How To Choose A Projector Screen - 4 Important Tips

Here are 4 things to consider when selecting a Projector Screen.

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Everyone wants a big projector screen, and everyone wants it to create a great picture, but there are some nuances you want to get right to maximize the viewing experience.

1. Screen Ratio - simplifying the discussion projector screens come in two ratios, 16:9 screens, and 2:35 screens. You'll often hear the screens called anamorphic screens, although that's sort of a misnomer. There's actually more aspect ratios, but these are the two most common.

Unless you have the budget to buy a screen with auto masking from someone like Stewart Film Screens, or Screen Innovations Transformer, you're only going to be able to optimize your screen for 1 of the two ratios.

That's not good or bad, you just want to understand it, so you purchase and optimize the screen for what you want.

2. Your Screen wall can affect the ratio. one of our first theaters that won an award, the Client wanted a 2:35 screen, but his wall was narrow and very tall. For him, a 16:9 screen maximized the overall experience for both 16:9 and 2:35 content. So he got the biggest possible image on the wall for both ratios by using a 16:9 screen. When clients have a low ceiling and a really wide wall, they maximize the overall viewing experience by using a 2:35 screen.

3. Luminance is a measurement of light the projector screen reflects back to you at your seated positions. You don't need to know the specifics or remember the math, but if you understand the significance of luminance and how things like Projector Lumens and Screen Gain effect your overall luminance, you'll be able to ask your dealer the right question to get the best possible viewing experience. This includes special circumstances like Ambient Light Rejecting Screens.

4. Acoustic Screens - if you go to the Cinema you'll notice the front speakers are behind the screen. This is widely considered the gold standard because it gives the best possible listening experience. If your speakers are behind the screen, you can place them at ear level.

To do this, you us an acoustically transparent screen. There are different methods for this, some companies use a weave, others perforate their projector screens, but either way, your speakers have the ability to pass sound through the screen.

Sometimes though, Clients determine their application is best with a screen that's not acoustically transparent, and that's alright. Again, it's just good to understand so you can ask the right questions and get the screen that's best for your home theater.

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