The blended screen simulates projection screens that require multiple projectors to produce one large image.
To insert a blended screen and projector(s):
1. Click the Blended Screen tool from the Spotlight tool set.
2. Click once in the drawing to set the object’s position. Click again to set the object’s rotation.
3. If this is the first time a blended screen is placed on the drawing, the object properties dialog box opens. Specify the default preferences, which apply to all blended screens placed subsequently in this drawing. Properties can be edited later in the Object Info palette. Click OK.
When you insert a blended screen, a Blended Screen object is created. Once the parameters of the blended screen and projectors have been set, click Insert Projectors from the Object Info palette to create the projectors associated with that screen. The blended screen settings control the initial projector settings, though each projector can then be set independently (by changing parameters like text position or cone display) if needed. Moving or rotating a blended screen after the projectors have been inserted also moves or rotates the associated projectors.
Use caution when clicking Insert Projectors if projectors have already been inserted; this deletes existing projectors and their parameter settings.
The height of the blended screen and associated projectors depends on several factors.
● The Z value entered in the Object Info palette determines the distance from the active layer plane to the bottom of the screen (including the border).
● When the screen includes legs, the legs are drawn on the active layer plane unless a Floor Height value has been specified. The Floor Height distance shifts the floor, and therefore the legs, by that amount from the layer plane.
● Projector stands are inserted relative to both the Vertical Shift and Floor Height values, allowing stands to be shifted up or down from the screen’s floor as set by the Floor Height value.
The blended screen and blended projector object parameters can be edited in the Object Info palette.
Click to show/hide the parameters.
Parameter |
Description |
Screen Type |
Select either front or rear projector |
Screen Name |
Provide a name for the screen object; associated blended projectors identify the screen by this name; if the name is already in use, the name that was already in use changes automatically |
Width (image) |
Enter the width of the screen image area (without the screen border or frame) |
Height (image) |
Enter the height of the screen image area (without the screen border or frame) |
Screen Size (pixels) |
Displays the total screen size based on the screen dimensions |
Frame |
Select the type of border around the image area: No Frame, a Frame with a specified thickness, or a flat Border Only |
Border Widths Top/Bottom/Left/Right |
For Frame and Border Only types, specify the width of the frame or border for each side of the frame or border |
Depth |
For Frame type, indicate the thickness of the frame |
Edge |
For Frame type, sets the distance between the screen and the front face of the screen’s frame |
Screen Tilt |
When Add Folding Legs is selected, specifies the tilt of the screen in degrees. Positive values tilt the top of the screen away from the viewer, and negative values tilt it toward the viewer. |
Total Clearance |
Displays the total vertical clearance height required by the complete blended screen object from the floor to the top of the screen, including any border, dress kit, valence, or other accessories |
Screen Aspect (calc) |
Displays the aspect ratio of the screen |
Show Coverage Zone (2D only) |
Indicates the viewing area based on the screen size; observers within the area should be able to see the screen
|
Zone Reference |
Calculates the coverage zone based on screen width, height, or diagonal measurement |
Viewing Angle |
Indicates the maximum viewing angle of the screen relative to dead-on |
Near Multiplier |
Specifies the multiplier of the reference dimension to determine the extent of the near coverage zone |
Far Multiplier |
Specifies the multiplier of the reference dimension to determine the extent of the far coverage zone |
Screen Support |
Select the type of screen support: None, Goalpost Legs (includes two legs, and is similar to commercial “fastfold” systems), or Roll-Down Case |
Show Feet |
For Goalpost Legs, select how the feet of the frame display: Both, Front, Back, or None |
Depth |
For Roll-Down Case support, specifies the size of the case drawn at the top (roll-down case) or bottom (roll-up case) of the video screen; the case length is determined by the screen size |
Motor |
For Roll-Down Case support, adds space to the case for the motor; select whether the motor is located on the right or the left, or select None for manually operated screens |
Opening |
For Roll-Down Case support, sets the location on the case where the screen exits the case; select Front, Center, or Back |
Add Dress Kit |
When goalpost legs are selected, adds a “dress kit” of draperies to conceal the projector (rear) and supports from audience view |
Dress Kit Color |
Select the color of the dress kit draperies |
Left Leg Width |
Indicates the width of the drapery on the left side of the screen |
Right Leg Width |
Indicates the width of the drapery on the right side of the screen |
Valence Height |
