Inserting a Blended Screen and Projector

The blended screen simulates projection screens that require multiple projectors to produce one large image.

The first time you use the tool in a file, a properties dialog box opens. Set the default properties, and 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.

If projectors have already been inserted, clicking Insert Projectors deletes existing projectors and their parameter settings.

The height of the blended screen and associated projectors depends on several factors.

● The Z value entered from 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 from the Object Info palette.

Blended Screen Parameters

Parameter	Description
Screen Type	Select either front or rear projector
Curved	Select the option when the blended screen is curved, and specify the additional Straight Width and Curve Depth parameters
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)
Straight Width (Curved screen)	Sets the width of the screen from the start of the arc to the end of the arc
Curve Depth (Curved screen)	Specifies the depth of the screen from the front edge to the back edge
Height (image)	Enter the height of the screen image area (without the screen border or frame)
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
Tab-Tensioned Sides	When the frame type is Border Only and the screen support is Roll-Down Case, this option is available. Select the option to specify that the side support mechanism is tab-tensioned.
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, valance, or other accessories
Aspect (calc)	Displays the aspect ratio of the screen
Weight	Enter the weight 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
Max Horiz. Angle/ Max Vert. Angle	Indicates the maximum viewing angle of the screen, horizontally and vertically, relative to dead-on
Viewing Height	Enter the height of the average viewer when watching (likely, a seated height)
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 valance draperies
Pleat Depth	Specifies the depth of the pleats for the left, right, and valance draperies
Edit Screen Image	Opens the Edit Screen Image dialog box
Screen Image	Displays the name of the current screen image
Projector	Select the projector model from a library; specify the projector settings, which apply to all projectors upon insertion
Weight	Enter the weight of the projector
Aspect	Select the projector aspect ratio
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
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 a library
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
Area 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
Blend Reference	Inserts the projector starting on the projector’s left, right, or center
Show Projection Cones	Toggles the display of the projection cone for all projectors associated with the screen
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
Default Text Positions	Restores text labels to their default positions
Classes	Opens the Classes dialog box, to specify class naming for the various portions of the blended screen. This allows portions of the blended screen, projectors, and other elements to be set to visible, grayed, or invisible. Use the suggested standard class, select a class from the list of classes present in the drawing, or create a new class. Select <Blended Screen Class> to place the blended screen element in the same class as the blended screen. ● Class Prefix: Specifies an optional default root class naming standard for all blended screen parts; click Use Standard Classes to begin all blended screen class names with the prefix, so that they are sorted together. ● Use Standard Classes: Sets the class names for all blended screen elements to the default suggested standard names, using the Class Prefix if there is one. ● Blended screen elements: For each portion of the blended screen, specifies the class name standard; the class names shown here are applied to the elements.
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

Blended Projector 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	Select the projector model from a library; by default, the projector model specified for the blended screen is selected, but can be overridden for individual blended projectors
Weight	Enter the weight of the projector
Wattage	Enter the required wattage, for power consumption calculations and reporting
Projector Parameters	Displays the projector parameters as required by the blended screen
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
Proj. Distance (Straight)	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
Proj. Distance (Actual)	Specifies the distance in 3D from the projector to the screen
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 a library
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
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
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
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