CineAsia, Hong Kong—Dec 8, 2015
Harkness Screens Reveals New 4K Compliant Digital Perforation Pattern.
Harkness
Screens, global leaders in screen technology, have revealed plans to transition
from its existing standard perforation pattern to a new pattern for their
leading screen surfaces.
The
new Harkness Digital Perforation Pattern will become the standard perforation
pattern for all screen types replacing the existing standard pattern. The new
pattern has an open area of over 4% with over 65,000 holes per square metre.
This helps to significantly increase light reflectance into cinema auditoriums
compared to Harkness’ previous standard perforation pattern and provides a
brighter and better quality viewing experience. The smaller holes also allow
for a closer viewing experience with less visible seams, while the increased
quantity of perforations provides better sound attenuation.
“Harkness’
Digital Perforation Pattern has been specifically designed to reduce the onset
of the Moiré effect, explains David Harrison, Chief Technical Officer at
Harkness Screens. “Moiré fringing is
caused when the weave pattern of a screen aligns and then interferes with the
projector’s
pixelated images resulting in an undesired, strobe-like effect across the
screen, which can have a huge impact on cinematic experience. With the
resolution of projectors growing, it is a common issue in contemporary digital
imaging and the new perforation pattern helps to offset this.”
Some
screen perforations can accentuate Moiré, this is due to hole sizing and
spacing compared to projection pixels. The Harkness Digital Perforation Pattern
works in harmony with current 4K projectors and the natural hole variations
work to reduce alignment with projection pixels, providing a flawless, high
definition image.
As
part of the switch to Harkness’ new perforation pattern, Harkness has increased
the width of its industry leading base materials, reducing the number of seams
required to make a screen significantly.
“As
well as all of the visual benefits, the new perforation pattern has led to one
significant improvement in our manufacturing process. Whilst we pride ourselves on invisible seams
under projected light, we recognise that for exhibitors in general and
especially post production and screening room operators, the desire to have a
screen made of the fewest seams possible is significant. With our new perforation process, we’re able
to reduce the number of panels required to make a screen significantly meaning
a reduction in seams of at least 30%,” Harrison concludes.
The
new Harkness 4K Digital Perforation Pattern is available from Harkness US
factory and will be extended to its Asian operations in early 2016, with
European operations following shortly after.
