This is my first post. Hi, to all.
Room conditions affect both the physical behavior of the display system and the perception of the viewer. Color of decor is a critical characteristic of viewing environment conditions. The recommendations in SMPTE RP 166-1995: 'Critical Viewing Conditions For Evaluation Of Color Television Pictures' are specifically for direct view monitor environments. Front projection systems are another animal, with unique requirements. What is common between the two types of display systems is the viewer. Therefore, some characteristics of the room environment will have a different effect upon the two display types but a similar effect upon the person using the system.
Dedicated home theater rooms allow for decor that will not diminish or contaminate the image on the screen. Multi-purpose rooms usually present conflicting priorities to acheiving ultimate picture quality. Decor in multi-use rooms may not allow for ultra dark colors. Unfortunately, most of the photos seen in home theater magazines, even of dedicated theaters, depict compromised viewing environments. Consumers get the wrong image in their mind of what consititutes a correctly designed theater room, in which system performance is the top priority. If what the room looks like with all the lights on is the greater priority, then usually both picture and sound quality will suffer. Overriding priorities can be perfectly legitimate. After all, the owner of the room is the one to make the final call.
These are issues that even many professionals do not fully understand. If home theater professionals don't sufficiently understand the impact of the viewing environment upon system performance, how on earth can the typical consumer have a clue about what is correct? The complexity of these issues is due to the wide variety of display types, room configurations, and client preferences. A comprehensive understanding of the fundamental principles of acoustics, imaging science, display standards and human perceptual characteristics is necessary to design a well integrated home theater system that performs optimally. These issues apply to every system design, regardless of budget.
Front projection systems must have dark, neutral, or nearly neutral room surfaces for the best picture to be presented on the screen. The display system in the room in the photographs above is seriously compromised. However, it's a multi-purpose room. There may be conflicting priorities that justify the user's choice of all the bright, reflective surfaces. Unfortunately, too many consumers make design compromises without being told or understanding the consequences to picture and sound performance.
There's a big difference between a do-it-yourself-er, with the best of intentions, doing the work, versus understanding all the underlying principles involved in making correct design decisions. If a DIY is going to be spending thousands of dollars on construction materials, electronics, and software, doesn't it make sense to spend at least a couple hundred dollars to bring a professional in for a couple of hours to see the room and make recommendations? Forums have value but only up to a point. The room is no less critical to system performance than a projector or speaker system. Even less understood is the importance of the listener/viewer as a system component.
Best regards and beautiful pictures,
Alan Brown, President
CinemaQuest, Inc.
ISF, THX, SMPTE, CEDIA
"Advancing the art and science of electronic imaging"