Ideas for DIY Screen AR Masking Project - Blu-ray Forum

eatbear · 01-27-2010, 04:15 AM

I recently purchased a Panasonic AE4000U, and spent about a week playing with the settings/aspect ratios in my HT space. I picked the Panasonic over the competing Epson for the Lens memory (quick cycling through 6 presets) and the 2.35:1 recognition.

Last night I put in an order for a Carada 112" Criterion BW 2.35:1 screen, and I've started thinking about a manual aspect masking system and how I might create one that is simple yet functional.

I'm interested to see what other people have done in regards to building DIY masking for a 2.35:1 screen..

Quick/easy DIY ideas:

- Simple Velcro-Velvet Masks attached at the top of the frame that hang to the base. The velvet could be filled with foam-core or light cardboard. I'm not too happy about applying a velvet strip to the top of the screen frame (it might be possible to put it on the wall), but either way -- I'm sure you'd barely notice. This idea is very basic and would serve the purpose intended. The cost for a project like this should be under $30 for two masks.

Something to consider is the size: There are quite a few popular framings. The most common under 2.35:1 will be 1.85:1, 1.78:1 (HDTV) and 1.33:1 (SD). You could opt to make two masks that equal a 1.33 AR, make masks for each AR, or just choose the one you'd use most.

- Velvet Mask on Sliding Track I'm sure someone has done something like this. The idea requires using a simple track/mini-wheel system, like those you might find on a desk keyboard tray, or a modern kitchen drawer. A simple velvet mask would be attached to tracks on the top/bottom of the screen frame (preferably with black colored tracks). The benefit to this idea is you could slide them to the outermost position when not in use (2.35:1), and adjust to the aspect ratio of the current media simply by sliding it to scale.

Here's a little mockup I did to simulate what I'm shooting for, in case you're just totally confused right now

Anyway... I'd love to see if anyone has had some experience with manual masking on a CinemaScope screen, and how you went about creating it.

I'm going to start building something next week when the screen arrives, so any ideas/tips are welcomed and appreciated!

blarneyrubble · 01-27-2010, 01:15 PM

I am in the same boat. I have been brainstorming how to mask my cinemaascope screen when watching 1.85:1 movies. I am thinking about putting material on wires to slide over but I am not sure I will be able to get it tight enough.

I have also thought about covering some wood and putting it on hinges. I would close then when watching 1.85:1.

eatbear · 01-30-2010, 11:57 PM

Yeah I think I know what you mean -- something like this: 16x9 Hinged Masks that open to 2.35:1

If you decide to go that route, I'd be interested in seeing how you did it. With my limited space I'm not sure this method would be the best (nor would my sliding track method I described above). I may end up sticking with manual cloth/foamcore masks that I attach at the top of the frame.

Eventually I might just get an anamorphic lens and optically stretch 16x9 content to 2.35:1

Suntory_Times · 01-31-2010, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eatbear

Eventually I might just get an anamorphic lens and optically stretch 16x9 content to 2.35:1

Blasphamy. OAR is the way to go.

blarneyrubble · 01-31-2010, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Suntory_Times

Blasphamy. OAR is the way to go.

Agreed.

zachd73 · 02-01-2010, 05:59 PM

I'm interested in this also. I Just have a 16x9 screen but if I watch older 4x3 movies I would like to mask things off. In my experience with a mits 65" t.v. it was a big help to have masks..

I used method #1 on my t.v. I bought some black cardboard type material at a hobby store and cut it to size and put some velcro on the top of the set and just pulled them on or off. Worked great for 5+ years. When I sold the t.v. I tried to explain what they were for but the guy didn't seem to really get it

I could use this method for my screen now but I would have to climb on a step stool to take it down or put them up... still this would be cheap and easy to accomplish in the short term.

I had also thought about trying to use a curtain rod on each side so I could just move them left or right. Like you I have a door to the left of my screen though so it could be tricky.

That idea of the drawer-sliders might actually work for me, I could affix them to my da-lite screen base as it's pretty sturdy.

