Tweet
Today's projection screen scene is far more complex and competitive than it was even a short 10 years ago, with numerous companies now offering a wide range of screen types at various shapes, sizes, and prices. Narrowing the options requires research, together with careful consideration of your specific needs and viewing environment. How tightly can room lighting be controlled? How big does the image need to be? What is the preferred aspect ratio? Should the screen's frame be fixed or retractable? Finally, how do today's high dynamic range (HDR) requirements—unknown a decade ago—figure into the choice?
Four key screen characteristics should be at the top of your shopping list: size, shape (aspect ratio), material, and gain. A qualified custom installation professional can easily select the right screen for your situation and get it up and running in your space. But even if you do seek out the assistance of a pro, gaining some knowledge on your own will help accelerate the process.
Finding the Right Size
Deciding on size might be the most difficult aspect of selecting a screen, and that choice will ultimately come down to viewing distance and projector resolution (4K/Ultra HD vs. regular 1080p HD), along with personal viewing preferences. The light output, or brightness, capability of the projector also figures in here since the bigger the screen, the dimmer the image. Instead of squeezing in the largest screen the space can accommodate, going with a smaller size will yield a brighter and punchier-looking image, one that should provide greater satisfaction over time. In fact, settling on a screen size before selecting your projector may be the best way to go.
To that end, ask yourself this question: When I go to a movie theater (if you still do!), how close to the screen do I usually sit? If you prefer to sit up close, you'll want a wide viewing angle: the number of degrees the screen will occupy in your frontal range of vision. If you prefer a seat ranging from the middle of the theater to further back, you'll want a narrower viewing angle.
Numerous web sites can help you calculate viewing angle based on screen size and throw distance (the physical distance from the projection lens to the screen) like this one that I've used for many years. This online tool, which assumes a maximum source resolution of 1080p, lets you plug in screen size and viewing distance to calculate the viewing angle.
It also offers viewing angle recommendations from both THX and SMPTE (the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers). If you're looking for a screen calculator for 4K sources, Screen Innovations offers a basic version on its website that calculates a recommended screen size based on aspect ratio (16:9, 2.35:1, etc.) and seating distance.
Four key screen characteristics should be at the top of your shopping list: size, shape (aspect ratio), material, and gain. A qualified custom installation professional can easily select the right screen for your situation and get it up and running in your space. But even if you do seek out the assistance of a pro, gaining some knowledge on your own will help accelerate the process.
Finding the Right Size
Deciding on size might be the most difficult aspect of selecting a screen, and that choice will ultimately come down to viewing distance and projector resolution (4K/Ultra HD vs. regular 1080p HD), along with personal viewing preferences. The light output, or brightness, capability of the projector also figures in here since the bigger the screen, the dimmer the image. Instead of squeezing in the largest screen the space can accommodate, going with a smaller size will yield a brighter and punchier-looking image, one that should provide greater satisfaction over time. In fact, settling on a screen size before selecting your projector may be the best way to go.
To that end, ask yourself this question: When I go to a movie theater (if you still do!), how close to the screen do I usually sit? If you prefer to sit up close, you'll want a wide viewing angle: the number of degrees the screen will occupy in your frontal range of vision. If you prefer a seat ranging from the middle of the theater to further back, you'll want a narrower viewing angle.
Numerous web sites can help you calculate viewing angle based on screen size and throw distance (the physical distance from the projection lens to the screen) like this one that I've used for many years. This online tool, which assumes a maximum source resolution of 1080p, lets you plug in screen size and viewing distance to calculate the viewing angle.
It also offers viewing angle recommendations from both THX and SMPTE (the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers). If you're looking for a screen calculator for 4K sources, Screen Innovations offers a basic version on its website that calculates a recommended screen size based on aspect ratio (16:9, 2.35:1, etc.) and seating distance.