Sets the height of the drapery above the screen |
Border Overlap |
Indicates the amount of overlap of the dress kit drapery over all sides of the screen’s border |
Pleat Width |
Specifies the width of each pleated section of the left, right, and valence draperies |
Pleat Depth |
Specifies the depth of the pleats for the left, right, and valence draperies |
Edit Screen Image (Renderworks required) |
Opens the Edit Screen Image dialog box |
Screen Image |
Displays the name of the current screen image |
Projector Model |
Select the projector model from the default content (see Resource Libraries); specify the projector settings, which apply to all projectors upon insertion |
Projector Aspect |
Select the projector aspect ratio |
Proj. Resolution |
Select the projector pixel resolution |
Overshoot % |
Specifies the total amount of top and bottom overshoot to be discarded when using narrow aspect projectors to achieve a certain pixel blend |
Projector Tilt |
Sets the tilt of the projector, in degrees, relative to the horizontal plane |
Place Based On |
Sets the position of the projector either based on a fixed lens size or the projection distance |
Projection Dist. |
When Distance is selected for the projector placement, enter a distance value or click and drag the projectors on the drawing to set the distance |
Lens |
Select a standard fixed or zoom lens size, or choose Custom. When the projector is placed based on distance, this displays the calculated lens size. |
Zoom Factor |
For zoom or custom lenses, sets the lens zoom factor |
Vertical Position |
Select the projector placement mode: ● Screen Center: The center of the projector lens aligns with the screen center ● Align to Top: The top of the projector body aligns with the top of the top of the screen border ● Align to Bottom: The bottom of the projector body aligns with the bottom of the screen border ● Stand: Places the projector on a stand selected in Stand Model ● Rigged: Places the projector at a height specified in Floor Height with the bottom of the projector at the Trim height ● Specific Shift: Shifts the projector relative to the screen center by the Vertical Shift distance, as measured from the center of the projector lens |
Vertical Shift |
For projectors on a stand or with a specific shift, specifies the distance between the floor (as set by the Floor Height) and the stand or projector (this allows stands or projectors to be placed on a plane shifted up or down from the screen) |
Stand Model |
For projectors on a stand, select the projector stand model from the default content (see Resource Libraries) |
Floor Height |
For rigged projectors or projectors on a stand, indicates the distance from the active layer plane to the floor, effectively shifting the floor by the indicated height |
Trim (bottom) |
For rigged projectors, indicates the location of the bottom of the projector |
Multiple Projector |
When there is more than one projector (identical paired projectors for each section of the screen), select whether they are stacked or side-by-side |
Horiz Space |
For side-by-side multiple projectors, sets the distance between the projectors |
Area Horiz. Count |
Sets the number of areas into which the screen is divided; if the value entered is too small, the lowest possible number of areas is automatically set |
Area Width |
Displays the width of each screen area |
Area Height |
Displays the height of each screen area |
Proj. Spacing |
Displays the distance between projectors, measured from the center of each projector lens |
Overlap (meas.) |
Displays the amount of screen area overlap, measured in distance units |
Overlap (pixels) |
Displays the amount of screen area overlap, measured in pixels |
Overlap (%) |
Displays the amount of screen area overlap, as a percentage |
Show Projection Cones |
Toggles the display of the projection cone for all projectors associated with the screen |
Class Blended Screen Parts |
When first selected, automatically creates classes for the different parts of the blended screen for appearance and visibility control. This allows portions of the screen, projector, and other elements to be set to visible, grayed, or invisible. Once the classes have been created, this check box toggles whether class visibility changes apply to the selected video screen object. |
Parts Classes Prefix |
When screen parts are classed, creates a prefix for the class names so that they are sorted together |
Note |
Adds a note, which can be placed on the drawing with the Text Options |
Insert Projectors |
Inserts the required number of blended projectors based on the specified parameters; these projectors are associated with the blended screen. The projector model specified in Projector Model, and its associated parameters, apply to all inserted projectors. |
Text Options |
Opens the Text Options dialog box, to enable the display and format the text of labels; see Formatting Video Screen Object Labels |
Default Text Positions |
Restores text labels to their default positions |
Update |
Updates the blended screen object and its associated projectors when changes have been made to the screen’s Object Info palette parameters; this also refreshes the associated projector information without changing individual blended projector parameters such as text options |
Click to show/hide the parameters.
