Pro Diffusion & High Gain Rear Projection Films

One of the most common environments where a projection screen is affected by daylight is in window display applications. We offer multiple solutions all suited to different levels of high ambient lighting, with consideration for the location and budget always factored into our recommendations. Pro Diffusion is our most cost-effective rear projection film for window installations that can perform in high ambient lighting and daylight. Dark grey in colour, this self-adhesive film can be easily applied to existing glass surfaces offering high contrast, brightness and excellent colour reproduction, designed to get even the most from budget projectors. Our Pro Diffusion technology can also be manufactured in a rigid acrylic screen format and is our biggest selling rear projection screen worldwide.

Our High Gain film is best suited to entry level applications where budget is key. Whilst offering a cost-effective solution for window projection applications, it doesn’t perform to the same standard as pro diffusion in brighter lighting conditions. Instead, in projects where your screen will be viewed indoors or at night-time, High Gain is the best value for money and quality. This light grey self-adhesive film is also quick and easy to apply, offering a high brightness image even when using lower powered projectors.

Both rear projection film technologies have little restriction on size, with pieces of film able to be joined together to create larger displays with only slightly visible join lines. Both our Pro Diffusion and High Gain films can also be manufactured as an Interactive Projection Film with thru glass single, dual or multi touch technology.

Sunscreen Rear Projection Technology

For a fool proof daylight projection solution, our sunscreen is the obvious choice. Manufactured with an optical light rejecting filter, this sun-readable screen is projected onto at a 26°+/-5° for an optimum viewing effect performing at an impeccable standard even in direct sunlight. Our Sunscreen technology can be manufactured in custom sizes, offering a more versatile alternative to high brightness LCD technologies. Available as both a film that can be applied directly to any glass surface or a rigid rear projection screen for housed applications, our sun readable technology blocks out more than 85% of external light offering 4K/HD image quality even in harsh lighting conditions.

Our Sunscreen film can also be manufactured with touch capabilities, offering a thru glass touch experience that can still be used in direct sunlight in standard sizes up to 65”.

Ultra Gain Front Projection Screens & Films

Whilst we offer multiple rear projection solutions for tricky lighting conditions, projecting from behind the screen isn’t always a viable option due to space available or the location of your display. Luckily, we have also developed a range of front projection film and screens that are designed to excel in brightly lit environments. Our Ultra Gain film is manufactured with a highly reflective surface to produce exceptional brightness and contrast even in high ambient light and daylight. Available as both a film and rigid acrylic screen, we offer solutions in standard sizes from 32” upwards ideal for glass partitions, shopping centres and transport stations.

ALR Front Projection Screen

Although our Ultra Gain technology offers a solid projection solution for daylight applications, it’s beaten by the versatility of our Ambient Light Rejecting Front Projection Screen. Our ALR screen combines a high contrast projection layer with a unique optical filter that blocks more than 85% of external light. This front projection screen, whilst similar to the Sunscreen rear projection technology, is designed specifically for use with UST projectors with a 0.4 lens and shorter, with no need to worry about movement between the lens and screen due to the impressive short distance between the two.

Outperforming more expensive LCD/LED panels, the ALR screen reproduces images with no hot spotting and without reliance on high gain to combat high ambient lighting. These versatile screens also support edge blending technology, allowing the potential to create huge modular projection walls using multiple projectors.

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Rear Projection Touch Screens

With demand increasing rapidly for a large format touch display, our Rear Projection Touch Screens offer the benefit of an uninterrupted display in comparison to competing LCD video wall technology. With the potential to create touch screens in sizes up to 8m x 3m and supporting ultra-short throw projection, our digital glass displays are incredibly popular with museums, retail, and TV studios. These rear projection screens are manufactured to distribute light evenly across the screen offering a high brightness and contrast display even in brightly lit areas.

Interactive Touch Tables

Whilst interactive whiteboard technology has long since been the go-to for collaborative education and creative efforts, touch tables offer a more unique interactive solution suited to many environments. These interactive tables have 10-point touch technology to allow multiple users to interact at one time, making for a great sales pitch or brainstorming activity. Whilst these touch tables would be at home in any meeting room or corporate space, they have many benefits for smaller agencies or retailers that wish to offer a more one on one, personalised service to customers. Our interactive touch tables come with a built in PC, Wi-Fi and loudspeakers with optional upgrades including wireless charging points, keyboards, and webcams.

Transparent Touch Screens

Transparent Screens are still very much a thing of the future and are still fairly uncommon, offering all the more reason to include them in your next project. We offer two main interactive transparent displays both suited to different conditions, the Transparent LCD Display, and the Transparent OLED Screen. Our Transparent LCD technology can be manufactured as just the screen or integrated into a display case with multi touch capabilities. Transparent LCDs require a backlight in order to produce an image on screen meaning they are often integrated into display furniture, appliances and POS/POI displays as housing if often necessary to create the best quality display. We can offer interactive transparent LCD screens and display cases from 23” up to a huge 98” with 4K image quality. Our Transparent LCD Screens can even be integrated into a freestanding kiosk format for more mobile POS displays, or can be combined with oversized backlights for a floating signage effect like in Nikes House of Innovation.

Alternatively, Transparent OLED screens have no need for a backlight and remain transparent even when switched off. These HD displays showcase content that appears to almost float in mid air making them an ideal display tool for retail, window displays and visitor attractions. Despite only being available in 55” screen size, these screens can be joined together in 2 x N formats to create stunning transparent video walls.

Interactive Switchable Glass

Switchable Glass is in high demand in the corporate and residential industries and its compatibility with projection makes it a versatile choice for retail, product launches and visitor attractions. By combining these unique screens, that can be switched from frosted to clear on demand, with one of our interactive touch frames, a new opportunity for engagement is created. With standard screen sizes up to 134” they offer the perfect presentation space that can quickly disappear to reveal whats behind the screen.

Our Switchable Glass Screens can be controlled via remote control, voice activation and can even be switched using a timer, a great tool for more immersive attractions. For more discreet screen solutions, interactivity can be granted to modular switchable glass walls and partitions up to 1500 x 3000m, offering a touch display that blends into its surroundings when not in use.

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1. Transparent Projection Screens

With both front and rear projection options, our range of transparent screens are ideal for special effects applications or in projects where the clarity of the screen must be preserved. Our Clearview rear projection film and screens are the perfect low-cost alternative to competing holographic technologies, producing a 2D peppers ghost visual effect. These holographic screens are favoured by Hollywood acting as an alternative to CGI technology, with our transparent screens featuring in blockbusters such as Marvels Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.2 and Transcendence. These holographic effect screens have also been featured in multiple high-profile awards shows, providing a backdrop for Halsey’s performance at the MTV EMA’s and not only bringing a holographic Bob Hope back to life, but also creating a versatile stage set at the 83^rd annual Oscars celebration.

Not only can our transparent projection screens be used for special effects, but they also produce a 4K/HD vibrant image even in brightly lit environments. This functionality makes them a great solution for indoor window displays or glass partitions that wish to display a combination of holographic effect and normal video content, or in applications that want to maintain visibility and clarity of the projection surface 24/7.

2. Switchable Projection Screens

Switchable technology offers the best of both worlds appearing as a frosted privacy screen when switched off, and when an electric current is applied becomes transparent. There are lots of ways this technology can be used, in retail Switchable Projection Film is mostly incorporated into window displays or used in product launches to build suspense and add a sense of opulence to the event, like in the launch of the Rolls Royce Dawn at Harrods. Switchable film also acts as a great out of hours advertising space as well as a theft deterrent, perfect for smaller businesses wishing to get the most out of their location.

Switchable projection screens are also a firm favourite for places of worship, where the screen ‘disappears’ at the touch of the button so the aesthetic of the architecture can be maintained and appreciated when not in use.

3. Ambient Light Rejecting Screen

Many people have the misconception that the lighting in a room must be controlled in order to create a successful projection display. This however, thanks to Zhongchen Electronics technology is not true! We offer multiple projection screen solutions designed to perform in brightly lit environments, even producing a film that can perform in direct sunlight. In spaces that don’t experience direct sunlight but do suffer from high levels of artificial light or daylight, our Ambient Light Rejecting Screen is unphased, filtering out ambient light to produce imagery in even 4K quality. Our ALR screens are manufactured with a high contrast optical projection layer and light rejecting filter, outperforming LCD/LED panels that are more expensive yet not as well equipped to excel in these conditions.

