Offset

Jeremy Tomlinson from River Run Christian Church in Chuluota, FL, brings us this great design using an offset, separated projection screen. 

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

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

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

Planning an Offset Projection Screen

The appeal of this design comes from separating two jobs that a single backdrop often has to perform. Four fabric-covered flats carry the projected imagery, while the white wood strips behind them catch colored light. The open spaces between the screens make the composition feel less like a conventional rectangle. When adapting the idea, begin with a drawing of your stage that includes musicians, microphone positions, the projector, and the seating area. Place the screen shapes where they will remain visible without crowding the people leading the service.

Make a small mockup before building the full-size flats. Arrange four paper rectangles in different sizes, then test how a short lyric phrase could fit across them. A visually interesting arrangement is not automatically a readable one. Leave generous margins around each text area, and avoid layouts that force the congregation to jump unpredictably between panels. Check the proposed arrangement from the rear seats and side aisles as well as from the main camera position.

Testing Fabric, Masking, and Backdrop Lighting

The original screens were wooden flats wrapped in white fabric. For your own version, test a sample of the chosen fabric with the actual projector before covering every frame. Look for even brightness, visible seams, wrinkles, and any texture that distracts from lettering. Pull the fabric consistently across each flat, and compare the finished samples under both projected video and plain white output. Keep the frame construction and support method appropriate to the size of the panels rather than assuming a decorative surface can carry structural loads.

Once the panels are in their final positions, use a simple alignment image to identify their edges and establish the projection mask. The original team used ProPresenter to keep imagery on the separated planks. Treat this as a workflow idea rather than a promise that every software version has identical controls. Test short and long lyric lines in the four-box template, then check several complete songs. Dark masked areas can still reveal stray projector light, so evaluate the look with your intended stage lighting instead of judging only the computer preview.

The rear layer uses white-painted 1×2 furring strips cut to three lengths. Repeating those lengths gives volunteers a manageable cutting plan while the varied placement keeps the texture from feeling rigid. Lay out a sample section on the floor and photograph it before installation. Try a side wash and a more direct wash to compare shadows between strips. Keep enough contrast between the lit wood and the projected screens that the two layers remain distinct; brighter scenery is not always a clearer composition.

The submitted design placed the screens about 15 feet in front of the strip backdrop and suspended them with steel cable. Those details describe this installation, not a required spacing or a ready-made rigging specification. Have a qualified installer review the complete panel weights, connections, support locations, and retention of the wood strips. If your room cannot accommodate suspended scenery, discuss an appropriately supported alternative with your facilities team. Include projector sightlines, access routes, storage, and installation labor when planning the adaptation.

Pro Tips for Offset Projection Panels

1. Lock the layout before masking: Finish panel placement first, then align the projected image. Label the panel positions and document the projector location so a later setup does not start from scratch.
2. Build a lyric stress test: Include your longest song lines and a few short phrases in the template. Check readability from the least favorable seats before introducing motion backgrounds.
3. Separate scenic and people lighting: Keep the wood-strip wash independently adjustable so color changes do not compromise faces or wash out the fabric screens.
4. Prepare a simple fallback: Keep a readable, low-motion lyric look ready for services. Rehearse the transition before relying on a more elaborate video treatment.

Related Designs

• Triangle Wall – Compare projection mapping across dimensional surfaces with a separately backlit scenic layer.
• The Doors – Explore a physical backdrop paired with a projected digital door.
• Dots Between Projection – See another approach to separated projection panels, masking, and decorative light.
• Shine it Out – Compare white scenic surfaces and a repeated pattern made from 1×2 wood strips.
• Light Squares – Explore geometric frames made from 1×2 lumber and accented with LED tape.

Related: Shine – Compare a reflective mylar and frosted-plastic window-frame backdrop with front and rear lighting.

Related: Jesus, Light it Up – Compare an illuminated Jesus sign with a Coroplast backdrop and textured, color-lit metal-screen columns.

Related: White Stage – Compare Lifehouse Church’s white curtains, painted floor, and fabric-skirted platforms for a unified stage palette.