Stage Designs

Throwback: Offset

Jeremy Tomlinson from River Run Christian Church in Chuluota, FL brings us this great design using an offset, separated projection screen. (Originally posted November 2012)

The backdrop was 1×2 wood furring strips painted white, cut in 3 different lengths to give a random look, and stapled and hung on thin black string.

The projection screen was four various sized “planks” hung with thin 4mm steel cable to appear completely floating. The planks were wooden flats wrapped in a white fabric. They were hung out over center stage about 15ft from the rain backdrop.

The video images were then masked within ProPresenter to only project onto the “planks”, leaving the LED lighted backdrop alone. For lyrics, Jeremy set up a template with four text boxes in order to quickly know their margins when adding a song.

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15 responses to “Throwback: Offset”

  1. John Darden says:

    So you are only using one projector correct? Does pro presenter have a feature that allows you to set the exact size for each screen you have? In other words, how are you eliminating the “excess” image from projecting past the screens onto the back wall?

    • Hey John. Yes. This is done by just one projector. I used a BenQ sp920 (6k lumen).
      ProPresenter comes with a Masking feature that enables you to make custom masks within the software. Wherever you mask it will not project in that area no matter what image/video you project. This makes this design possible and really helps give it that “floating, 3D feel” especially since they are about 15 feet away from the backdrop. I will try to add some more pictures that show it even better. I tweaked the masks a little better than these pictures show to where there is no spill at all onto the backdrop and it ONLY projects on the 4 individual “planks”. It takes a little while to get it just right but the end result can be well worth it. Other ideas I will try soon are more oddly shaped screens like circular or irregular shaped screens. Best of luck to you an let me know if you have any other questions.

  2. John Darden says:

    Thanks for the reply! I’m going to give this a shot. What is the fabric you used for the planks?

  3. Jeremy Tomlinson says:

    No prob. I can’t remember the exact name but it was a sheer fabric that was sort of shiny on one side and kind of matte on the other. I got it at JoAnns fabric. I wrapped the planks on all but the backside like a Christmas present with the shiny side out to project on.

  4. Eric says:

    How do you show regular videos?

    Thanks.

    • Jeremy Tomlinson says:

      Hey Eric. Sorry for the really late reply. We have two screens just off the picture to the left and right we use for Imag and videos. That is a definite downside to this design, you really can’t show any normal video. It’s really only for effect and lyrics.

  5. Blanton says:

    Jeremy – cool design, nice job. Quick question – how do you keep the strings/slats from twisting? Do you attach the black string to the stage?

    Thanks,
    -Blanton

    • Jeremy Tomlinson says:

      Great question Blanton. Sorry if I’m too late. I should have addressed that in the description because I remember having an issue with that. I ended up getting the thinest black string I could find at a Hobby store and stapling it to the back of the slats horizontally, basically making a grid so it could not twist.

  6. Aaron says:

    Can you describe how you lit the elements? It looks nice and even.

    • Jeremy Tomlinson says:

      Hello Aaron. The slats on the backdrop are lit with 1 meter LED Bars — There were 8 of them spaced just a couple feet or less apart. I have found that LED Bars do a great job of washing a wall or backdrop. I use them for almost every set for whatever is the back. The only thing you have to watch out for is washing them out with your front stage wash. To avoid that I definitely suggest Ellipsoidals/Lekos that you can focus and shutter to not hit the back wall.

      Here are the ones I use
      http://www.techni-lux.com/default.aspx?tabid=13&id=6381

      • Jeremy Tomlinson says:

        Oh yeah — and you can get a multi-color look because the bars can do 3 independent colors on each. So you can get a striped look that is still even.
        Also, I got a great contrast between the little slats by using black string and then hanging the grid a few feet away from the black curtain behind it so the light doesn’t hit the curtain.
        The planks out front are all lit with one 6k projector.

  7. Hi.
    I wonder how Jeremy set up the template for four text boxes and got the text to know their margins? If you understand:-) I’m new to ProPresenter and want to make something like the offset you have made.

    • Jeremy Tomlinson says:

      Hello!
      The template was very easy to set up. It takes a little time to get it right, but it’s not very hard. Within ProPresenter 5, there is a Masks feature. Open the masks edit window and then add a series of black rectangles to block wherever you don’t want projection. Then as you go hit “show” within the masks edit window to see your progress. When you have it set, your done. Currently, I have a cross shaped screen using the same feature, so you can pretty much do any custom shaped screen using these masks. I hope that helps….

  8. Eduardo Lopez says:

    I lovr this our church is thinking of slomething like this. but What was your budget on this?

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