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Author Topic: Ratio of screen height to first row Dominic Espinosa Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1172 From: California, U.S.A. Registered: Jan 2004 posted 06-26-2005 11:30 AM                     I like to experience the film so I tend to sit about a screen height back. That way I can see all the image but can barely catch the masking in my peripheral. It's more fun that way.  |  IP: Logged Scott Norwood Film God Posts: 8146 From: Boston, MA. USA (1774.21 miles northeast of Dallas) Registered: Jun 99 posted 06-26-2005 12:57 PM                        According to the "old" SMPTE projectionist book (page 110), "the sight line of the first row to the center line of the picture screen should not exceed 30 [degrees] from the horizontal at eye level. This angle automatically establishes the distance between the first row of seats and the picture screen." They have some other helpful suggestions as well, including the comment that the angle of projection should not exceed 5 [degrees] above or below the horizontal at the center of the screen.  |  IP: Logged Brad Miller Administrator Posts: 17775 From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall) Registered: May 99 posted 06-26-2005 01:35 PM                     A lot of this depends on the person. Some people like for their peripheral vision to be filled (or almost), others like to stare at a small picture far away (what I call "tv people" who are used to watching their television at home when they select a seat). 1.5 times the screen height away, eh? So virtually every IMAX auditorium ever built was done wrong??? Nah, it's just personal preference. Case in point, I used to sit towards the back of auditoriums, but as each year passed I found myself sitting closer and closer (this coincided with my decline in tv watching). Nowadays I tend to sit where I can comfortably see the edges of the screen without having to turn my entire head, but close enough to truly get a "big screen" feeling. (This generally results in 1/3 to 1/2 back from the screen, but obviously depends on the auditorium design. In stadium auditoriums, the angle of the chair I find is more important, as most seats force you to look DOWN at the screen...yet the seats still sit back which is retarded.) Provided the projection is sharp, steady and the print free of defects, this really is the best place to get pulled into a movie. Those sitting in the back rows have the constant distraction of other people walking around in front of them as well as side lighting and EXIT signs, etc. Oh yeah, and those of you who design their auditoriums with ceiling mounted lighting as opposed to "wall huggers" or sconce lighting to be used during the movie...YOU SUCK! Have some respect for your patrons who wear glasses. The reflections are damned annoying. Same goes for those tards who don't design the entire front end as well as the first 10 feet of the auditorium with 100% black curtains!!! You're killing the contrast, ya doofs.  |  IP: Logged John Pytlak Film God Posts: 9987 From: Rochester, NY 14650-1922 Registered: Jan 2000 posted 06-27-2005 10:10 AM                        Here is what standard SMPTE 196M-2003 says for review rooms: quote: 9 Review room viewing conditions All observers in a review room shall be located within a standard observing area which shall be: a) within the limits of a 15° angle on either side of a perpendicular to the center of the screen, in both the horizontal and vertical planes; and b) at a distance of 3 picture heights ± 1 picture height from the screen. Most theatres have additional seats closer to the screen ("bookers seats"), and many people like to sit toward the back of the theatre at 4 or 5 picture heights. (Even a NTSC image would look okay at 5 picture heights). I personally prefer to sit at 2 picture heights from the screen for most films.  |  IP: Logged Aaron Haney Master Film Handler Posts: 265 From: Cupertino, CA, USA Registered: Jan 2001 posted 06-27-2005 01:38 PM                     quote: John Pytlak I personally prefer to sit at 2 picture heights from the screen for most films. Same here. I had always heard this referred to as the SMPTE "recommended" viewing distance, but now I see from John's citation they actually recommend a range of 2-4 screen heights. Guess I'm always going to want to be near the low end of that range, since I like to be immersed and fill as much of my vision as possible (without getting so close as to end up being uncomfortable, of course). It's usually where I end up sitting, although it usually depends on a whole list of factors, such as whether the film is scope or flat, whether the auditorium uses top masking, etc. For a 2.39:1 image, sitting 2 screen heights back means the image will take up about 60 degrees horizontally across the width of your vision. The edges of human peripheral vision are a bit fuzzy, but they extend to approximately 160 degrees, so it should take up about 3/8ths of your total field of view. I usually just try to guesstimate where to sit to attain this sort of perspective. However, that doesn't always work, because some movies are just plain unwatchable at that viewing angle, while others are dull unless you get that big. That leads me to the following digression: I've been thinking lately that not only should motion pictures have an intended aspect ratio, they should also have an intended viewing angle. There is so much variation in how tight or loose movies are framed these days, it's apparent some directors and cinematographers are screening everything from the back row, while others are looking at everything from the front row. They all seem to have different notions in their heads as to the "ideal" apparent size for the final image. Why not include that in the specifications for the movie? It might help people figure out where to sit when they go to the theater. I know I find myself trying to predetermine the best viewing distance for a given movie based on the aspect ratio, theater conditions, and the framing seen in trailers. A director specifying a recommended viewing angle (i.e., "60 degrees, sit close!", "40 degrees, sit back!") would help a lot, both in the theater and at home. Heck, some directors seem to change over time, perhaps because they gain access to screening rooms with bigger screens. For example, the first Lord of the Rings movie is hard to watch at a viewing angle much bigger than 40 degrees, while the next two are not framed as tightly, and thus are comfortable to watch from a little closer. I wonder if Peter Jackson changed his editing style to select more medium and long shots and fewer close ups after seeing the first film on some very large screens?  |  IP: Logged Steve Guttag We forgot the crackers Gromit!!! Posts: 12814 From: Annapolis, MD Registered: Dec 1999 posted 06-27-2005 04:58 PM                     You know...it really depends on the film for me. An action adventure type film, I want to be closer to the screen, that is hopefully deeply curved to put me in the action. If it is more of a drama...then a bit further back is better. For documentaries...2-4 screen heights is just fine. My world goes beyond my vision, I would like movies to do the same. Sitting too far back is like looking through a tunnel.  |  IP: Logged Mark Hajducki Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 500 From: Edinburgh, UK Registered: May 2003 posted 06-28-2005 07:49 AM                     quote: Aaron Haney I wonder if Peter Jackson changed his editing style to select more medium and long shots and fewer close ups after seeing the first film on some very large screens? Or seeing a DVD releace cropped to 1.77  |  IP: Logged

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