Newsletter 1, 2020
Welcome to our first 2020 newsletter and a Happy New Year to all of you, may this year give you good health, lots of enjoyment and success.
This morning, when I came out of the house, I noted that the pathway was wet. It rained over night and the dark clouds on the sky indicates it will rain more. This is good news, since the council and grass strip in front of our house was bone dry and a pale brown in colour. But, with the little rain we have had, the first, green shoots of grass are appearing.
Why is this important? It shows us how resilient nature can be and that, in particular after all these devastating bushfires, we need a nature which can grow back fast and restore itself.
It can not bring back what is lost, but new life can start and new beginnings, for all species are possible.
I think this is great news and also a great lesson for us humans. Any disaster and any devastation offers us the opportunity to start again. As long as we put the effort in.
That is, if we manage to keep the weeds down, which may try to overpower the slower growing plants or in a human perspective, to overcome the naysayer and negative thinkers.
I am personally look forward working with you again in 2020 and like to thank all of our customers for their continuous support in a very tough 2019.
Norbert Schmiedeberg
Screenline Screens
A few years back we added Screenline Projection screens to our range, because we needed motorised products and some installation type screen, which our then supplier did not have or did not want to supply to Australia.
This move angered our that time supplier and possibly was a contributing factor for the subsequent change of their distribution policy for Australia.
Initially we never felt that Screenline could replace the Stumpfl MonoBlox range and it still can not in the foldable screen range.
But Screenline NewBigFrame and NewOnlyWhite-bordeless, together with their Fashion and ProFrame installation range, provide the market with a high quality and one can say, engineering excellence product range.
We had Screenline now for 3 years and found the product of consistently high quality and very reliable.
Screenline has further listened to us and made changes, which benefits our customers.
For example, the initial screens were very heavy. On our advise the factory changed the steel inserts to aluminium ones and at the same time re-designed the corner surface attachment. I find it great that a manufacturer listens and make changes, even it it inconveniences them initially.
But let me point out to you some specific product features:
The NewBigFrame and the NewOnlyWhite-borderless screens share the same frame segments. This provides a great flexibility for the rental and venue operators, which can or do not want to afford separate screens for individual applications.
The NewBigFrame can be used with black border Front or Rear projection material and with an additional small frame insert can also be used as a borderless screen. This of course also works the other way around.
The frame segment is 12 cm wide and 1.2m long and shaped in a way that it is very difficult to bend and warp. The frame is much stiffer than the usual 32x64mm block type frame, which we also have in the EIKON V64 range.
Unfortunately, due to surface manufacturing constraints, Screenline can only make 15-16m wide screens. But then NewOnlyWide frames can easily be joined by pre-fab brackets to create large panorama screens or creative stage set-up’s.
Because of this flexibility, we call these screens also 3-in-1.
These frames use an Arrow surface attachment without press studs. Despite some nay sayers, this system has proven to be very resilient, even in the rental market, helped by the fact that there are no press studs which can be ripped off.
So, why don’t you give Screenline a try in 2020? We are sure you will like the brand and when you travel to Italy next time, visit them.
EIKON:
Our EIKON screen brand was born at the beginning of last year, replacing the Stumpfl product in our line-up.
After some kicking and screaming and some slaps to the bottom, we finally got the product where we want it to be. Here are some of the key improvements we achieved in the last 12 months:
1) Much improved manufacturing consistence compared to Series 1 screens.
2) Changing the large 64 type frames from a 2 part to a 4 part design for better handling.
3) Improving the frame part connection in the 64 range folding + modular screens.
4) Improving the surface manufacturing and adjusting the sizes to suit our climate.
5) Improving the outer edge welding and cutting.
6) Having substantially improved cases.
Yes, EIKON is still a China manufactured screen, but believe me, the factory is making great efforts to supply a good quality product at a good price.
This has much to do with the fact that the factory is Hong Kong controlled by people, who understand Western quality and service requirements.
In fact I am most impressed by the service and the fact that surfaces, which had size and border cutting issues, were replaced without much fuss.
Since the factory is much closer to Australia, we are able to import at an improved timeframes over the European supply, both in respect to sea and airfreight.
Talking about this. Recently we supplied 3 x 12x6.7m Matt White EIKON surfaces for an outdoor application. Initially the client bought only one surface, but they are so happy with the quality, that they ordered 2 more and these had to be supplied at short notice.
