How to select a projection screen
Before you purchase a screen for your home theater, let's take a few minutes to narrow down your choices. The right screen will help you get the most out of your projector.
Here are the four basic questions that will help you determine what type of screen is best for your situation:
1. How are you going to mount the screen?
2. What screen surface is the best for your room?
3. What shape (or aspect ratio) of screen is appropriate?
4. How large a screen do you need?
This guide focuses on screens that will be used in homes, offices and classrooms.
Question # 1 How are you going to mount the screen?
Your first decision is to decide how you want to use your screen. Do you plan to install your screen in a permanent location? Are you looking for an remote controlled electric screen, or do you want something simple and inexpensive?
NOTE: We strongly suggest that you purchase a projector before you decide on a screen (or at least decide on a specific model). The type of projector you own will determine which screen is best for you.
A• Goo Systems Screens
Goo systems screens are painted directly onto the wall. They can also be painted onto any rigid surface and then framed and hung on the wall. The Goo paint is the least expensive way to create a screen. Goo paint can be customized to make a screen of any size or shape that you desire. You can even paint the entire wall so that it doesn't even appear to be a screen until you project onto it.
B• Manual wall or ceiling mounted screens
Manual screens are most popular for low end home theater, classroom and conference room use. Most retract into a metal case. Typically, these screens hang from two hooks on top of the metal case. Manual screens come in both regular TV or computer shape (4:3) and in HDTV format (16:9). Typical screen sizes range from 60" to 160" wide.
C• Bells, Whistles & Specialized applications
Want more than just a manual pull-down screen? A number of wall and ceiling mounted screens come with a power option, which allows you to lower and raise the screen with the touch of a button. You can also order custom screen sizes to fit nearly any space.
Question # 2 What screen surface is the best for your room?
The way a screen surface reflects light is what differentiates one screen from another. The type of surface on your screen affects the perceived image contrast, brightness and color saturation. It also affects the acceptable 'viewing angle' or how far to the sides the image remains high quality.
Matte white and Matte Grey are the two screen surface types that we most often recommend.
Matte white is the most versitile color. It is used mostly where ambient light can be a problem. It has a wider viewing angle than other surfaces.
Matte Grey is used for moderate to high output LCD and DLP projectors. This color improves the perceived contrast by lowering black levels.
Things to consider before making your final decision:
A• Does your viewing area have controlled lighting or ambient light?
If your room has controlled lighting (such as a dimmer or recessed lighting) you can choose a screen with a lower gain (grey). Rooms where there is light from windows and office/household lighting benefit from higher gain screens (white). Generally, we suggest using grey screens for home theater applications were you can control the lighting and white screens for business and education applications. This can vary depending on your projector.
B• What is the room configuration?
In rooms that are wider than they are deep, some audience members may find themselves at an angle to the screen where fall-off occurs, making it more difficult for them to see the image. In these situations, a screen surface with a larger viewing angle is preferred.
In general, higher gain screens are best when your seating arrangement is wider. You may sacrifice some color saturation, but you will get much more even lighting on the screen. High gain screens can handle viewing angles up 160 degrees.
Lower gain screens (matte grey) are best when you can limit seating to a narrow angle. This arrangement provides an even image with excellent blacks and good color saturation.
C• Are you watching movies or projecting computer images?
The content you display on your screen will also play a part in determining which screen is best for you. Grey screen material is popular with home theater enthusiasts because the material adds the apearance of contrast to video movies. White screens are popular in business applications where viewing computer images is the norm.
D• Why can't I just paint my wall white?
Goo Systems mixes special paints that provide better brightness and colors than standard paints. They are a fantastic, low cost way to create a great, quality screen.
Question # 3 What is the best Aspect Ratio
The aspect ratio of a screen or video image is the ratio between the width and the height of the screen. For most people, the choice is between widescreen format (16:9) and full screen format (4:3). We recommend that you choose a screen that matches the native aspect ratio of the projector.
• Most standard local and network TV programming are in a 4:3 format, which is also known as TV formatted or full screen.
• Most HDTV programming and DVD movies are in a 16:9 format, which is also known as widescreen.
Don't worry if you have a native 4:3 projector, you can still watch video movies in widescreen format. You just need to switch the projector to the widescreen format mode in the projector menu. You see a slightly smaller image because the entire width of the image fits into the original full screen format, which leaves the top and bottom of the screen black. Yes, you will have a smaller overall image, but it is much preferable to watching a movie in full screen mode. When a studio converts a film from its original wide format to the full screen format to fit a standard 4:3 TV screen, about 45% of the original visual is lost through the pan and scan format.
Question # 4 How large a screen do you need?
Your screen size needs to fit your setting. A screen that's too small for the room doesn't let you see all the possible detail. A screen that is too large is going to overwhelm the room- you'll feel like you're watching a movie from the front row of the theater and you may have to move your head from side to side to view the whole picture.
The ideal size for your viewing audience
To feel like you are in the center of a movie theater you should divide the distance between the seating area and the screen by two.