Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Screen Masking

This is topic Screen Masking in forum Film Handlers' Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Roger Manning Jr (Member # 1560) on 03-06-2003, 07:29 PM:

I will be making my new screen for my screening room next week and I need to find something to mask the screen with. What should I use? I want something that will not reflect light.
Anyone know of a good thing to use?
Thanks Roger

Posted by Steve Kraus (Member # 476) on 03-06-2003, 07:48 PM:

If you have movable masking then it's going to make a difference whether the masking will ever be in front of a speaker because then you need something acoustically transparent. Otherwise a cloth material called "Duvateen" is common but you could simply visit a fabric store and look for some sort of non-reflective black cloth or felt and use that in conjuction with a wood frame work (wrap it around and staple on the back).

Years ago when I used to play with 16mm at home I liked to mask the screen with old 2" Quad videotape whose backside was a nice dull black antistatic coating.

Posted by Robert E. Allen (Member # 1351) on 03-06-2003, 08:13 PM:

I modified the bottom masking on a theatre screen a couple of years ago and simply went to a local fabric shop and got some black felt. Works just fine.

Posted by Chris Markiewicz (Member # 1415) on 03-06-2003, 09:19 PM:

Duvetyne works great-very common for stage work, and it's cheap! but be careful if your location is humid. Since it is a cotton based material, it absorbs moisture like a sponge and will quickly rust staples etc. that are not stainless.

Posted by William Hooper (Member # 71) on 03-07-2003, 01:46 AM:

I'd say adapt the big front end from the 70s houses approach.
The masking was a vertical strip of black felt attached to acoustically transparent but colorful-ly curtain material.

Since the edge must be sharp, if your screen is small, you could use lightweight hard material like a 4" - 6" wide, screen-tall piece of posterboard or linen sheet over a wire frame painted flat black & attached to whatever you'll be using for your acoustically transparent curtain running from the masking edge
to the wall.