With a filter that blocks out more than 85% of external light, these ALR projection screens also support ultra-short throw and edge blending technology. Their UST compatibility even makes them ideal for environments with limited space, packing the same punch as if the screens were joined together in larger video wall type formats, that can be created with the help of edge blending software like Scalable.

4. 360 Degree Projection Screen

There are many benefits to using a 360 projection screen, most of which apply to a wide range of environments. The key feature of using our 360 degree projection technology is that the image appears on both sides using only a single projector. Not only is this a benefit from a budget point of view giving you twice as many screens for the price of one, but it also helps you utilise your space better. Whilst this is less popular for advertising, due to one side of the screen producing a mirrored image, these screens thrive in immersive environments like museums and visitor attractions offering a display that can be appreciated from all angles.

5. PVC Rear Projection Screen

Our PVC projection screens are most popularly used in two ways, ceiling suspension and tensioned applications. The flexible nature of the screen material makes them perfect for ever changing environments due to their light nature and rollability, allowing them to be easily packed and reused without effecting the quality of the screen. Our PVC fabric projection film can be used to great effect in spaces with high ceilings like atriums, museums and shopping centres where the screen is suspended from the roof, offering an arial 4K/HD display that even appears animated in the right conditions.

We also commonly see these PVC projection screens used in tensioned formats, with sizes available up to 10 x 3m and options for edge blending and seamed large format solutions. The dynamic nature of this projection film allows us to produce stunning curved screens at a scale that cannot be achieved with LED or LCD technology. We can manufacture our PVC screens to fit bespoke steel framework systems ready to integrate straight into film sets or attractions, translating onto camera with superior quality. Our most recent PVC screen project was for the BAFTA and Oscar nominated Netflix film, ‘The Midnight Sky’, acting as a key part of the set in many of the movies most anticipated action scenes.

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LED Window Displays

Whilst window displays are designed to attract customers, many stores still heavily rely on the light coming from the shop front to illuminate the space, meaning any form of digital signage needs to support this. With traditional LED displays, a screen covering the entirety of the window would have blocked any light and view into the store, however, our unique LED solution provides the best of both worlds.

Our Transparent LED Screens offer a retrofit solution that fits directly behind your window, creating an eye catching display without blocking the view. Offering a brightness up to 5000cd per m2 and transparency up to 85%, our Transparent LED’s fit together modularly to create holo-effect LED walls on a massive scale. These displays are available with a range of pixel pitches, offering a solutions that can be appreciated from up close or at long distance. We find the Transparent LED screens to be most popular in applications that lack the expected floor space for window displays or in buildings with heavily glass-based architecture, with these transparent screens easily fitting into the frame of the window with a minimalist finish that offers maximum impact.

These screens we’re used to great effect at the Golden Horseshoe Casino, who used our Transparent LED Screens to entice passing traffic. The atrium lacked floor space and needed a solution where the view from both sizes wasn’t restricted. They chose to use a mixture of holo effect and striking content using the brand colour palette on both transparent screens, creating a display that was eye catching without being overwhelming.

Mirrored LED Screens

With the Magic Mirror becoming increasingly popular across the entertainment and retail sectors, it might be difficult to see how this can be improved with LED technology. Whilst standard Mirror Displays are incredibly effective, the larger the displays become it can be harder to ensure the image has the same impact across the screen especially in certain lighting environments. In video wall applications that experience high ambient lighting, a Mirror LED screen is ideal.

Our Mirror LED walls are available in pixel pitches as small as 0.9mm, creating a large format display that can be highly reflective as well as high in brightness and quality. In LED screens each pixel is individually lit making the contrast against the reflective overlay much stronger, whilst balancing the image out across the display to combat glare and reflectivity from other light sources. These screens are perfect for integration into retail, events and hospitality industries, offering a range of mirrored coatings to suit the individual application.

Outdoor LED Displays & Perimeter Systems

Perhaps one of the most commonly seen types of large format display are outdoor LED displays. These are usually found as billboards like in the infamous times square or in sports stadiums, outdoor concerts or events. Our outdoor LED screens offer superior contrast and viewing angles, coming complete with a control system and basic operating software that’s straightforward to use. Available in pixel pitches from 4mm to 20mm, these displays can be seen from miles around and are built to withstand all weather conditions with their IP65 waterproof rating.

Specifically designed for sporting events, our LED Perimeter systems offer the best in game day advertising. Boasting 6000nit brightness our perimeter displays are unphased by sunlight, making them a reliable solution for TV broadcast applications. These quality LED systems are shipped in a programmable module format with rear access for easy service and maintenance and can be joined to fit perimeters of any length. Our LED Perimeter was chosen for use in a prestigious football match between Manchester United and Al-Hilal of Saudi Arabia. The game featured some of United’s finest including Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney, with our perimeter system providing bright, full colour video advertising to the 65,000 fans throughout the match.

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1. Mirrorvision

Zhongchen Electronicss Mirrorvision range combines standard display technology with the functionality of a mirror. Favoured by Nike our mirror displays range in features, offering everything from Mirrored LED Video Walls to Interactive Mirror Displays, with our choice for the home being the Mirrorvision Smart TV. Featured on 60 Minute Makeover these mirror TV’s are the perfect edition to any living space and can be customised to suit individual environments.

Each Mirror TV is bespoke to the customer, with our team working with you directly to choose the right tint, mirror size and optional frame to create the perfect solution for your interior. Whilst standard sized mirror TV’s are our most popular, many users are opting to oversize the mirror glass to create more statement décor items or feature walls. We can also create oversized freestanding Mirror TV’s with our ultra-high reflective mirrored glass, designed for more aesthetic applications like dressing rooms and bedrooms. If you’re looking to upgrade your existing TV we also offer our DIY Mirror Overlay Kits that can be easily installed at home using our simple step by step guide.

2. Smart Glass

Our smart film products have been used to launch some of the worlds most sought after automotives including Rolls Royce and Jaguar, with its unique switchable and projection capabilities making it perfect for a memorable product reveal. We’ve also seen our Switchable Glass Screens used commonly in places of worship with the screen able to ‘disappear’ when not in use, so visitors can still appreciate the architecture without interruption. Despite its popularity on the commercial side, our sister company Intelligent Glass have seen a rapid increase in popularity for using switchable technology in the home.

The most popular Smart Glass solution for the home is Switchable Double Glazing, providing an energy efficient glazing solution with instant privacy control. Smart glass products offer a minimalist alternative to blinds and curtains, designed for environments that require privacy but wish to maintain natural light flow. Laminate Smart Glass is best suited to use in bathrooms or as room dividers and has previously been used as a partition between bedroom and ensuite spaces to make the rooms appear larger. Intelligent Glass also develops internal and bi fold door solutions as well as Self-adhesive Switchable Film, that can be applied to existing windows for a more time sensitive privacy solution.

3. Projection Screens

Projection Screens are renowned for needing controlled lighting in order to work, however our specialist projection technologies make this possible in even direct sunlight. Our Ambient Light Rejecting Front Projection Screens are designed to work with ultra-short throw projection and are available in standard sizes up to 120”. These screens are designed to filter our ambient light, offering high contrast, rich colours and 4K image quality even in direct sunlight.

4. Anti-Glare Overlays

Many homeowners will suffer from glare on their TV and it’s not always possible to relocate it to avoid this. Whilst this can be prevented with the help of curtains or blinds, it’s understandable that people don’t want to sit in darkness in order to watch TV in the middle of the day. Our Anti-Glare Overlays can be easily fitted to flat screen TVs, working to reduce the glare and diffuse harsh reflections affected by high ambient light and sunlight. These overlays also provide a protective layer to soft surface screens, ideal for busier areas of the home or households with small children.

5. Interactive Touch Table

Offering a peak into the future, our Interactive Touch Table could be the next must have in the homes of tomorrow. With the influx of people now working from home our touch tables could make life easier for industries like creatives, offering them a more responsive space to work and collaborate in real time. These tables come with a built in PC using Windows and Android operating systems, with the capacity to support design applications as well as internet browsing, video streaming and gaming applications, something for all the family!