We also noted that the MattWhite surface, despite having similar gain factors as our European screens, have a great reflectivity, which copes even with some ambient light. We found this out, when we had to set up a screen at the recent Flight Simulator Expo and found that there was no black out. Despite this, the projected image from a 3500 lumen short throw projector looked acceptable.
We have EIKON 32 and 64 in stock, including the 20’ size.
VNS GeoBox is becoming very successful around the world.
All current models include 8K1K/30 input capability and of course 4K2K/60. Output is usually FHD/60 on the HDMI ports. The 4K output version is expected this month and will most likely been demonstrated at ISE.
GeoBox is available in videowall and blending systems. Of course the blending units can be used for videowall work as well.
GeoBox has also single channel versions, which can add adjustment capabilities to projectors.
Here in Australia, we have GeoBox operators, who use these units in their rental pool for LCD and LED wall control.
As we are learning more about the product and taking a leaf out of the application book of the European distributor, we will be providing you with many more application ideas from single display to multi-multi projectors set-up.
By the way, we will make some of our unit available for rental to the Australian rental companies, since it may not always pay for you to buy a unit, just for one job.
But I am sure you are going to love the technology, in particular, since GeoBox is a great extension to media server, such as Watchout, Wings, Arcaos, etc., allowing the extension of output channels without having to purchase extra software licences and expensive computer upgrades.
GeoBox also works extremely well with the IDAL and Brightsign players, but more about this another time.
What about VIOSO? Isn’t GeoBox clashing with VIOSO?
This question has been asked and the answer is, in our view, No.
Why? First of all there is a significant price difference between both technologies. GeoBox is a hardware, non-pc based blending, warping and videowall controller, while VIOSO is PC based.
Secondly, there are different price breaks between both systems.
Third, the VIOSO system includes automated, camera supported image and blending calibration and therefore is faster and more convenient in the set-up, in particular of multi-display applications.
Fourth, VIOSO has easy re-calibration capabilities, which are a great bonus for installations with untrained or unexperienced staff or for display critical applications or installations which require frequent or even daily re-calibration. One typical one is the use of inflatable domes.
Fifth, GeoBox takes media from any server or external player, while VIOSO has its own player as part of the software, or uses the players or applications, which are part of the Windows environment.
For me, my favourite VIOSO product for multi-display projection or curved screen - immersive projection is VIOSO Player.
A lower cost software, which can easily be installed into a homegrown computer with less demanding graphic cards.
Player makes a fantastic Video Playback system.
On the other end of the scale are Anyblend and Blackbox for blended and warped desktop applications or captured image data streams.
So in summary, these two brand do not clash. In fact they complement each other, whereby GeoBox offers the added versatility of videowall control and matrix switching.
Fujifilm Z5000
Last year we got involved with the introduction of the Fujifilm Z5000 projector.
This is a great projector with fantastic short throw capabilities and a high quality image.
Its shift capabilities can overcome many set-up problems, both in rental and permanent installation.
Combining the projector with the GeoBox G116, even warping adjustments can be added and overcome some of the issues inderent with super wide angle projector installations.
Over the holiday break I have had the opportunity to work with the unit and the adjustment capabilities are just fantastic. I could move the image virtually over one screen width (1/2 screen width either side) and completely of the screen vertically in both direction, with the typical horizontal projector set-up.
Due to the rotation lens, the projector can be set-up vertically, having a smaller footprint and project also vertically, if needed, without having to worry about the projector stability.
Some of the customers we visited have asked for some additional features and I have been told that these will be progressively implemented.
By the way, the white unit is now available and looks great. It will blend in well, both in professional and home theatre environments.
Protection for LCD screens in rental.
Recently I have been asked for the supply of protection foils for LCD rental screens to avoid scratches.
Initially I though that the anti-glare screen would be a solution, but I found that the image sharpness is affected using these foils.
But our foil manufacturer showed me some ‘security’ foil’, which is designed to make it difficult to break through glass. These foils are self adhesive and transparent.
They are available in different thickness and work well on LCD screens. A 4micron film appears to be most suitable, but there are thicker ones available as well.
Unfortunately these films they do add a small amount of glossiness to the screen. But it is not as bad, as the high gloss consumer LED screens have sometimes.
Initially we will sell these rolls in 30m rolls at about 1.04m wide. Once we have a better understanding about demand, we may offer the foils also in 10m rolls.
Norbert Schmiedeberg
Managing Director
January 2020
Contact: P.O.Box 3159, Asquith NSW 2077
E: itiav.info@iti-imagegroup.com.au
P: +61 (02) 94775709
