Video Jocks What size screen should I get?

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B-Sharp

B-Sharp

DJ Extraordinaire
Feb 9, 2008
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Taunton MA
www.southcoastdj.com
I'm new to the world of projectors and screens, but picked up my first projector last weekend - an Epson EX90 (2600 lumens, 16:9, relatively short throw, and some very cool additional features). I need help in determining what screen size will be best.

Right now, I'm leaning towards a pull-up screen because of its simplicity. And as much as I'd like to have a HUGE screen, I know that I probably won't be given a whole lot of space for setup in many of the halls where I work. So, what's best? 50 inches? 80 inches? What should I be looking for? Why is my current thinking bad?

One request: Please don't point me in the direction of the DJ Screen. I don't use trussing and don't like the stretched-out spandex look at a wedding reception.

Thanks for your help!
 
I have a 6x8 Da-Lite screen and yeah, your right it takes quite a large amount of setup room for rear projection. Front projection works fine too, but then you have the problem in most venues of placing your projector out in the middle of the room, and running power out to it too. And then people walking in front of it is a pain too.

I also have a 4x4 pull-up screen on a tripod, much easier to setup but not big enough for large venues. I would suggest start with a 4ft version and if you find the need in a larger room grab a 7+ foot screen.

One thing I have noticed lately at most new venues they are installing screens that pull down, and around here they are included in the venue rental cost, saves me time and I offer a discount to the client. I will be using 2 screens at a venue next year for a reception. They are going to have two DVD made. One that will show during dinner, and a slide show of pictures including ones taken at the wedding ceremony, that will be playing in a side room on a smaller screen.
 
Abbey Lane said:
MBM, as a "dumb user" how do you hook up two projectors from one source, to show the same on two separate screens?
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If it is a VGA output from a computer, there are VGA Splitters some as simple as a "Y" cable which works when only splitting to two monitors or projectors, but more than that the signal is degraded. Also most projectors have a VGA in and out, the output could be ran to the second projector. Pretty much the same thing is true for regular video signal.
 
B-Sharp said:
I'm new to the world of projectors and screens, but picked up my first projector last weekend - an Epson EX90 (2600 lumens, 16:9, relatively short throw, and some very cool additional features). I need help in determining what screen size will be best.

Right now, I'm leaning towards a pull-up screen because of its simplicity. And as much as I'd like to have a HUGE screen, I know that I probably won't be given a whole lot of space for setup in many of the halls where I work. So, what's best? 50 inches? 80 inches? What should I be looking for? Why is my current thinking bad?

One request: Please don't point me in the direction of the DJ Screen. I don't use trussing and don't like the stretched-out spandex look at a wedding reception.

Thanks for your help!
Click to expand...

What size did you buy? I'm looking to get one next month for ~150 people.
 
I ended up buying an 80" Da-Lite Deluxe Insta-Theater pull-up screen on eBay. It arrived brand new in the box for $160 plus shipping. Lowest price I could find anywhere else was $296.00, so I think I got a good deal on it. It's a very nice screen.

Despite what I originally posted, I also bought a DJ Screen knockoff this week for $90. While I was at first thinking a Fastfold screen would be nice, the feedback I got from others was that it's actually quite cumbersome and not something that you can move out of the way in the middle of a wedding reception. In the event that I do need something bigger than 80" diagonal, the spandex screen will do the job without adding a bunch of setup time.

Here's a link to the spandex screen.
 
maestro said:
I have a 6' wide Da-Lite Picture King tripod screen; works great! Sure, bigger would be handy but I find that this does the trick and is easy to tote around in the Da-Lite carry bag. It also comes in a heavy-duty carpet covered model.
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Do you use it for up to 200 people or less?
 
Yup, sure do.
Many times I've seen guests set up the entire presentation themselves and what I've noticed is... They do NOT maximize the image on the screen and do NOT even know what the heck to do about keystoning, unless it's automatic. They can have a screen far bigger than mine but the image is tiny. I always maximize the image, adjust for keystoning and get the best image possible.
 
I don't use trussing and don't like the stretched-out spandex look at a wedding reception.
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I don't mind throwing on some spandex and rolling out to some weddings with you.:sqerr:


Maybe you should bring this setup to the next SNAPDJ meeting so we can all take a look see?
 
Ron Auger said:
I don't mind throwing on some spandex and rolling out to some weddings with you.:sqerr:


Maybe you should bring this setup to the next SNAPDJ meeting so we can all take a look see?
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Watch what you say, Ron. I'm doing a post-wedding party for a lesbian couple in July and they'd LOVE to have you there in spandex. :sqrolleyes:
 
Abbey Lane said:
What is "keystoning"?
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Keystoning is when the lens is not parallel to the screen and the image distorts, being wider at the longer distance. In a typical tabletop projector placement with the projector angled upwards, the top of the image is wider than the bottom because the distance to the top of the screen is further away from the projector.

In a ceiling hung projector, you would see the opposite effect. In some placements you also get sideways keystoning because the projector is not centered horizontally with the screen.

Keystoning can be cured by making sure the projector is level and the lens is centered on the screen both vertically and horizontally. In rear projection this is usually easy to accomplish. However, in front projection this may not be possible and most projectors have the ability to digitally manipulate the image to offset the optical keystoning. You want to make sure that you correct as much as possible with projector/screen placement before adjusting the keystoning correction in the projector. Digital keystoning manipulation intensifies other problems and reduces sharpness.


Scott
 
B-Sharp said:
Watch what you say, Ron. I'm doing a post-wedding party for a lesbian couple in July and they'd LOVE to have you there in spandex. :sqrolleyes:
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Anytime I get a chance to watch two women kissing, it's worth wearing the spandex.:sqwink:
 
If you buy a grommet kit, you can put a bunch more grommets all around the edges of the spandex, and make a PVC frame for like $18. paint if black with krylon fusion, and lace the screen up... I've made many screens this way, and best of all, if you're too tired to pack it up, chuck it!
 
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