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Do I need a Front, Rear or Dual projection screen?

When choosing whether to opt for a front, rear or dual projection screen the first thing you need to consider is space. Front projection is traditionally more suitable for environments that lack the distance necessary for rear projection, but with the rapid advancement in ultra-short throw technologies the distance needed has been reduced massively, despite coming with a heftier price tag. We generally recommend using front projection in environments where the audience is seated, or the screen is suspended as to avoid interference with the image on screen. Our Ultra Gain screen is ideal for exhibitions and meeting rooms, offering HD/4K quality with exceptional brightness and contrast.

Our selection of rear projection solutions vary in appearance, making them ideal for a range of sectors and applications from screens that perform in direct sunlight, to transparent projection substrates. Most popularly we see rear projection used for window displays, as our films can be retrofit to existing glass surfaces but it is also commonly used for environments where there is traffic and movement in front of the screen. Usually, rear projection requires amicable throw distance behind the screen but our digital glass screens can support UST (ultra short throw) projection and can be manufactured in sizes up to 8m x 3m.

Dual image projection screens produce an image on both sides of the screen using a single projector, a great way to double your screen coverage for a fraction of the price. We see these screens used most effectively in museums and visitor attractions, often used to create immersive environments without the need for doubling up on displays. Our 360 dual image projection film was most recently used in the World Rugby Hall of Fame as part of the main attraction, where visitors could interact with the screens to display their favourite player and enjoy the content from all angles in the room.

Does my projector screen need versatility?

The next question you need to ask yourself is does your screen need to be versatile, for example you might want to create an eye-catching window display, but you still want to be able to see through your windows. Our range of films and screens each boast unique qualities that make them better suited to certain environments, with our expert team on hand to advise which would be best for your project.

One of our most versatile rear projection screens is our Clearview Film, allowing users to maintain the transparency of the screen whilst projecting and also when not in use. This transparent rear projection film can also create a holographic/peppers ghost effect and has been used at the Oscars and MTV EMA Awards, as well as featuring in multiple blockbuster movies including Marvels Guardians of the Galaxy.

For an alternative flexible projection solution, our Switchable Projection Screens offer a 4K/HD projection surface when switched off and can ‘disappear’ by turning clear when turned on. This technology is popular for churches as it allows them to maintain the aesthetic of the building, and was notably used in Rolls Royce’s launch of their Dawn Drophead Coupe at Harrods.

Perhaps the most ‘flexible’ of all of our projection screens is our PVC Fabric Projection Screen. This bendable projection surface is ideal for creating animated suspended displays, used best in environments with high ceilings for maximum effect. The malleable nature of our PVC projector material also allows for it to be tensioned to create stunning, Curved Rear Projection Screens like the one used in the academy award nominated film, The Midnight Sky.

How bright is my environment?

Lighting has previously been considered the downfall of projection technology, which is why our range of projection solutions are designed to combat this and perform at a superior level in daylight conditions. Our solutions expel the idea that a pitch-black room is essential for projection to work, with some of our products even performing in extreme environments.

Window Displays can often face issues when it comes to projection, whilst some are surrounded by controllable lighting many others suffer from high ambient lighting and even direct sunlight, causing many to opt for alternate LCD or LED technologies. However, our Sunscreen Rear Projection Film boasts a light rejecting filter that blocks more than 85% of external light to produce a HD/4K image even in direct sunlight, without the need for a high-powered projector. We also offer an Ambient Light Rejecting Front Projection Screen for ultra short throw and edge blending applications, where the screens can be joined to create unique aspect ratio displays with stunning Ultra HD images in extremely bright environments.

In displays where direct sunlight and glare isn’t an issue, we’ve seen our Ultra Black, Pro Diffusion, High Gain and Clearview projection films used to great effect across a huge spread of market sectors, offering excellent colour reproduction, brightness and contrast in daylight and ambient lighting conditions. All of our projection solutions are manufactured to allow your projector to reach its maximum potential, creating incredible displays even with low power projectors.

I want to create a huge projection display, do I need more than one projector?

In short, the number of projectors needed is solely based on the space you have available in your environment. Generally the larger the screen the bigger the throw distance, even when using ultra short throw projectors you are limited to what screen size you can reach at a small distance. Our Rear Projection Screens are available in standard screen sizes up to 134” and our Digital Glass Screens are available as standard up to 185”, all of which are designed to work using a single projector.

Our Rigid Large Format Screens are designed for use in attractions and TV studios and can be made in custom sizes up to 8m x 3m, commonly used with multiple projectors to achieve the best effect. This is made possible using edge blending software, which is also supported by our ALR Front Projection Screens which can be used in modular panels to create large format projection walls.

We even offer the means to create a building sized projection screen using our Projection Mapping Film, as seen on 392 windows of the nHow Hotel during the festivities of ISE 2019. A project of this size utilised 14 Panasonic’s PT-RZ31K projectors to provide the necessary 400,00 lumens needed to create this jaw dropping display, with our projection mapping film applied internally to the windows of the hotel, offing the perfect canvas.

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Oversizing your mirror

Bigger is better right? Our Mirrorvision range is custom manufactured to your measurements, allowing us to produce screens with a perfect fit mirrored overlay as well as oversized mirrored panels and custom shapes and sizes. A perfect example of this is in our Full Length Mirror TVs where ,as standard, a 43” 4K Smart TV is integrated into a larger portrait mirror, offering a clever display solution that is tailored to more cosmetic applications like bedrooms or dressing rooms.

As well as oversized Mirror TV’s, we can also manufacture matching mirrored surrounds allowing you to create stunning feature wall solutions. In one project we supplied and installed a 3-piece Mirrorvision Smart TV and surround that was made to measure for install around the existing fireplace in the home. Alternatively in a commercial project, we supplied 8 pieces of our mirrored glass including 2 of our 86” Professional Mirror Screens to create two huge mirror facades with integrated displays. With discreet join lines, our technology when used in this way creates a stunning visual effect and provides a luxurious display solution that suits any environment.

Mirror Displays with Impact

There are multiple ways to create a display that packs a punch, the most common being the size and the brightness, as both are more likely to attract the attention of traffic. Our Mirrored LED Walls provide you with the brightness of an LED screen with the contrast of a reflective mirror. Available in pixel pitches from 0.9mm our Mirror LED screens can be enjoyed from both close up and long distance. This innovative combination of technologies gives you the power of a high brightness LED screen with the ability to also create a reflective effects screen using softer video or image content.

Similarly, we also offer 1080p HD LCD Mirror Video Walls that can even be granted interactivity with up to 32 touch points. The beauty of both our LED and LCD video walls is that they are set up in a modular format allowing you complete control over the size of your display. Hotel giant Novotel opted to use 3 Professional Mirror Displays with oversized glass overlays to create a unique visual display in the lobby of their Heathrow Airport T1, T2 & T3 hotel.

DIY Mirror TV Kits

If you’re looking to upgrade your existing TV or display, our DIY kits offer a straightforward solution that completely transforms your interior. Combining your TV and mirror allows you to make the most of your space whilst maintaining the aesthetic of your interior. Our Mirror TV Kits contain a Mirror TV Overlay that’s manufactured bespoke to your requirements, integration adhesive, IPA wipes and a fool proof installation guide.

During the consultation process we help you to create the perfect Mirrorvision solution from choosing the right tint to adding a finishing touch with a frame from our luxurious range. Whilst the modern appeal of our frameless Mirror TV’s is popular many like to match their TV Mirror to their existing interior opting for one of our decorative frames, with sizes from delicate 21mm options to ornate 70mm designs.

Interactive Mirror Displays

Interactive displays are great way to engage with customers and entice passing traffic to connect with your brand. Working particularly well in retail environments our Interactive Mirror Displays are a great way to upsell products and convert more business. Positioning these screens in specific areas like changing/fitting rooms allows you to have more impact at key points in the customer journey. Our touch screen mirror displays can even be paired with many different technologies to create more personalised experiences. For instance, an RFID reader could be used alongside our reflective displays to allow users the option to check stock levels of the items in hand and even receive personalised product suggestions based on their pickings. Using our technologies in this way provides a more personal experience when shopping in brick-and-mortar stores making the in person commute worthwhile as opposed to online shopping.