Parameter |
Description |
Screen Name |
Displays the name of the screen with which the projector is associated |
Screen Parameters |
Displays the main screen parameters set by the blended screen |
Show Projection Cone |
Toggles the display of the projection cone for this projector only |
Projector Model |
Select the projector model from the default content (see Resource Libraries); by default, the projector model specified for the blended screen is selected, but can be overridden for individual blended projectors |
Show Centerline (Area) |
Displays the projector centerline in Top/Plan view |
L/R Shift |
For projectors on a stand, shifts the stand to the left or right, relative to the projector |
F/B Shift |
For projectors on a stand, shifts the stand to the front or back, relative to the projector |
Horiz. Offset Angle |
Displays the angle of offset from the projector to the screen, measured side to side on the horizontal plane and based on the L/R Shift value |
Horiz. Offset Perc. |
Displays the angle of offset from the projector to the screen as a percentage |
Point at Screen Center |
When a L/R shift has been applied to the projector, rotates the projector body so that the projection remains pointed at the center of the projection cone area |
Tilt |
Sets the tilt of the projector, in degrees, relative to the horizontal plane |
Place Based On |
Sets the position of the projector either based on a fixed lens size or the projection distance |
Projection Dist. |
When Distance is selected for the projector placement, enter a distance value or click and drag the projectors on the drawing to set the distance |
Lens |
Select a standard fixed or zoom lens size, or choose Custom. When the projector is placed based on distance, this displays the calculated lens size. |
Zoom Factor |
For zoom or custom lenses, sets the lens zoom factor |
Show Zoom Range |
For zoom lenses, indicates the optimal area on the drawing where the projector should be placed, to achieve the desired image size within the zoom range of the lens
|
Vertical Position |
Select the projector placement mode: ● Screen Center: The center of the projector lens aligns with the screen center ● Align to Top: The top of the projector body aligns with the top of the top of the screen border ● Align to Bottom: The bottom of the projector body aligns with the bottom of the screen border ● Stand: Places the projector on a stand selected in Stand Model ● Rigged: Places the projector at a height specified in Floor Height with the bottom of the projector at the Trim height ● Specific Shift: Shifts the projector relative to the screen center by the Vertical Shift distance, as measured from the center of the projector lens |
Vertical Shift |
For projectors on a stand or with a specific shift, specifies the distance between the floor (as set by the Floor Height) and the stand or projector (this allows stands or projectors to be placed on a plane shifted up or down from the screen) |
Stand Model |
For projectors on a stand, select the projector stand model from the default content (see Resource Libraries) |
Floor Height |
For rigged projectors or projectors on a stand, indicates the distance from the active layer plane to the floor, effectively shifting the floor by the indicated height |
Trim (bottom) |
For rigged projectors, indicates the location of the bottom of the projector |
Vert. Offset Angle |
Displays the vertical offset angle of the projector to the screen, based on the vertical position of the projector |
Vert. Offset Perc. |
Displays the vertical offset angle of the projector to the screen as a percentage |
Multiple Projector |
When there is more than one projector (identical paired projectors for each section of the screen), select whether they are stacked or side-by-side |
Horiz Space |
For side-by-side multiple projectors, sets the distance between the projectors |
Note |
Adds a note, which can be placed on the drawing with the Text Options |
Text Options |
Opens the Text Options dialog box, to enable the display and format the text of labels; see Formatting Video Screen Object Labels |
Default Text Positions |
Restores text labels to their default positions |
Update |
Updates the object when changes have been made to the Object Info palette parameters |
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Setting the Image on the Video Screen
Formatting Video Screen Object Labels