SILVER SCREENS
For Polarized 3D Projection
Ever heard of movies being up on the big silver screen?
Jorge Simonet / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)
Silver screens are difficult to produce, transport, erect and store!
Movie screens were originally silver to compensate for the relatively dim projection systems of the time. A silver screen is more reflective, therefore brighter than a white screen. However, a silver screen will lose a lot of it's light as you view from the sides, but a white screen will be about the same brightness from all angles. Almost all movie screens these days are white, unless polarized 3D movies are being projected! Cinema screens are permanent installations, but many people would like to project 3D images at home or other locations. For this, one needs a fixed or portable silver screen (for passive polarized 3D). Silver screens are coated, and almost always must be rolled and not folded (which makes transport difficult). Storage should be horizontal. Folding frames are no longer available. Unfortunately, the special surface required is one of the most difficult aspects of polarized stereo presentation.
Silver Screen Manufacturers
SEVERTSON SCREENS
Checked some samples of SEVISION 3D GX 1.4 from Severtson and it looked excellent (though a bit grainy if close). They seem to be the only company currently offering a folding frame (Quickfold) for large portable screen options. They also offer fixed frames (with leg option).
STRONG/MDI
We've seen their screens and they are excellent. Currently they are offering multiple choices of 3D surfaces, including foldable. They cater to both professional and home use, where they offer the Monarch frame which can be ordered with legs.
CARL'S SILVERSCREEN
Got a sample and it's not bad! Certainly brighter than either of the Da-Lite offerings with about the same extinction. Looking forward to seeing a full-size screen in action, but this looks like the best economy large size silver screen available. They sell from their website, Amazon and even eBay.
STEWART FILMSCREEN
The Stewart Silver 3D material is generally accepted as the Rolls Royce of 3D screens, with a price to match (though they also offer the Filmscreen 150 with half the gain). We have used their old "Snapper" fixed frame, but they currently offer the WallScreen (with leg option).
SILVERFABRIC 3D
This looks like a great 3D screen material! Unfortunatly it ships only from Germany. The sample we have is a canvas based material which seems to be the rare non-vinyl material available. It doesn't stretch, but it does tend to lay flat. They sell a lace/grommet setup on Amazon.
HARKNESS
Based in Ireland, they have a factory in the US (Virginia). Their Spectral is an excellent 3D screen material with good brightness and extinction. They used to have a frame called "Easi-Rect", like the Fast-Fold by Da-Lite, but seems to be no longer available. Their fixed frame is Smart-View, but there seems to be no option for legs. They offer a 3D rear projection screen called Translite Stereo along with another front option called Stagelite Stereo.
ELITE SCREENS
We've looked at the Cinegrey 3D and 5D... very similar: both rather dull and ghosty, not recommended for polarized projection.
ATWATER 3D GERMANY
Have not viewed but looks like a viable European option.
SEYMOUR AV
One of their screen offerings is called Matinee Silver which claims to be "perfect" for active AND polarized passive 3D. We did a test on some samples and found it was actually quite good. They also offer a Matinee Black which rejects more ambient light but is not quite as bright, and ghosts just a bit more. Both screens have a maximum 60" height.
NIERBO SCREENS
Screens from China... waiting for sample to test. From this video it looks like the screen ships folded and no frame is available. Here's another which seems to be on their website (heard but not seen?). Available on Amazon Plenty of mixed feedback and questions.
DA-LITE
For many years Da-Lite was pretty much the only company that produced portable tripod silver screens. They also made large screens for their "Fast-Fold" folding frames for the AV industry. In recent years they've been bought out by several companies and no longer make any 3D screens. Berezin 3D currently stocks the remainder of Da-Lite's "Silver-Lite" 3D portable tripod screens (up to 70x70"). Unfortunately we've found them to be dark and ghosty.
PAINT
An alternate possibility is to PAINT a silver surface. We've tried KRYLON silver paint spray can on a small piece of masonite (and foamcore) which worked well (bright, good extinction) but may be hard to do evenly on a larger surface. A professional sprayer and Silver 3D Screen Goo may be a good option, but we've not seen it yet (have had one negative report). Not cheap at $270 per litre (!) plus basecoat (then add hiring a professional sprayer!) Found another paint that's cheaper, 3D HD Silver ($189 quart) from Paint On Screen but it may not still be available (found it maybe in Lithuania?) . Checked out a sample and it is REALLY bright! Great extinction, too.