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We offer a huge range of unique and innovative display technologies, but when it comes to wow factor, nothing compares to our selection of Transparent Displays. Our solutions are incredibly versatile with some even manufactured specifically to suit certain projects and applications, but the true beauty of these products are in the inventive ways they’ve been used by our customers. Take a look below as we give you all the inspiration you need in how to choose the right transparent display for your project.

Transparent Projection Films & Screens

Arguably our most popular transparent technology, are our Transparent Projection Films and Screens, Clearview used for Rear Projection and Clearvision used for Front Projection applications. Available as an Acrylic rigid screen, we also offer our Clearview and Clearvision technology in the form of a self-adhesive film that can be retrofit to any existing glass surface.

Our Clearview Rear Projection Film is incredibly successful, lending itself as a HD/4K quality projection screen that can be used to produce a holographic peppers ghost effect, whilst also being completely transparent when not projected onto. We’ve seen our holographic effect screens used as a key component of the 83^rd Academy Awards stage design as well as in Halsey’s performance at the 2018 MTV Awards. In addition to this, our Clearview film has also had stints in multiple Hollywood blockbusters including Transcendence (2013) and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017).

Due to the continued success of our transparent rear projection technology and the incredible demand, last year we launched our Clearvision Front Projection Film and Screens. Our Clearvision technology is built on the foundations of its rear projection counterpart however this transparent front projection screen is dual image, producing a peppers ghost effect image on both sides of the screen. Our transparent front projection film is ideal for application to windows or glass facades where the effect can be enjoyed from both inside and outside the building.

Transparent LCD Screens

Coming in a close second to our holographic projection technologies, our selection of Transparent LCD Screens are a firm favourite in retail and leisure applications. In order to work Transparent LCD technology requires a powerful backlight to produce an image on screen, presenting solid black pixels of content as expected and rendering white content as transparent.

Traditionally Transparent LCD Screens are designed to be integrated into a full surround of housing to get the best performance, with us seeing our technology used in this way in many retail stores and even themed restaurants and unique exhibitions. After recent further research and development, we found that these screens can still operate at maximum potential without the constraint of a complete surround. We worked with Nike to bring their concept into reality with the end product being nine stunning Transparent LCD Display’s that sit away from the wall, utilising an oversized abstract high brightness backlight and no housing, still producing crystal clear, HD/4K quality content.

As well as manufacturing screens designed for integration, we also offer Transparent LCD Display Cases providing a complete solution that’s ready to go upon arrival. We can even create bespoke, unique housings that reflect your brand, working with you directly to create a solution that’s completely unique to you. Both our Transparent LCD Screens and Display cases can also be granted touch capabilities to create a Transparent Touch Screen, ideal for museums and visitor attractions giving guests a hands on experience.

Transparent OLED Screens

Still fresh on the market, these incredible Transparent OLED screens are a rarity but when used have an undeniable impact on grabbing the attention of traffic. Unlike the Transparent LCD technology these screens operate without the need for a backlight or enclosure allowing them to be used virtually anywhere as they don’t rely on any additional factors. Working in an opposite fashion to the similar LCD technology, the Transparent OLED’s display black as transparent and white as a block pixel.

Transparent LED Screens

The most powerful out of all of our transparent technologies is our Transparent LED Screens. Designed to attract traffic from a distance, these displays are a great way to utilise window space for advertising without completely blocking the view. Available in module sizes of 100 x 500m and 500 x 375mm, these screens also boast a small bezel making them ideal for window displays that suffer from restrictions in floorspace. The modular nature of these screens offers the potential for huge Transparent LED video walls that could compete with the likes of alternative LCD technologies but massively overshadows them when it comes to impact and brightness.

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These new and improved acrylic screens are hand cast with the same advanced optical substrate but are now double the thickness! At 6mm thick, these screens offer a more rigid and robust solution and are available in sizes up to 3m x 2m, manufactured to withstand the wear and tear of being installed in high traffic areas. Appropriately named, our Clearview XL and Pro Diffusion XL displays are available in a range of standard screen sizes and can even be cut to custom shapes to suit unique projects. We’ve seen the original projection screen technologies cut to mimic a silhouette, which are then projected on to imitate the appearance of a person, with our new improved and more rigid XL technology even better suited to this kind of application.

Our Pro Diffusion XL screens feature a matt fascia that acts as an anti-glare projection display that can be used with UST projection to produce HD/4K images on screen without creating hot spots. These screens are manufactured to diffuse light at all angles, resulting in content that is 10 times the brightness with perfect image uniformity and is an ideal choice for all video and advertising applications. Our Pro Diffusion range is the only diffusion screen technology that provides true 180°degree visibility, making it the perfect solution for use on television sets like ITV’s ‘The X Factor’, performing at its best from all angles in the studio translating the show perfectly onto the camera.

Not only did our Pro Diffusion Rear Projection Screen provide a stunning display it was granted touch screen capability, allowing the judges to interact with the content on screen creating a collaborative experience for both themselves and the viewer. Both our Pro Diffusion XL and Clearview XL screens can be combined with our Interactive Touch Frames allowing viewers to interact with your display with up to 32 touch points. Our touch frames are available in a range of standard screen sizes up to 10m x 3m and can be used alongside multiple rear projection screens to create huge interactive displays.

Our Clearview XL screens offer a more robust alternative to their predecessor, with the 6mm thick surface acting as a sturdier display solution creating the same high-quality HD/4K images and also clarity when the projection screen is not in use. Our XL rear projection screens can also be joined to create huge, large format projection displays with barely noticeable join lines, just like in the set at the 83^rd annual Oscar celebrations. This award-winning project used 38 of our Clearview Rear Projection Holographic screens, allowing the designers to create a versatile, layered set design that let viewers to appreciate the scale and beauty of the venue as well as displaying key content for the ceremony without ruining the set design. One of our Clearview screens was even used to bring Hollywood legend Bob Hope back to life for one night only, in the form of a holographic projection of his speech in the first ever televised Oscars in 1953.

Our Clearview technology even performs in well lit environments like the Oscars and also at the MTV EMA’s, where our holographic rear projection technology was used during Halsey’s live performance, outputting bright, high contrast images even in the presence of competing stage lighting. We’ve also seen our holographic rear projection screens used in the Hollywood blockbusters ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” and “Trancendence” as a more realistic alternative to CGI technology.

As well as our upgraded Clearview XL and Pro Diffusion XL Rear Projection Screens, we also offer these technologies in a film solution that can be retrofit to existing glass or acrylic surfaces. These films are commonly used with windows and glass partitions with specialist products including holographic effect and sun readable film options and can also be manufactured with touch capabilities, with our range of interactive projection foils being popular in retail window displays.

The post Zhongchen Electronics Launches New XL Rear Projection Screens appeared first on Zhongchen Electronics.

Here we explore how the pandemic will shape shopper expectations and needs, and how retailers can embrace in-store technologies to adapt and provide competitive post-COVID customer experiences.

Retail After Covid

Lockdowns have hit retail hard. Total retail sales in the UK fell by 1.9% in 2020, the largest yearly fall since records began. And whilst some retail sectors have seen a compensatory boom in online sales, sectors that rely on in-store traffic have seen some dramatic declines in business. The UK clothing sector was affected particularly severely, with a 22.2% fall in sales in 2020.

As lockdowns ease in 2021 and as shoppers return to high streets and shopping centres in higher numbers, retailers will be anticipating a return to pre-COVID sales. But retail experts are anticipating the pandemic will have a lasting impact on shopper expectations and behaviours for years to come, including:

1. Shoppers being wary of busy public places and being less willing to spend time browsing in-store.
2. People having a heightened sensitivity to hygiene and being less willing to touch products and surfaces in-store.
3. Consumers being more likely to buy products online that were previously bought in-store.

After a tough lockdown, these changes in shopper behaviour will pose a fresh challenge to retailers. But through embracing a range of digital technologies, retailers can fashion compelling in-store experiences that can entice shoppers back through their doors. Here are our top 5:

1. Enhance Shop-Front Displays For External Browsing

If shoppers are less willing to spend time inside busy shops, retailers can place more emphasis on external displays to allow shoppers to browse from outside. 

