BANGKOK, THAILAND – 10TH DECEMBER 2024 — Hugo SR, the world’s first engineered laser screen from Harkness Screens has been chosen as the screen of choice for CineAsia 2024.
The 16.9m x 9.25m Hugo SR screen installed in Major Cinemas Icon Cineconic, Auditorium 12 (in normal operation a ScreenX auditorium) will be used to showcase both 2D and 3D content from major studio partners.
The result of more than five years of research and development alongside projector manufacturers, educational institutes, global exhibition and the Hollywood community, Hugo SR has been designed to support and leverage the benefits of all types of laser projection including RGB.
Since its launch at CinemaCon 2024, Hugo SR has been installed by leading cinema exhibitors around the world seeking to deploy laser projectors (including RGB and phosphor) to help manage the challenges these present (including speckle) and the opportunities (such as higher brightness and contrast).
The unique optical properties of Hugo SR have been specifically engineered to reduce visible speckle by as much as 30% compared to traditional gain screens. Hugo SR allows exhibitors to deploy higher gain surfaces without the requirement for expensive transducers whilst creating a level of assurance that laser speckle will not interfere with the viewing experience for the majority of movie-goers in the auditorium.
Although a polarised 3D screen, the underlying technologies in Hugo SR create a truly whiter surface which looks more similar to Harkness’ industry leading white gain (Perlux HiWhite) screens on axis. This optically whiter surface helps to diffuse visible hot-spotting and create the appearance of a more uniform finish from centre to edge.
With much industry attention currently surrounding HDR, the unique coating technology of Hugo SR provides a game changing solution for all types of projection helping to improve contrast by up to 15% compared to traditional silver and white screens creating more vivid colours with blacker blacks and whiter whites – something which has substantial benefit both to new laser deployments as well as ageing xenon projection systems.
“We’re delighted to see yet another Hugo SR screen installed in such an important venue,” says Mark Ashcroft, CEO of Harkness Screens. “Since CinemaCon, we’ve seen a steady growth in the install base of Hugo screens around the world. Feedback has been nothing but positive from our customers who have been able to provide significantly improved presentations to movie-goers. To be entrusted by Major Cinemas, Goldenduck and Film Expos Group to showcase this groundbreaking screen technology at CineAsia is testament to both the quality and performance of the product and the hard work and dedication of our innovation team that continues to set the standard for cinema screen development,” he adds.
For further information on Hugo SR, visit www.harkness-screens.com/hugo