News : Digital screen in place; projector set-up continues at Palace

The new digital projector at the Vinton Palace will be in use Friday for Shrek 4.

A digital technician helps set up the new projector and screen at the Palace Wednesday morning.

The new digital/3-D screen at the Vinton Palace Theatre does not look much different than the one it replaced. But it's covered with a silver coating that captures the digital images from the projector in a way that allows 3-D images to appear.

Palace staff and volunteers will learn the new system tomorrow. Technicians were busy installing and setting it up today.

From now on, instead of the large, heavy 35mm rolls of film, the movies will come in the form of external hard drives in small, insulated carrying cases.

Marcy Horst recalls the difficulty of dragging the large cartons with 35mm rolls up the stairs to the projection room. She is among many at the Palace who welcome the convenience of the new change, as well as the 3-D capability.