Displaying a selection of wares in windows is a form of advertising as old as retail itself, but in a post-COVID retail world, retailers are going to need to up their game to catch and hold shoppers’ attention. One of the most effective ways to achieve this is to go beyond static displays by adding moving imagery and video. 

We’re already seeing some retailers embracing projection technology on store-fronts and in-display areas to create dynamic, visually engaging displays. Outdoor high-brightness screens and daylight projection screens allow retailers to display products, advertising, and other media on large format, 4K-quality screens that can be viewed in full sun. Interactive window displays that incorporate gesture recognition are pushing this concept even further. And with the possibilities to allow consumers to interact with touchscreens through the glass using our Interactive Touch Foils, the potential is high for retailers to stand out with their window displays.

2. Bring More Light Into Stores For A Fresh, Healthy Atmosphere

Customers concerned about spending time in public indoor spaces will likely find closed off, dark and poorly lit interiors even more unappealing. 

Flooding retail spaces with natural light and giving views of the outside world may encourage shoppers to enter and spend time in stores as they feel more open and sanitary. Increasing the volume of windows and skylights in retail buildings can bring more natural light into spaces, give the impression of a greater connection to the external environment, and dramatically change the look and feel of retail space. Increasing window volume also better allows customers to browse from outside. 

Switchable smart glass windows are windows that switch from transparent to opaque at the press of a button. The smart glass allows retailers to manage light levels, as windows can be made opaque in strong sun. Smart glass can also serve as a high-definition projection screen when turned opaque, giving another option for retailers to craft engaging external displays.

3. Upgrade In-Store Signage To Digital

Creating a smooth and seamless in-store experience has long been a goal of retailers, but that goal will be even more important for shoppers conscious of spending time in public retail spaces.

Effective signage is a key element in providing a smooth in-store experience as it allows customers to navigate to the areas of a shop and the products they’re seeking. Digital signage achieves this more effectively than static signage as it can rotate to display multiple forms of information, be updated instantly when needed, and be made visually engaging through the use of imagery and video. 

Installing high-definition screens throughout a retail space facilitates effective navigation and provides the best retail signage possible. Digital signage also adds to the visual impact of a store and enhances the customer experience. When Nike launched their third House of Innovation in Paris in 2020, they chose Zhongchen Electronics to supply nine interactive, large-scale Transparent LCD screens throughout the store to help customers navigate but also to add to the innovative feel of the store. Not only did our technology fit in perfectly with the interior of the store, but supported Nike’s environmental push by offering a display that can be updated at a moment’s notice with zero wastage.

4. Create Zero-Contact Shopping Experiences With Digital Technology

An ambitious goal in post-COVID retail is to create zero-contact in-store journeys where shoppers can find products, learn more about them, and make purchases without having to touch anything. 

Although this may sound like an unrealistic goal, new technology can make zero-contact shopping a reality. New mobile applications are being explored where customers can scan a unique code in order to interact with a public screen, turning their smartphone into a controller.  The app and the software running on the screens can be designed to facilitate a wide range of shopper needs, like calling up maps, locating products, displaying product details, acting as an interactive mirror, or requesting items be sent to checkouts. 

By using a phone to operate the screen, the experience is upgraded from a touchscreen to a touchless screen and all forms of physical contact can be removed from the shopper’s journey. This emerging technology has huge future potential as gesture recognition and AI develops, and we anticipate this is the first step in the development of AI store assistants.

5. Craft A Unique And Entertaining In-Store Experience With Digital Media

Online retail sales rose to record levels during the pandemic and it’s expected that many shoppers will continue to favour online shopping. Ultimately, retailers in 2021 will only succeed in a post-COVID retail environment by providing shoppers with in-store experiences that can’t be replicated online. 

Realistically, the only benefit of shopping in-store is being able to leave with an item then and there instead of waiting for delivery, but with many retailers offering premier services that provide next day delivery all year round, brick and mortar will have to step up their game. Providing a smooth and stress-free shopping journey will be the foundation of a post-COVID customer experience, and zero-contact shopping will add reassurance. But creating a rich digital media environment incorporating high-quality LCD and LED screens, daytime projection, and more advanced digital technology like mirror screens and holographic projection screens, can help craft an entertaining and compelling in-store experience that online shopping can’t come close to. Add to this the use of personalised, touchless technology in retail and customers will be able to tailor their own experiences in-store in a similar but more memorable way to shopping online. 

The combination of digital technologies mentioned here can revolutionise customer experiences and allow retailers to better compete in a post-COVID world. 

The post Retail Post-Covid: 5 Essential Technologies for A Reimagined Customer Experience appeared first on Zhongchen Electronics.

Museums and galleries will have to adapt to offer new experiences and to allay any potential fears from the public. Here we discuss six ideas of how they can use technology and design to meet these goals and to better attract and engage their visitors. 

Post-Covid Challenges For Museums And Galleries

The global COVID-19 pandemic has affected all our lives and lockdowns have kept most of us in our homes for extended periods. Businesses, hotels, and leisure locations have faced sharp declines in foot traffic, but galleries and museums have been hit dramatically – many have been forced to stay closed throughout the majority of 2020 and into 2021. 

Although the pandemic is receding and museums and galleries are beginning to reopen as lockdowns are eased, the sector will continue to face challenges throughout the coming years:

• Tourism is expected to recover slowly, with some predicting it won’t return to pre-pandemic levels until at least 2023, limiting attendance from visitors travelling from out of town and abroad.
• It’s also predicted that many people will retain a heightened sensitivity to crowding and hygiene even as the pandemic recedes. With people less willing to spend time indoors in busy public spaces, museums and galleries will face an added challenge in attracting visitors. 
• Visitors with hygiene concerns may also be less willing to touch objects and surfaces, and museums and galleries will need to offer zero-contact experiences and journeys through their spaces. 

Although the COVID-19 pandemic may continue to pose challenges for galleries and museums, these challenges present an opportunity to evolve how they present their collections and engage with visitors. Here are our top six ways they can do using existing technologies:

1. Virtual Tours And Online Collections

If museums and galleries face a challenge in attracting visitors and staying relevant whilst they remain closed, one option is to take their collections to potential visitors online. 

In Google’s Year in Search review of 2020, Google reported that ‘virtual museum tours’ was one of the most searched queries of the year. Several institutions were quick to adapt to the trend by putting objects and paintings from their collections online and even by offering online virtual tours, with examples like: 

• The Louvre’s range of online virtual tours that replicate the physical space of the museum online.
• The Museum of London’s 3D immersive online virtual tour of their Victorian Walk. 

Online tours and collections will likely remain popular moving into 2021 and beyond, particularly as institutions become more creative in their use of online media, such as embracing virtual reality. 

Nothing can replace a visit to the real collections of course. But online exhibitions like these build awareness and prestige for museums and galleries that can translate into increased visitor numbers as tourism rebounds.

2. Social Media To Entertain

Social media is an established touchpoint for most museums and galleries, but during the pandemic, we saw many institutions stepping up their social media game. 

Rather than using social media to display their collections, some galleries and museums explicitly used social media to entertain, particularly on TikTok. The Uffizi Gallery’s unconventional TikToks have reportedly transformed the lesser-known regional institution into a leading online presence. 

All too often, social media is viewed by cultural institutions as a low-effort, unimaginative media that’s commonly handed to junior staff. The global pandemic has shown how important social media is in attracting attention and building recognition for institutions, capitalising on the hype whilst their doors are closed will be key to attracting visitors post-COVID. When indoor attractions do reopen, including nods to social media throughout your exhibits acts as the perfect free advertising tool. We worked on a project for the World Rugby Hall of Fame, providing four 2.5m tall 360 Projection Screens that displayed HOF inductees and could be controlled by their own HD touch screen. These interactive screens encouraged visitors to ‘Take a picture with your legend’ and use their unique hashtag #RUGBYHOF, leading to more personable, free advertising from previous visitors across Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

3. External Displays Viewed From Outside

External facing displays that allow paintings and collections to be viewed from the outside of a gallery or museum aren’t new. We’ve seen examples of such displays before the pandemic as part of a movement to make galleries and museums more open and engaging to their local communities. However, we expect external exhibitions to become more common in a post-pandemic world.

