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Stewart Filmscreen Displays CineCurve Curved Projection Screen at Integrated Systems Europe 2006 (6/2/2006)

Revolutionary new screen totally immerses the viewer, providing an absorbing curved-screen experience like you'd find in a commercial theater, at home.

Stewart Filmscreen Corporation(R)-the industry leader in projection screen technology in the home cinema and commercial markets-will be exhibiting its innovative new CineCurve screen at Integrated Systems Europe (ISE), 1-3 February 2006, at the Brussels Exhibition Center, Hall 5, Stand D23, in Brussels, Belgium.

Most films are shot in the super-wide 2.35:1 aspect ratio. But until now, projectors have not been able to use their full native resolution to project images at various aspect ratios, leaving unused pixels-horizontal black bars-at the top and bottom of an image. New projector and anamorphic lens technology, however, can optically reformat a projected image to the correct aspect ratio, using more of the screen real estate and increasing resolution by up to 33 percent and brightness by up to 20 percent.

The CineCurve is Stewart Filmscreen's answer to projector/anamorphic lens technology. It is a revolutionary 2.35:1 screen that maintains a constant vertical height, eliminating horizontal black bars when used with the technology. Because the projector and anamorphic lens combo fills the entire height of the screen, the image is bigger and brighter than it would be on a similarly sized traditional screen.

Because it is curved to enhance the super-wide image, the CineCurve totally immerses the viewer in the cinematic experience and allows them to connect emotionally with their source material. "With the CineCurve screen, we are taking the home cinema experience to the next level," says Holger Jensen, director of operations, Stewart Filmscreen Europe. "You'd be amazed at how much more visceral and dynamic the slightly arched CineCurve screen makes the home cinema experience. Until now, you could only get this type of moving experience in a commercial venue. And that's what makes Stewart Filmscreen different-we are constantly innovating and pioneering new technologies."

The concave shape of the CineCurve screen, unlike a flat screen, focuses light coming from the image back toward the seating area, making the image appear even brighter. The curvature also inherently limits the amount of light that is reflected onto the side walls that can, in turn, reflect back onto the screen and compromise image quality. With the CineCurve, viewing angles are improved because the distance from the screen's edges to the audience is the same as the distance from the center of the screen (see diagram, below).

The CineCurve screen can accommodate any standard aspect ratio with its unique masking system, which maintains a constant vertical height, while the electronically controlled side masking panels create the correct screen for the desired format. The screen uses Stewart Filmscreen's lauded, proprietary BRIC (Binary Reciprocal Intelligent Control) system, which is the industry's fastest digital control device-substantially reducing programming time for custom installers. BRIC eliminates the need for multiple controllers and is compatible with most IR, RS-232, and RS-422 systems.

www.stewartfilmscreen.com