| The difference a tube makes in projection screen | | | | the characteristic V-shape. Using a wide, |
| fabric planarity The difference is in the details | | | | reinforced tube can avoid this problem. This tube |
| V-shapes, wrinkles, waves and horizontal lines. All | | | | type is perfectly straight, even at longer widths |
| these things can be troubling a projection screen. | | | | and allows the fabric to hang as it should. |
| It makes the projected image look distorted, | | | | Perfectly level. Wrinkle-free. |
| especially when the action is moving from left to | | | | 3. Made for assembly. Who cares if the screen is |
| right across the screen (or vice versa). When a | | | | easy to assemble? Well, you should, considering |
| scene has a car driving through a street, it would | | | | that assembly can make or break the projection |
| appear to be driving underwater, as the car | | | | screen..Standard tubes aren't easy to use when |
| literally ripples from one side of the screen to the | | | | attaching the fabric. What happens then is that |
| other. | | | | the trouble in assembly leads to problems in the |
| If your projection screen suffers from these | | | | fabric, such as a fabric not properly aligned with |
| problems, you are not getting the most from | | | | the tube and wrinkles between the glue or tape |
| your projector. And, you are far from | | | | and the fabric. A properly designed tube makes it |
| experiencing the best possible home theater. | | | | easy to align the tape or glue with the tube. This |
| When you have invested a good deal of money in | | | | allows the fabric to be attached easily and |
| your set up and enjoy watching movies, having | | | | flawlessly, thus avoiding any problems. |
| these problems is definitely a situation to avoid. | | | | Many projection screen manufacturers make an |
| Saving a few bucks on a projection screen with | | | | elemental mistake by using cheap, round tubes. |
| these problems as a result is far from ideal too. | | | | Even though you might be paying a little less |
| How can you, when all the projection screens look | | | | money, you will pay big in terms of the quality of |
| the same, find the right screen? It's simple, by | | | | your projection. This also explains why you might |
| knowing what to look for, or ask for. | | | | get a few replacements and still suffer the same |
| A lot of problems are caused by one of the | | | | problems. |
| basics: the roller tube. The roller tube is the tube | | | | We have now seen which 3 elements make for a |
| onto which the fabric is attached. As it is invisible, | | | | good roller tube for a projection screen. If your |
| you might not know the differences, as you | | | | screen has a tube with these elements, it's a |
| normally don't open it and manufacturers often | | | | guarantee in itself too. If this much attention has |
| don't want you to know what they've put in... | | | | been paid to the tube, you can be sure that a lot |
| Here are the elements of a perfect tube that | | | | of attention has been paid to the rest of the |
| guarantee a perfect planarity for your projection | | | | projection screen as well. This guarantees the |
| screen fabric: | | | | maximum level of joy from your screen for |
| 1. A-symmetrical design that avoids horizontal lines. | | | | years to come. |
| Attaching the fabric to a tube seems so easy: | | | | So how to find that right screen? First of all, |
| take a round tube and glue or tape the projection | | | | forget about buying a manual screen. It's simply |
| screen to the tube to make it stick. This method | | | | too expensive to a high quality tube in a manual |
| is still used by many manufacturers who need to | | | | screen. Forget about the 200 - 300$ electrical |
| crank out the big volumes.However, there is a | | | | projection screens as well. You'll not get these |
| basic flaw is with the design. The glue or tape has | | | | very high quality components here either. It's not |
| a certain height, as has the fabric. At the point | | | | that you won't be able to get a decent screen, |
| where it is attached to the tube, this will create a | | | | but we are talking about perfect planarity and high |
| ridge, which will press into every next layer, | | | | performance. The type that is guaranteed to |
| creating horizontal lines at a certain interval. The | | | | squeeze that last bit of performance from your |
| result: horizontal lines which are visible in your | | | | system. |
| movies. So how to avoid it? Use a roller tube | | | | So, ask. Check which tube is used, ask for details. |
| which compensates for the fabric and glue/ tape | | | | Learn more than the general statements. Learn |
| height at the point where it is attached to the | | | | about the "why". And ask for back up of the |
| tube and which asymmetrical design avoids any | | | | claims. If it's guaranteed to offer perfect planarity, |
| horizontal lines in the fabric. | | | | ask about the guarantee. What's offered when it's |
| 2. Wide, reinforced tubes which are perfectly | | | | not perfect? |
| straight and don't bend. Thin tubes have a | | | | Be warned though, you will be kicking out a lot of |
| problem supporting the weight of the fabric, | | | | popular choices. Maybe even a few well-known |
| especially in a very wide screen ( over 220 cm). | | | | names. But if this is your second screen, or if you |
| This generally means that the tube is lower in the | | | | have a discerning eye and just want the best, |
| middle than at both ends (where it is connected | | | | you now know what to look for and ask for. |
| to the side caps). The problem: a sagging fabric in | | | | |