External displays can be achieved with relatively low-tech solutions such as utilising existing windows or installing more windows in front-facing areas. The Tacoma Art Museum in Washington has done this to dramatic effect by placing a 26-foot-long wall of floor-to-ceiling windows in their new Benaroya Wing extension that displays exhibits clearly to people passing outside. 

Switchable smart glass, which can be transformed from transparent to opaque at the touch of a button, is already widely used in museums and galleries as it can balance transparency with a need to protect collections from strong, damaging light. Our solution allows you to maintain the abundance of natural light in an environment whilst also reducing solar glare by up to 30%. We anticipate more museums and galleries will incorporate smart glass and smart adhesive films into external displays.  

To take external displays one step further, galleries and museums are also embracing digital media, including moving images and video, by using external-facing projection technology. For instance, NOW Gallery in London commissioned Zhongchen Electronics to install three large format, 4K quality projection films to create a spectacular external display. 

Displays of this type can capture and hold attention and will be important for encouraging members of the surrounding community to step inside museums and galleries.

4. Digital Signage For Smooth Visitor Journeys

For visitors conscious of crowding and social distancing, museums and galleries may have to provide more space, use staggered queuing systems, and limit numbers in more confined areas. Social concerns can also be assuaged by providing effective signage, that can help visitors navigate quickly and easily to the areas of museums and galleries they are most interested in. 

Digital signage based on high-quality LED and LCD screens can be used more effectively than traditional signage to achieve this goal. Digital signage can include multiple forms of media to attract attention, be instantly updated, and rotate to provide detailed information without becoming overwhelming. 

Digital displays also provide more options via touch screen menus or by using different types of interactive kiosks. By breaking up exhibits with video content and interactive screens, you can slow down the pace at which the attraction is explored making it easier to keep social distancing measures in place and all visitors feeling safe. However, visitors may be less willing to touch physical surfaces other people have touched as COVID concerns remain, posing a problem as to how you can connect with your audience on a more personal level. 

New technologies are in development including applications  that allow visitors to interact with screens using their phones or tablets, providing a personalised and zero-contact interaction. The app can be customised to a wide range of applications and might well be the future of interactive displays.

5. Rich Digital Media To Enhance Visitor Engagement

Museums and galleries have already embraced video and touchscreen technologies to bring exhibits to life and engage visitors. These technologies will prove more important than ever as museums and galleries seek to make themselves more attractive and entertaining places to visit post-COVID. 

Large scale digital displays, such as large format LED screens and large format projection screens, can best display objects and art in fine, high-definition detail. Whilst more advanced projections technologies, like holographic effects screens, create particularly impactful experiences.

Before the pandemic, museums have increasingly been offering contact areas where members of the public are invited to touch and handle exhibits under the guidance of museum staff. This trend has progressed into digital touchscreen tables, where visitors can access and explore items in greater detail. 

With concerns over touching public objects and surfaces, these areas may be perceived as less hygienic post-COVID.

6. Augmented-Reality Tours

Audio tours are a ubiquitous and valuable part of many museum and gallery experiences. Being guided through exhibits by the knowledgeable voice of a curator can bring displays to life by providing detail and context that a static display can’t convey. But audio tours are about to be supplanted dramatically.

Augmented reality overlays text, images, sound and video over everyday reality to create a media-rich, immersive experience. Imagine walking through a museum or gallery, stopping in front of a display, and having a menu of options appear alongside it, offering talks, video clips, games and more. 

Augmented reality tours have the potential to provide an in-depth, customisable guided experience like never before. The museums and galleries that realise the potential of this technology will be able to craft immersive tours that delight and entertain visitors to a degree previously unattainable. 

Although augmented technology is still in its infancy, museums and galleries are already developing augmented reality apps that visitors can use on their phones and tablets like the Smithsonian Institution’s Skin and Bone app and the Kennedy Space Centre’s Heroes and Legends exhibit. 

You can even create this effect in real life with our Transparent LCD Display Cases. Available in both standard and interactive options, these screens can display relevant content to the item in the case without completely obstructing the view. By opting for an interactive solution, visitors can create their own personalised experiences by choosing how they engage with the exhibits.

The post Museums & Galleries: 6 Design and Technology Ideas For The Post-Covid World appeared first on Zhongchen Electronics.

Whilst these stretched, light rejecting screens are incredibly effective, setting them up is not as simple as just using multiple projectors, which is where edge blending software comes in.

What is edge blending?

Edge blending is basically the projection equivalent of an LCD video wall where instead multiple projectors work together to produce a single image. Each projector displays a portion of the image, with each of the images overlapping slightly in order to create a seamless display. Due to the overlap creating double brightness, the projector needs to adjust its brightness in these specific areas of the screen to remove this hot spot and create a perfectly balanced image. You can get edge blending projectors that have the ability built in, but we prefer to use software and more easily accessible projectors that can work for projects limited by budget.

What does edge blending software do?

Edge blending software takes the stress out of setting up these stretched displays, our weapon of choice is ScalableDesktop, an automatic camera-based warp and blend software. Created by Scalable Display Technologies, this software uses a camera to automatically warp and blend up to 16 projectors from a single PC. Your input is fairly straight forward, turn on the projectors and ensure that the images are overlapping and set up a camera facing the display, ensuring that it can see the entire screen, the rest is all handled by the software.

Your PC will then begin to populate the software with information from the connected projectors and camera, detecting the resolution and formation of the projectors i.e. side by side, stacked on top of one another etc. The ScalableDesktop software caters for a number of screen geometries including flat, curved, hemisphere and even abstract control point screens. You can adjust the resolution and image boundaries before completing the calibration and benefiting from a seamless edge blended image that fits perfectly onto your display.

This simple, easy to use software means you don’t have to be a specialist to create a professional looking display.

Why does edge blending software work so well with ALR projection screens?

Our Ambient Light Rejecting Front Projection Screen is specifically designed to work with the latest UST projectors (0.4 lens and shorter) and is manufactured with a light rejecting filter that blocks out more than 85% of external light. The louvered micro-optical display filters bright light that hits the screen from above, whilst the highly reflective projection surface captures light from the projector below, producing an image with stunning contrast, colour and reproduction.

Our Edge Blended ALR Displays support HD/4K content, delivering a professional performance in any lighting condition, even when lower end projectors are being used! Our ALR screen even outperforms LCD/LED panels, offering a solution that doesn’t produce annoying reflections or glare and outputs crisp 4K images even from up close! We can produce seamless ALR displays like the one we featured at ISE 2020 in sizes up to 5320 x 1500mm (32:9). Alternatively, we can also use single screens in a modular format (we recommend using 72” panels for screens above 120”) to create large format projection walls. If you’ve got a huge display in mind that would require more than 16 projectors, Scalable’s Display Manager software can be used with an unlimited number of projectors and calculates the field of view automatically for immersive environments, the ideal software for use with our simulation and CAVE projection screens.

Can edge blending software be used with other projection screens?

Yes, Scalable is also compatible with other front and rear projection screens. Using our Digital Glass technology, we can create seamless, edge blended projection screens in sizes up to 8000mm x 3000mm. Smaller modular screens from our full range of projection technologies can also be used with Scalable’s edge blending software to create even bigger displays.

The post Product Focus: ALR Front Projection Screen with Edge Blending appeared first on Zhongchen Electronics.

But as attractive, dynamic, and advanced as projection screens are, they’ve traditionally had one major weakness. Sunlight. 

Sunlight and outdoor projection

Sunlight can be kryptonite for projection screens, particularly when they’re used outdoors. Strong sun shining across a screen, or even weak sun shining directly onto a screen, can render your carefully crafted display instantly unseeable.

The problem with outdoor projection is that the brightness of projection is lower than the brightness of even diffuse sunlight, meaning projection screens struggle to compete with the sun. This is fine if you’re projecting indoors in a darkened room, but an issue for outdoor displays and even indoor displays in sunlit rooms, like art galleries and museums.

So, if you are planning a projection outdoors, are you at the mercy of the sun? Can you use a projector in daylight effectively?

With our SunScreen daylight readable projector screens, now you can.

SunScreen Daylight Projector Screen Technology

Zhongchen Electronics’s SunScreen technology is a revolutionary rear projection screen that can be used in daylight or even in direct sunlight!

