Re: 3D Projection screens

[P3D Gregory J. Wageman <gjw@xxxxxxxxxx>]

John Roberts muses:

>I wonder what would happen if you painted the *rough* side of a piece of
>masonite - would the rough pattern substitute for the texture of a
>lenticular screen?

No.  A lenticular screen is composed of a series of little lenses (hence
the name "lenticular"), alternating with flat areas.  The flat areas
reflect light straight back at the center of the audience, while the
lenticules reflect it towards the sides.  A non-ribbed silver surface
would have a very narrow viewing angle (because of the law of specular
reflection).

Your typical white screen has a magnesium carbonate coating which is designed
to do the opposite; that is, scatter the light evenly in all directions,
regardless of incident angle.  That's why it de-polarizes.  The rough
side of masonite would probably do something similar, since the pattern
is not strictly vertically-oriented.

        -Greg W.


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