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Silvered screens


  • From: P3D Paul S. Boyer <boyer@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Subject: Silvered screens
  • Date: Tue, 3 Sep 1996 22:25:32 -0400 (EDT)

Enrique Criado <encriado@xxxxxxxxx> asks where he can    
obtain rather large-size silver screens for stereo, and whether he    
can paint a white screen.

A problem is that large aluminized screens are usually made of
several pieces glued together.  The glue line makes an annoying crease.

The white beaded screens are probably too rough to work.  The glass   
beads, like sandpaper, would form surfaces which might be likely to   
scatter unpredictably the reflected light, which (I am guessing)      
would destroy the consistency of the polarization.  One could try     
painting the *back* of a white screen with "silver" (aluminized)      
paint.

Another solution is to make a permanent screen on a wall.  I think    
that several people on this list have done this, and I have been told 
of a NJ stereographer who had great success this way.  Take a wall,   
and if it is not nice and smooth, spackle or plaster it with a smooth 
coat.  Seal with a good primer.  Wait for *a thorough* drying, as the     
next step will seal things irrevocably.

Then apply one or more coats of aluminized paint.  This paint is made 
of the usual noxious ingredients along with finely powdered flakes of
Al in suspension.  As the paint dries, the flakes adhere virtually
flat, and overlapping like billions of random shingles.  The coating
is a vapor barrier, so it will not allow moisture to escape from the
wall behind.  If I were doing this, I would ventilate the wall
..
My wife won't let me do this in our living room, even though I        
promise to install drapes to cover the "screen" when it is not in     
use.

Such a set-up has many advantages.  The screen cannot develope        
creases and other such faults, it won't wave in the air, it can't     
easily be misplaced, no one can borrow it, &c.

While we're on the subject, does anyone know what sort of screen Kodak
uses for their stereo films at Disney World?  I remember being very
impressed with the gorgeous, highly reflective screen at their Epcot
Center theater.  The screen did not appear"gray" like the ones I
usually see, and it had no hot spots.  Occasionally it looked like
a pool of Mercury.  It was brilliant.  Kodak generally does things
the best.

--Paul S. Boyer  <boyer@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>


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