Harkness Screens has unveiled its fifth generation 2D/3D screen technology, Hugo SR at CinemaCon 2024, which is being held April 8-11 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.
While the adoption of all forms of laser projection in the cinema industry has been steadily increasing for a number of years, screen technology has been a step behind with existing fourth generation screens often retrofitted in to laser deployments to help create suitable solutions. That changes with Hugo SR.
The result of more than five years of research and development alongside projector manufacturers, educational institutes, global exhibition and the Hollywood community, Hugo SR has been designed to support and leverage the benefits of all types of laser projection including RGB.
“Over the past few years we have seen the laser projection install base grow significantly across the globe,” said Laurent Espitalier, CTO at Harkness Screens. “Whilst laser projection has so many tangible benefits, our customers, wider exhibitors and partners have turned to us to provide a dedicated screen solution that can enable them to leverage the benefits of this new technology to its fullest including, higher contrast, high dynamic range and wide color gamut. Hugo SR, is the first engineered screen designed specifically with laser projectors in mind. With in-built characteristics that reduce visible speckle and improve contrast, Hugo SR provides exhibitors with a means to fully utilize laser projection technology creating even more compelling and captivating movie presentations.”
Laser speckle, most visible with RGB projectors (but also present, although less visible with other projection technologies) has been a concern for exhibitors looking to leverage laser projection. Hugo SR has been engineered to significantly reduce visible speckle by up to 30 percent compared to traditional high gain silver and white screen surfaces.
The company says the unique properties of Hugo SR allow exhibitors to deploy higher gain surfaces alongside RGB projectors without the requirement for expensive transducers whilst creating a level of assurance that laser speckle will not interfere with the viewing experience for most movie-goers in the auditorium. The company also says the unique surface coating properties of Hugo SR help to improve contrast by up to 15 percent compared to traditional silver and white screens creating more vivid colors with blacker blacks and whiter whites.
“We’re excited to begin the roll-out of Hugo SR technology around the world,” said Mark Ashcroft, CEO at Harkness Screens. “Hugo SR creates a new technology platform for Harkness and a new industry standard for laser screens. At Harkness, we continue to invest in research and development teams and are already working with our suppliers and partners developing further 2D and 3D screen technologies that already show signs of being able to virtually eliminate visible speckle whilst retaining the gain profiles exhibitors require in order to financially manage their shift from xenon-based projectors to laser. We feel we’re on the cusp of something transformational for the entire industry.”
Harkness Screens www.harkness-screens.com