Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Cleaning a silver screen

This is topic Cleaning a silver screen in forum Digital Cinema Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Phil Ranucci (Member # 3820) on 02-12-2015, 10:02 PM:

Is there any way to do this properly? Dry/wet/brush/ microfiber?
Somebody ( NOT ME) decided to get a MDI silver screen cleaned, and now it has streaks and spots. I'm on the sidelines, but am being asked for advice. Any ideas?
Thanks!

Posted by Sam D. Chavez (Member # 1841) on 02-12-2015, 10:33 PM:

Damage is done. Learn to love it. You can always try any number of things but at best it won't make it any worse, but most likely will.

Posted by Monte L Fullmer (Member # 2797) on 02-13-2015, 12:46 AM:

Time for a replacement - just something that should never happen is a silver screen cleaning.

Posted by Steve Matz (Member # 1890) on 02-13-2015, 01:38 AM:

Posted by Marcel Birgelen (Member # 6801) on 02-13-2015, 02:00 AM:

While there are plenty of success stories about cleaning a plain white screen, I've only encountered horror stories regarding cleaning silver screens.

I doubt there is anything you can do after the damage has been done, besides a complete replacement off course.

Once you start rubbing on those things, you're damaging the quite delicate surface. So besides the ever so gentle dusting off, you should try to avoid to touch it whenever possible.

And you should get a set of curtains if you have none [Wink]

Posted by Gordon McLeod (Member # 33) on 02-13-2015, 09:37 AM:

I have never seen any screen white or otherwise that after cleaning was acceptable.
The only thing one can ever do is use a screen brush to dust it
I would get the company who cleaned it to replace it unless they advised in the small print they were not responsible for damage ( most do) Also publish their name here so others can avoid

Posted by Phil Ranucci (Member # 3820) on 02-19-2015, 12:01 AM:

Sooooooo....
We're getting a new screen. Same model and manufacturer, MDI. Do we need to re-shoot colors?

Posted by Carsten Kurz (Member # 5396) on 02-19-2015, 05:32 AM:

Yes. Probably not right from the start, but you should.

- Carsten

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 02-19-2015, 09:06 PM:

You can't clean ANY screen. Really! The screen cleaning guys that went around are the biggest scammers next to the studios!

Mark

Posted by Dave Macaulay (Member # 813) on 02-22-2015, 06:27 PM:

You can dust a flat (not silver!) screen. IMAX dome (perforated metal) screens can be cleaned but it's an insane process - one person with a vacuum on the rear side while someone wet cleans the front... it takes days and requires a cherry picker (or a LOT of scaffolding!) in the seating area.

Posted by Louis Bornwasser (Member # 3063) on 02-22-2015, 10:01 PM:

In a word: DON'T. Total destruction on silver screen. Postponing the eventual on the white screen. NOTHING is better than a new screen. Wasted time and money to clean.