Lots to digest that's for sure!
I can definitely answer your one question, #3
"Is it possible, in theory, to get a screen that reflects MORE energy in total compared to the ref?"
Sadly the answer is no because we cannot create light. We can only have at most exactly what the projector is putting out and even that starts to diminish as soon as it leaves the lens. We can however make the image brighter on axis but at the expense of the off axis brightness. That's gain and as much as some want to claim 1.8 gain screens with 180 degree viewin cones, it is simply impossible with a passive device such as a screen.
Gain has always been a tricky topic. That's why I started a thread about gain and other confusing topics. One that also seems to fit this discussion (from what I have read skimming through so far) is specular gain. Don't forget about that aspect of things either.
A real mind blower of a question though is "can a screen with an overall gain of less than one still be said to have 'gain'?"
The answer is yes, but then what about the laws of light and physics and our ever present viewing cone? Look at Black Widow as an example. Normally a plain flat/matte gray in the N7.5 range would not be expected to have an overall gain any higher than .75 at best. Because of the properties of this particular screen (BW) it has a gain of .9, yet the shade is an N7.5. That would indicate we have gain, and yes we do, but the viewing cone is still essentially a 180 degree area.
Under a gain of 1.0 we still have less than our reference material. The difference is the added reflective materials throughout the screen. Since we're not dealing with a specular type gain achieved primarily through sheen, we maintain our diffusive surface.
Once we go over a gain of 1.0 there is no other way to increase the on axis brightness than to 'take' light energy that is normally reflected off axis and refocus that back to the center viewing area. Since we're taking more energy and refocusing it, and now on axis we have greater than our reference material, the viewing cone is more apparent.
This is a very interesting topic, but don't forget gain is just a tool used to achieve the required brightness for a given setting and screen size. Far too many people talk about gain as if it is a knob to adjust the image and make it 'pop' as some like to say. Gain quickly can get out of hand and then we not only have hot spotting, but after a point we can also experience color shifting off axis.
I don't know if I strayed from the topic, if so my apologies! I'll read each post thoroughly after I finish some evening work I have to do. Good topic though from what I read so far!
I can definitely answer your one question, #3
"Is it possible, in theory, to get a screen that reflects MORE energy in total compared to the ref?"
Sadly the answer is no because we cannot create light. We can only have at most exactly what the projector is putting out and even that starts to diminish as soon as it leaves the lens. We can however make the image brighter on axis but at the expense of the off axis brightness. That's gain and as much as some want to claim 1.8 gain screens with 180 degree viewin cones, it is simply impossible with a passive device such as a screen.
Gain has always been a tricky topic. That's why I started a thread about gain and other confusing topics. One that also seems to fit this discussion (from what I have read skimming through so far) is specular gain. Don't forget about that aspect of things either.
A real mind blower of a question though is "can a screen with an overall gain of less than one still be said to have 'gain'?"
The answer is yes, but then what about the laws of light and physics and our ever present viewing cone? Look at Black Widow as an example. Normally a plain flat/matte gray in the N7.5 range would not be expected to have an overall gain any higher than .75 at best. Because of the properties of this particular screen (BW) it has a gain of .9, yet the shade is an N7.5. That would indicate we have gain, and yes we do, but the viewing cone is still essentially a 180 degree area.
Under a gain of 1.0 we still have less than our reference material. The difference is the added reflective materials throughout the screen. Since we're not dealing with a specular type gain achieved primarily through sheen, we maintain our diffusive surface.
Once we go over a gain of 1.0 there is no other way to increase the on axis brightness than to 'take' light energy that is normally reflected off axis and refocus that back to the center viewing area. Since we're taking more energy and refocusing it, and now on axis we have greater than our reference material, the viewing cone is more apparent.
This is a very interesting topic, but don't forget gain is just a tool used to achieve the required brightness for a given setting and screen size. Far too many people talk about gain as if it is a knob to adjust the image and make it 'pop' as some like to say. Gain quickly can get out of hand and then we not only have hot spotting, but after a point we can also experience color shifting off axis.
I don't know if I strayed from the topic, if so my apologies! I'll read each post thoroughly after I finish some evening work I have to do. Good topic though from what I read so far!
