News

SI Exhibits New Reference Series Black Diamond II CURVE Projection Screen (24/7/2009)

CEDIA US Expo 2009

The All New Black Diamond II CURVE Combines the Benefits of a Curved Screen Along with the BD II’s Superior Contrast, Color Accuracy, and Uniformity

SI is proud to announce that it will exhibit the new Reference Series Black Diamond™ II CURVE projection screen during the 2009 CEDIA Expo, held in Atlanta from Sept. 10-13 at the Georgia World Congress Center, booth 1137. The Black Diamond II CURVE is currently shipping.

“SI’s new CURVE Reference Fixed frame gives you the most immersive experience available,” said Ryan Gustafson, SI Screens president. “Curved screens have distinct advantages over common ‘flat’ screens, especially in installations where the throw is very short (1.6 or less) and pincushion distortion becomes an issue. With up to a 30 percent wider viewing angle, SI’s new Black Diamond II CURVE Reference Fixed frames give viewers the most immersive experience available.”

According to SI, curved screens help compensate the slight pincushion distortion that occurs when an expansion-based anamorphic lens is used, especially in shorter throw installations. An inward-curving screen naturally produces a form of “barrel” distortion which can partially compensate for any remaining “pincushion” from the lens. In a general sense, the lower the throw ratio, the more noticeable the distortion, and therefore the more of a “need” for a curved screen.

“And, just when we thought our new Black Diamond II projection screen couldn’t get any better, applying the new CURVE frame enhances the Black Diamond II’s viewing experience even further,” added Gustafson. “Black Diamond II is the only projection screen that eliminates the need for black masking. Black Diamond automatically masks the projected image eliminating the glow created by standard projection screen materials. This is huge for the home theater market as masking screens can be extremely expensive and are difficult for installers to set up.”

Added John Schuermann, Panamorph VP sales and marketing, “The addition of the CURVE to SI’s Black Diamond II screen lineup means that SI now has an anamorphic 2.35 / 2.40:1 screen solution for those who desire a curved screen for their home cinema, or need one due to short throw considerations. The amazing ambient light rejection characteristics of the Black Diamond II material also mean that anamorphic home cinema setups no longer are restricted to pitch black dedicated home theater rooms – they are now able to be placed in family rooms, living rooms, dens, or even bedrooms where light control is usually an issue.” Panamorph will be exhibiting during the 2009 CEDIA Expo in booth 1259.

In an era where inexpensive flat screens are dominating (and diluting) the “home theater” market, the combination of ambient light rejecting screens and “true home cinema” anamorphic 2.35:1 / 2.40:1 projection systems re-establishes two piece projection as state of the art when it comes to recreating the immersive movie theater experience in the home.

“One common complaint with CURVE screens is the aesthetics,” Gustafson continued. “SI’s mounting systems allow for adjustability after the screen is mounted. For CURVE screens, SI has developed the most advanced system yet, enabling its CURVE screens to mount only two inches off the wall at center. These combinations make the Black Diamond™ II CURVE projection screen the best choice yet for high quality home theater projection solutions.”

www.sicreens.com