Alessandro Vasapolli

Hello, I had a response from the 3M rapresentative in Italy and he told me that this material is not available in Italy in the 18 inch format but only in narrow strips. Have you got any ideas about where I could buy it in the US and than have it shipped here? Thanks a lot, Alessandro

Thank you very much for all your answers. My my experiment I have tried various solutions: - Some 1K PARs to backlight the smoke - A big coffin (3mtx3mt) - some other various lights from the front and from the back. The backgrounds were always pretty dark. I think my problem lies in the way the smoke is spread. I think that, from a lighting point of view, I have done everything as it was supposed to. The thing that probably drove me off the right way was that I have read in various books that to do the right effect one should completely fill the room with smoke and wait for it to stop moving around. In this way I was led to use probably too much smoke. I'll make some other tests and I'll let you know. Many thanks!

Hello, I am very sorry for the banal question that I have but this problem is driving me crazy... I am trying to use some smoke and I have read in many places and books that you simply have to fill the room with smoke (some even refers to room where you can barely see with your naked eye), wait for the smoke to stop flying around and then to start shooting... When I try to do this "effect"I always end up with a room that turns out to be completely white when lit but I use very little smoke and I try to even it out as much as I can (I am working in a small environment). It seems like that the smoke is always either too strong or not strong enough and it doesn't last long enought in the "good phase" when you can shoot. Moreover I always have some swirls of smoke (visible in the camera) as if it doesn't mix well with air... I am using a normal smoke machine and on the bottle of liquid there is a "B" printed as is it is a type of liquid (I don't know if that might help). Thank you very much for your help and sorry for the, I guess, very banal question. My best, Ale

Hello, thank you very much for all your answers. I have contacted 3M representative here in Italy and I waiting for his response. So I just have to make strips, vertically, and glue them together? How big should be the overlap? Also, shall I put them on a frame or create a boards structure behind? On the VES book I've got a bit confused because in a paragraph entitled Front Projection Equipment (Characteristics of the Retroflective Material) they say to cut the material in a hexagonal or diamond shape. Also, why do they refer to retroflective material if we are talking to front projection? (maybe here I am missing something in translation...) Thank you very much

Hello, my name is Alessandro Vasapolli and this is my first post on this forum even if I have been following you for a while. I am trying to set up a front projection stage but, being it the first time I do it, I have many questions... I have tried to read all I could and I tried to look online as well but I could not find answers so please excuse me for the, maybe, obvious question that I will make... So, first of all the material for the screen... On another post here on cinematography.com (that I can't find anymore) I have found out that the material should be the 3M Scotchlite High Gain Reflective Sheeting (7610) but, speacking with the rapresentative here in Italy they did not know what I was talking about... Also, on the PDF that I have found, it seems like that the only possible sizes are: 1/2 in. (1.27 cm), 3/4 in. (1.90 cm), 1 in. (2.54 cm), 2 in. (5.08 cm)... I guess there is an error or how do you make a screen out of it? The second question I have is regarding the mirror used to reflect the light from the projector: how big should it be (my screen will be approximately 3mt * 3.5mt)? Also, here in Italy seems like that all the beamsplitter mirror also reduce the lights on both sides as they are mainly used in buildings as glass for the windows. The commercial name of what I have found is "stop-sol". I think that's all for now but I'll surely come up with more questions once I'll hear your answers so thank you very much in advance for your help! Ale 7610.pdf