Our SunScreen rear projection screens contain a light rejecting optical filter that deflects away external light shining onto the screen. Put simply, the surface of the screen reflects away sunlight, or any other external light sources, to provide bright, sharp and crystal-clear images in any setting. 

SunScreen is the only true projection screen technology in the world that can do this, and the only screen that will perform in direct sunlight.

SunScreen Film technology for existing glass surfaces

Our SunScreen technology is also available in a unique light-rejecting film that can be applied to any existing glass surface to instantly transform windows or glass partitions into projection screens capable of offering sharp, bright, crystal clear images.

We also offer a SunScreen Poster System, which includes top & bottom aluminium clip bars and cable suspension systems to allow daylight projection onto a range of other surfaces.

Alternatives to outdoor projection

High brightness LED and LCD screens are also designed for daytime applications and display clear, bright pictures even in strong sun, particularly outdoor high brightness screens. 

Choosing between SunScreen projection screens or LED and LCD screens will depend on the location they’re used in, the size required and other factors like your budget constraints.

Other tips for outdoor projection

Our SunScreen are the best solutions for outdoor projection however it’s important that the screen is housed providing protection from rainfall. The following can also help ensure outdoor screens can be seen during the day:

• Use a projector with a high lumen count: Lumens are a measure of brightness, and the higher the lumen value of your projector, the more visible the projection will be in daylight conditions. A projector of 8,000 lumens or over is advised depending on screen size.
• Position the screen out of direct sunlight: If you can move or change the position of your screen, find a position outside of the path of the sun to avoid sunlight shining directly onto your screen.
• Pick the right time of day: If you have the option of deciding when your projection will be displayed, choose a time in the morning or later afternoon when the sun won’t be at its strongest. 
• Keep the projection screen clean: A simple tip, but the cleaner a projection screen is the more visible the display will be as sunlight can highlight marks and stains. 
• Tailor your visuals for daytime viewing: If you have creative control over the images being projected, larger images with less detail and with distinct colour contrasts will be more suitable. Bright colours for text on a black background will be more visible than black text on a white background.

The post Outdoor projection screens and daylight: does it work? appeared first on Zhongchen Electronics.

If used properly, digital signage can do this more effectively than traditional signage. Digital signage can be more visible, more engaging, convey more information, and offer the flexibility to change your messaging throughout an event. Although digital signage can be more expensive up-front, over time it becomes more cost-effective and sustainable than signage using traditional media.

We’re big advocates of digital signage. Here are our top five reasons why:

1. Digital signage is more visible 

The first barrier your signage has to overcome to be effective is that it has to be visible. But signage can easily blend into the background of an event and be missed, particularly if it is used in an information-rich environment. 

Digital signage can help you overcome this problem by using movement. If other sources of information in a location are static, a dynamic display with moving graphics or that rotates through a series of images and text will better stand out.

You can take advantage of other perceptual tricks too to further enhance the visibility of signs. 

Changes in contrasting colour blocks, such as rotating from a red background to a black background, and back to a red background, are more likely to catch attention when seen in peripheral vision, as are familiar symbols and people’s faces. If your digital sign is advertising a talk, you can rotate between the name of the talk and the face of the person delivering it. Look for other ways you can incorporate well-known symbols into displays, like the restaurant symbol, national flags or even relevant emojis.

2. Digital signage is more engaging

As well as making your signage more visible, by including a range of moving, updating information and visuals, you can make your signage more engaging. With a digital sign, rather than being stuck with static text and visuals, you can get much more creative. 

A picture can say a thousand words, but the internet has taught us that video is more powerful still. With digital displays, your signage can easily take advantage of video. You could have a representative speak directly to event attendees as a talking head, you could show a montage of corporate clips or the highlights of previous events. Whatever is most relevant to your event and your attendees. 

The vast range of digital signage technology means you can create more unique displays, adding dimensions to your message that can’t be achieved with printed signage. Take the launch of a new watch for example, which display would you be more drawn to, a printed sign next the watch on a stand or a Transparent OLED Screen showing content that appears to float in mid-air, revealing the watch in pride of place behind the display. Unique technologies like our Transparent OLED and LCD Screens push the boundaries of what people expect to see in digital signage, offering a futuristic approach to sharing brand messages that make audiences feel like they’ve stepped into a sci-fi film!

3. Digital signage communicates more

There’s only so much information you can pack on to a physical sign before it becomes cluttered and unreadable. But as digital signage can rotate between sources of information, it can be much more information-rich, particularly if you incorporate images and video. 

Interactive digital signage pushes information richness even further. Touch screens can allow attendees to interact with your signs, letting them find the information they need through accessing a menu, scrolling a map or by asking questions. Plug and play solutions like our Interactive Kiosks are ideal for exhibition and trade show applications, providing a freestanding signage solution that can be moved and updated with ease.

4. Digital signage is more flexible

Your signage has to display the information needed by your event attendees in that location. But the information needed can change, either over the day or in response to new circumstances. 

A room or area may be used for different purposes throughout the event. For example, you may need to update the name and details of talks being given in a lecture theatre. Digital displays allow you to easily update this information without needing multiple versions of physical signage. 

Changing circumstances can throw an event into disarray and cause both you and your attendees a considerable headache. But if you need to move part of your event to another location, update a schedule at a moment’s notice, or quickly display emergency information digital signage gives you the freedom to do so simply and fast.

5. Digital signage is more cost-effective and sustainable

At first glance, digital signage can appear expensive, but high-quality traditional signage can be expensive too, particularly if you think of the price in terms of cost per use. Traditional signage often has to incorporate event names or other information meaning it can only be used once or a limited number of times. If the layout of an event changes through time, physical signs may also have to be discarded. 

Digital signage has no such limitations. By displaying rotating and updating information, your digital signage can cut down how much signage you use during a signal event. As it can be changed quickly and simply, your digital display devices can be used over and over across multiple events, meaning they become more cost-effective over time. By doing away with physical signs that have to be disposed of after events, digital signs are the more sustainable option too. 

Still not entirely convinced about the merits of digital signage? OK, here’s a bonus reason as to why digital signage is the best choice for your next event.

Digital signage is more professional 

The purpose of signage is to convey needed information at a point in space and time. But slick looking graphics and visuals used on a crisp, clear digital display can also add to your branding and the feel of your event. 

Digital screens, touch screens, and large video projections contribute an air of professionalism and flair that physical signs just don’t have. By incorporating elements like social media feeds as well as photos and clips from earlier in the day, you can give your event a dynamic feel. By tailoring messaging, such as by using multiple languages, you can make your event more welcoming and inclusive. Digital signage becomes more than a tool to convey event information, as you get creative it can become a key touchpoint for your brand.

The post Why Choose Digital Signage for Your Next Event? appeared first on Zhongchen Electronics.

So, the question is, can you transform your existing screens into touchscreen-enabled devices? Fortunately, you can—though this isn’t as simple as just getting out your toolbox. Here we run through the possibilities for turning your existing screens into a touchscreen with Zhongchen Electronics.

Interactive Touch Overlays – A quick summary

At Zhongchen Electronics, we’ve developed a range of Interactive Touch Overlays which work with both LCD and LED displays, as well as a variety of other screens which are currently being used across a range of sectors from retail, hospitality, healthcare to name a few.

The concept is simple, the interactive touch capability is overlayed on your existing screen turning it quickly and simply into a touchscreen. For example, Interactive Touch Frames work with existing hard surface screens and offer 6, 12 or 32-point touch points. The technology is super-simple – USB plug and play – and we even provide custom sizes. An alternative option is our Interactive PCAP Touch Overlays which provide a toughened glass surface for any LCD screen or display, offering up to 40 touchpoints.

Our Interactive Mirror TV Overlay even enables you to turn a mirror into an interactive screen, while our Interactive Touch Foils mean touchscreens (on any LED and LCD screen) can be interacted with through glass – ideal for retail window displays.

So, which technology is right for your needs? That depends on the type of screen you have and the purpose. Let’s look into the technology a little further.

Add multi-touch technology to any screen

Our Interactive infrared touch frames can turn any screen into a touchscreen. This technology is compatible with any LCD, LED or Projection display. It comes as a retrofit kit that can be installed in minutes – all you need to do is connect the USB cable and the touch functionality immediately works without the need for drivers.

