A lthough cinemas have lost a lot to cable television in the past decades and, more recently, to streaming networks, a new spike in people’s desire of watching movies on the big screen was recorded during the years of the pandemic and continues to stay on an ascendant trend. Specialists believe it has to do with people’s need to be together when the restrictions pushed them further from each other. Thus, the best solution some found to organize a cinematic event (smaller or bigger) was to do it outdoors with enough space between the seats so their friends could see and talk to each other without exposing themselves to the virus.
A lot of yards got illuminated last summer by projectors sending the scenes from old and new movies on white walls, white sheets, or high-quality outdoor movie screens that inflate to offer a wrinkle-free surface and please any crowd. The last option soon grew to be a favorite since it allowed projecting films even on windier nights and resembled the screen of a drive-through cinema the most, so it will be the one to be discussed in this article. Stay with us to find out how inflatable screens work, how to select the best for your outdoor space, and how to set it up to get excellent projection quality.
People Watching Movie Outdoors on an Inflatable Movie Screen
Projecting doesn’t mean getting your 100” TV outdoor and watching a movie on a streaming platform, although this may be a possibility. The idea of playing a movie in your yard is that you get to watch it on a large screen. Of course, there is also the fresh air, the night, the stars, and so on, which contribute a lot to the magic of the family or friend gathering you will organize, but if the display is small and the sound is not good, you will only obtain a frustrating experience.
A good outdoor movie projection set should include the followings:
When you first take a look at an inflatable screen, you may get struck by its size. Yes, it is large, or it may be huge depending on the size the owner picked. However, as you can tell by its name, it can easily turn into something smaller that can be easily stored in the garage.
An inflatable screen designed to be used outside consists of two elements: the frame and the air pump.
We are all accustomed to seeing white screens used for video projections, and the truth is that they do a pretty good job. Yet, lately, a new type of screen has appeared on the market and started gaining more popularity: the black screen. To understand the difference between the two options, we need to talk a bit about how light reflection works. It is known that bright colors and white reflect light, which means that they send it back into the environment, while dark colors or black absorbs it. This is why you wear bright-colored clothes in the summer instead of dark ones, as you want the sunlight to be reflected and not absorbed into your body.
Well, since the white screen reflects all the light, this means that the lighter the environment is, the more diluted the image will appear. This is why cinemas are usually dark rooms, and you are closing the curtains before projecting a movie. Since you will be using the projector at night, you should have no problem with a white screen, and it still remains a very good option.
A black screen, on the other way, absorbs light, which means that the image will not be diluted even when the room is illuminated. The contrast is better, and it is easier to distinguish between the hues. However, this option comes with a flaw. Since it doesn’t reflect light, you need to sit right in front of it to see the image. This can be a problem if you want to use it for a bigger crowd as the people sitting on the sides will only be looking at a black wall.
A compromise solution is to use a grey screen. Like the black one, it absorbs light, so it can be used in daylight. But it also reflects some of the light, so it is easy to see the movie, even if you are not sitting in front of it. The only disadvantage is that it tends to project a grey hue over the white or bright nuances in the image.
Open Air Cinema Party with Inflatable Movie Screen
The size you should pick for your screen depends on the number of people who are invited to watch the movie, the screen height by ratio, and the distance at which you plan to place the projector. In general, a 16:9 screen height by ratio works for all movies. Check out the width you should select according to the size of the event you are planning:
Inflatable screens come in many sizes, which means that it is easy to find one for the type of event you are planning. They are easy to use since they come with electric pumps that inflate them without requiring any effort on your part and offer excellent image quality if combined with a good projector. Add a good sound system, a few pillows and blankets on the grass, and a popcorn machine, and you have an outdoor cinema in your backyard. We guarantee that the children will love it while the adults may be just as mesmerized if you select a good movie that can activate some nostalgias or create new ones.