Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Drive-In Theater Screen FLAT vs SINEWAVE corrugated

This is topic Drive-In Theater Screen FLAT vs SINEWAVE corrugated in forum Ground Level at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Michelle Claseman (Member # 8935) on 07-23-2017, 03:38 PM:

Sadly, our screen lost a good fight recently with some straight-line winds here in central MN. We are looking for information from Drive-In owners with first-hand knowledge of different types of screen material. (pros/cons) We've narrowed it down to a flat selby-type system or a 2.67″ x 1/2″ Corrugated sinewave. Of special interest to us are Drive-In owners who have had (or still have) both.

We have never had anything other than that original 1956 corrugated screen so we know it well. We have not, however, had any experience with a flat screen surface. Could anyone on here tell me the pros vs. cons to a flat screen? Example: Hot Spots and light distribution. I've heard rain or dew can create almost blinding hot spots on a flat screen.

I've never thought of why a corrugated steel was originally used until I started doing more research. One of the reasons was to channel the water and get it off the screen and I can tell you that after a rain, that corrugated screen does dry quickly.

Thank You in advance for your time.

Posted by Chris Markiewicz (Member # 1415) on 07-23-2017, 06:39 PM:

Our experience with 34 screens (West Wind Drive-Ins) is that corrugated looks better in most conditions. It doesn't hot-spot nearly as badly as flat panels, and the corrugations seem to distribute the light more evenly throughout the field. Curved (sine-wave) corrugations work better than flat corrugations. Good luck with your repairs!