Q&A

Q: Why choose an “ALR” screen like CineGrey 5D over CineWhite ?

A: Although matte white materials such as CineWhite are ideal for environments where room lighting can be controlled, the image is easily washed out by ambient light. Ambient Light Rejecting (ALR) materials such as the CineGrey 5D are suitable for environments where there are high levels of indirect (ambient) light.

This material trades off on the wide diffusion uniformity of white materials in favor of a brighter (angular reflective) image. Elite’s CineGrey 5D incorporates a diffusion layer over a highly reflective surface which scatters ambient light while improving picture performance with a brighter image. This includes color neutrality with enhanced black levels and improvement over Active 3D presentations.

Q: Can I use the CineGrey 5D material for active 3d technology or is only meant for passive 3d technology?

A: Actually, the CineGrey 5D material can be used for active 3d technology to make up for the brightness and contrast loss while in 3d mode.

Q: What percentage of polarization does the CineGrey 5D retain?

A: The CineGrey 5D retains 88% of polarization.

Q: Will the CineGrey 5D ambient light rejecting screen material cause the "hot spot" effect?

A: Elite Screens CineGrey 5D is a color neutral smooth surface with sparkling elements to increase screen gain in an ambient light room environment. These special characteristics incorporates a diffusion layer over a highly reflective surface which scatters ambient light while improving picture performance with a brighter image. The projector itself, however also plays a big part in creating a hot spot.

Projectors highest brightness levels are focused in the center, and only about 70% to 80% in the corners. In other words, the uniformity itself is not spread entirely even across the screen, thus creating a brighter spot in the center area. To combat this, we recommend the following:

• Reduce the projector's light output by choosing an economy mode
• Install the projector further away from the screen, minimum of 1.5 x the image width
• Go with a lower gain screen

Q: What are the benefits of using a Passive 3D Polarized Silver projection screen material? Does the CineGrey 5D projection screens fit this category?

A: 3D imaging occurs at a lower level of brightness than regular 2D presentations. Also, it is difficult to maintain polarization on regular projection screen materials. The benefits of Passive 3D polarized silver projection screens are that they increase the brightness of projected 3D images while allowing them to maximize retaining image polarization levels.

Lastly, its diffusion layer enhances contrast. Although passive 3D imaging can arguably be performed on other projection materials, the polarized silver materials optimize overall 3D performance with the best results.

Yes, the CineGrey 5D material is a passive 3D polarized silver projection screen made for the specific reasons specified in the first part of this answer. The CineGrey 5D is the standard retail model while the Airbright 5D has added contrast levels for enhanced contrast and diffusion moderation.

Q: What are the advantages of Passive 3D over Active 3D technology?

A: Passive 3D occurs in real time with both eyes seeing an actual picture as opposed to the alternating right-Left eye flickering of active 3D technology. The advantage in this is that the image is brighter because it is simultaneously shown to both eyes.

With Active 3D the glasses obstruct the vision of one eye while allowing the other to see the picture alternating at about 60 exposures per eye per second. Essentially the viewer is blindfolded half the time without really being aware of it. The "flickering" of Active 3D technology is that cross-talk and shadowing artifacts occur more easily. It also has a higher tendency to create eye-discomfort in viewers.

Passive 3D allows viewers to see the image more comfortably with greater brightness and clarity. Passive 3D glasses are also inexpensive so that they may be easily obtained in quantity and do not suffer from mechanical malfunction like the electrically powered active 3D glasses

Q: I have a high lumens output projector but my media room has ambient light/ light colored walls and ceiling. How do the CineWhite and CineGrey 5D perform under these conditions? Is the CineGrey 5D a silver or grey screen? How does the screen color affect grayscales?

A: Our CineWhite material is an excellent screen material that is highly recommended when you have either a really high output (+3000 lumens projector) and/or are able to control the light in your media room (i.e. a dedicated home theater). However, under conditions when a lower output projector, uncontrolled ambient light, or light colored walls and/or ceiling, the CineGrey 5D has four key features that result in a better overall viewing experience.

1) The CineGrey 5D material has an ambient light rejecting surface. The material has an angular reflective material that incorporates a diffusion layer over a highly reflective surface. This causes direct light from the projector to reflect squarely into the viewer's field of vision while the outer contrast layer enhances image quality while absorbing indirect ambient light.

2) The CineGrey 5D contains elements of a silver screen despite its dark appearance. These both work to enhance the contrast ratio and color reproduction in either a well lit or a dark room. With most standard white materials, the image will become washed out when ambient light is present. The ambient light reflecting properties allow the CineGrey 5D to maintain the image quality even under conditions where there is a high amount of light (Click here for a Video review of the CineGrey 5D by AV expert Andrew Robinson).

In light controlled rooms, there are still certain reflective surfaces that may interact with the projected image such as the colors of the walls/ceiling. The grey/silver properties of the CineGrey 5D reduce the impact the reflective surfaces, such as light colored walls and ceiling, have on the screen image. Although a white surface is recommended in completely controlled designs, the difference in grayscale between the CineGrey 5D and CineWhite surfaces are so slight that they may not be noticeable to most human eyes.

3) The CineGrey 5D is a 1.5 gain screen material that improves the image quality when active 3D projectors are used. There is approximately 50% loss of brightness when 3D is activated and there is even more brightness (aka lumens) being lost when the tinted shutter glasses are worn. The 1.5 gain of the CineGrey 5D reflects the image at 1.5 times the original brightness of magnesium carbonate which is the standard industry control for creating a 1.0 gain white projection screen.

4) The CineGrey 5D is also a polarized material that allows for true 1080P 3D content when using a passive 3D projection system (i.e. dual projectors with an AFlex5D passive 3D video processor). The CineWhite material is not polarized and thus the only 3D content that can be displayed on that surface must be from an Active 3D projector. In general, passive 3D is easier on the eyes as the viewer is able to see the image with both eyes at the same time rather than the left/right split that occurs during Active 3D.