector lens
(which is dangerous). Clearly the latter depends on the
position of the projector.
5)
Viewing position?
Can the screen be seen from all populated positions in the
venue? If not it may be worth considering secondary screens
and/or monitors. However, they key is not to go overboard
- too much technology can be unsightly and detract from
the purpose (particularly in old churches).
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