This means you can add interactive functionality to any flat screen or flat surface. With no need for any significant investment or new kit, you can quickly increase engagement and create new solutions to connect with your customers.

Potential use cases include retail displays and museum displays, as well as reimagining the workplace and classroom experience.

Turn an LED or LCD TV Screen into a touchscreen

Another option for either LED or LCD TV screens to become touchscreens is to use a glass interactive touch screen overlay. This toughened glass can be retrofitted to the TV screen – either permanently or semi-permanently – to create a multi-touch interactive display and is ideal for soft surface monitors that require an extra layer of protection.

These are ideal to use in TV studios (think Sky Sports) or as part of interactive displays in retail, museums and galleries, and airports as well as train and bus stations.

Increase the engagement through the glass

In more recent times post COVID, it’s essential to offer the touchscreen experience, but without the need to even touch the screen. Whilst that might sound slightly counterintuitive, it will likely be extremely valuable for retail for example in the current climate.

Interactive touch foils utilise PCAP technology and work with standard LCD / LED displays transforming any glass or acrylic surface into a touch screen. This effectively means that users standing on one side of a window can interact with a screen behind the glass in just the same way they would with a touchscreen. The touch foil is optically clear and manufactured with an electrostatic adhesive layer which is laminated to the surface and is suitable for permanent or temporary installations.

Possible use cases include retail window displays, car showrooms, new product launches, restaurants, bars and clubs.

Stay on Top of Touchscreen Innovation Going Forward

Touchscreen technology is evolving rapidly. A mere 20 years ago, touchscreen-enabled mobile phones were a distant dream—nowadays, however, they’re commonplace around the world. With the possibilities for touchscreen technology in leisure, retail, education and workplaces it’s something that’s becoming essential in many areas of our lives.

And with more and more technology hitting the market, the future looks very bright for touchscreen technology. To find out more about the touchscreen technology available from Zhongchen Electronics, or if you want to stay on top of all future developments, get in touch with us today.

The post How Do You Turn Any Screen Into a Touchscreen? appeared first on Zhongchen Electronics.

Here we explore some of the more frequently asked questions from our customers when it comes to all things touchscreen technology.

How do touchscreens work?

Given that there are many different types of touchscreen technology (such as resistive, capacitive, infrared, and surface acoustic wave), there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. Here we explore some of the most popular touch technologies requested at Zhongchen Electronics, including infrared and projected capacitive touch displays.

Infrared

Infrared technology uses a series of LED lights and sensors that are arranged in a grid-like structure around the edge of a touchscreen device which constantly emit and project light in a uniform pattern. When you touch it, this disturbs the pattern and the device then identifies where this disturbance took place. As a result, the device is able to register the precise point of contact. The beauty of infrared technology is that the user doesn’t even need to make contact with the screen itself, only needing to break the pattern rather than making a physical connection for the device to register the touch.

One of our most popular technologies is our Infrared Interactive Touch Frame, that can transform any screen or surface into an interactive display. Available in a range of multi-touch options, these lightweight touch overlays are robust, easy to install, using USB HID plug and play functionality to make any existing screen interactive in no time. 

We also offer Interactive Mirrorvision Screens, utilizing infrared technology to create a unique display that’s ideal for retail applications, where users can interact with content and create a personalised shopping experience. Other Infrared technologies include our Interactive Transparent Displays, Switchable Glass Screens and Digital Glass Touch Screens.

Projected Capacitive

Projected Capacitive touchscreens are specifically designed to work with the touch of your finger (e.g. smartphones and fingerprint security). Unlike infrared, which uses a grid-like array of LEDs and sensors, projected capacitive relies on a uniform electrostatic current.

Given that the human body contains electrical currents, this means that a single touch of a finger is enough to recognise a capacitive touch.

Capacitive displays, or PCAP displays, consist of a thin layer of glass on top of an electrostatic grid of millions of miniscule electronic wires. When you touch the screen, you complete the electrical circuit—so the display registers your touch before relaying this information over to your device’s interface.

What is a touchscreen digitiser?

The digitiser is a thin layer of glass placed over a device’s liquid-crystal display (LCD) which essentially converts analogue touch commands into digital signals. In other words, it turns a single touch of a finger into a digital command that your device can use. These digitisers are present in technologies using projected capacitive touch.

How long do touchscreens work?

This depends on the type of touchscreen. Infrared and capacitive touchscreens are notoriously long-lasting, so you can expect both to last well over 5 years (with many lasting longer than 10 years, provided they’re looked after and not subject to particularly harsh conditions). Our Infrared Touch Frames for example, offer a high level of strength and durability for regular use in comparison to similar technologies, however we can also provide an Anti-Glare protective glass fascia that protects the screen itself against wear and tear as well as harsh lighting conditions.

What is an Interactive Kiosk?

Interactive Kiosks enable businesses to leverage touchscreen-based self-service functionality to help more consumers, more easily, using fewer resources. Interactive Kiosks come in many shapes and sizes, catering for both indoor and outdoor applications, we can create bespoke kiosk solutions to suit a wide range of applications. Our Kiosk solutions are available with a Media Player for non-interactive applications or Windows or Android for interactive touch.

From the common freestanding poster systems that are often seen in fast food restaurants to custom designed Interactive Transparent Kiosks for POS displays, we can provide a solution that’s designed with your application in mind.

How can you use Interactive Kiosks?

You might use Interactive Kiosks for the purposes of:

• Providing customer help services
• Wayfinding—in other words, helping people navigate large shopping malls or conference centres
• Advertising 

Of course, the above list is far from exhaustive, Interactive Kiosks can be used anywhere you wish to provide on-demand digital information or services at the touch of a finger.

What are the advantages of Interactive Kiosks?

There are many reasons why you should consider implementing Interactive Kiosks. They will allow you to:

• More easily reach a larger (and more diverse) audience

Once installed, you can sit back and relax while customers serve themselves. You can even set them up to provide multi-language functionality, as well as making them accessible to those with disabilities.

• Increase your internal efficiency

Focus your manpower on critical, valuable activities instead of simply providing routine information to customer after customer. 

• Improve your user experience

Customers often prefer to be self sufficient rather than feel like they’re bothering members of staff. Interactive Kiosks allow users to browse at their leisure, allowing them to feel more comfortable with shopping in store and inevitably leaving them feeling more satisfied with their experience. 

How much do Interactive Kiosks cost?

Interactive Kiosks are available in a number of different options. Pricing depends on a number of factors, including the display size and the interface itself, with customization options varying along with custom branded options. For a personalised quote tailored to your business’s specific needs, visit our Price Catalogue Request Form– here.

What are Interactive Mirrors?

Interactive Mirrors combine the wow factor of a standard mirror screen display with the flexibility of a touch screen. Our technology combines the stunning visuals of our Professional Mirrorvision Display with the infrared touch capabilities of our popular Touch Frame. These solutions are ideal in retail applications, where our Interactive Mirrors can be installed in fitting rooms providing a great upselling opportunity at a key point in the customer journey, whilst also providing the user with an experience that’s completely unique to them. Interactive Mirrors are also commonly used at weddings and events as part of a photo booth setup, more commonly known as magic mirrors, with some even having cameras integrated above the display.

How much do Interactive Mirrors cost?

There’s no set price – there are multiple factors that affect the cost including the size of the display, the reflective finish and the number of touch points. With this in mind, you can generally expect to pay anywhere from around £1,000 upwards for an interactive mirror.

How do you clean a touchscreen?

Given that touchscreens consist of intricate, often expensive technology, you should steer clear of simply giving them a scrub with a wet cloth. Instead, simply invest in a microfibre cloth, put on a white background display (this will help you spot any dirt), and wipe away.

Within our Sheffield based HQ we have multiple clean rooms in order to produce products of the highest possible quality, but we know this is a luxury not everyone has available to them. That’s why we’ve been recommending using IPA wipes to our customers for years, ideal for cleaning those tough spots that just won’t budge without causing damage to the screen.

It’s crucial that you regularly clean your touchscreen devices. Dirt and residue affect both the visual experience and the touch sensitivity—so it pays dividends to keep your screen clean.

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