01-27-2010, 01:15 PM	#2
blarneyrubble Active Member Member since:Apr 2009 Location:Greenville Blu-ray collection:186	I am in the same boat. I have been brainstorming how to mask my cinemaascope screen when watching 1.85:1 movies. I am thinking about putting material on wires to slide over but I am not sure I will be able to get it tight enough. I have also thought about covering some wood and putting it on hinges. I would close then when watching 1.85:1. Last edited by blarneyrubble; 01-27-2010 at 10:03 PM.

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01-27-2010, 04:15 AM	#1
eatbear Active Member Member since:Nov 2009 Location:Seattle, WA Home Theater Gallery:4 Blu-ray collection:224 Trading Score:13	Ideas for DIY Screen AR Masking Project I recently purchased a Panasonic AE4000U, and spent about a week playing with the settings/aspect ratios in my HT space. I picked the Panasonic over the competing Epson for the Lens memory (quick cycling through 6 presets) and the 2.35:1 recognition. Last night I put in an order for a Carada 112" Criterion BW 2.35:1 screen, and I've started thinking about a manual aspect masking system and how I might create one that is simple yet functional. I'm interested to see what other people have done in regards to building DIY masking for a 2.35:1 screen.. Quick/easy DIY ideas: - Simple Velcro-Velvet Masks attached at the top of the frame that hang to the base. The velvet could be filled with foam-core or light cardboard. I'm not too happy about applying a velvet strip to the top of the screen frame (it might be possible to put it on the wall), but either way -- I'm sure you'd barely notice. This idea is very basic and would serve the purpose intended. The cost for a project like this should be under $30 for two masks. Something to consider is the size: There are quite a few popular framings. The most common under 2.35:1 will be 1.85:1, 1.78:1 (HDTV) and 1.33:1 (SD). You could opt to make two masks that equal a 1.33 AR, make masks for each AR, or just choose the one you'd use most. - Velvet Mask on Sliding Track I'm sure someone has done something like this. The idea requires using a simple track/mini-wheel system, like those you might find on a desk keyboard tray, or a modern kitchen drawer. A simple velvet mask would be attached to tracks on the top/bottom of the screen frame (preferably with black colored tracks). The benefit to this idea is you could slide them to the outermost position when not in use (2.35:1), and adjust to the aspect ratio of the current media simply by sliding it to scale. Here's a little mockup I did to simulate what I'm shooting for, in case you're just totally confused right now Anyway... I'd love to see if anyone has had some experience with manual masking on a CinemaScope screen, and how you went about creating it. I'm going to start building something next week when the screen arrives, so any ideas/tips are welcomed and appreciated!

01-30-2010, 11:57 PM	#3
eatbear Active Member Member since:Nov 2009 Location:Seattle, WA Home Theater Gallery:4 Blu-ray collection:224 Trading Score:13	Yeah I think I know what you mean -- something like this: 16x9 Hinged Masks that open to 2.35:1 If you decide to go that route, I'd be interested in seeing how you did it. With my limited space I'm not sure this method would be the best (nor would my sliding track method I described above). I may end up sticking with manual cloth/foamcore masks that I attach at the top of the frame. Eventually I might just get an anamorphic lens and optically stretch 16x9 content to 2.35:1

02-01-2010, 05:59 PM	#6
zachd73 Active Member Member since:Jan 2009	I'm interested in this also. I Just have a 16x9 screen but if I watch older 4x3 movies I would like to mask things off. In my experience with a mits 65" t.v. it was a big help to have masks.. I used method #1 on my t.v. I bought some black cardboard type material at a hobby store and cut it to size and put some velcro on the top of the set and just pulled them on or off. Worked great for 5+ years. When I sold the t.v. I tried to explain what they were for but the guy didn't seem to really get it I could use this method for my screen now but I would have to climb on a step stool to take it down or put them up... still this would be cheap and easy to accomplish in the short term. I had also thought about trying to use a curtain rod on each side so I could just move them left or right. Like you I have a door to the left of my screen though so it could be tricky. That idea of the drawer-sliders might actually work for me, I could affix them to my da-lite screen base as it's pretty sturdy.

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