Projector screens: types, designs, how to choose the best?

Projection screens are a very important component of high-quality and unobstructed viewing of videos, movies in the home theater, presentations or slides in the operating mode. So, for different needs there are different types of screens, the choice of which you will learn later.

Non-portable screen types

Screens of the "immovable" type are used both for domestic needs and for installation in offices and premises production type, which provide for the availability of sufficient space for installation of this unit. Some even make such a screen yourself.

Deployable

Such a projection screen is:

• Manual, that is, before viewing it needs to be deployed, and after that - wrap the tube. This type is still preferred, but it requires sufficient physical strength to expand, collapse and install "under growth".
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• Motorized. Such a system is equipped with an engine, therefore it is more convenient and requires power supply, which significantly overlaps the price.

The advantages of expandable screens are that you can place shelves or other decor elements on the wall without filling the entire space with just one screen, and “hide” it, for example, in a niche. Of the minuses - it can be deformed during use.

Recessed

It does not belong to the budget category, since it is mounted on the ceiling and does not require the allocation of free space on the walls. In this type of screen there is a driving force - a motor and a remote control. Separately, we can say about flush mounted ceiling screens. They are “hidden” from the viewer's eyes on the ceiling, as a rule, with curtains in the color of the ceiling and are not visible to the naked eye, or this “eye” will consider that everything was planned in order to improve the interior.

There are built-in screens that are mounted directly on the floor, this extreme measure is used in cases where it is not possible to mount the canvas on the ceiling, but it is really extreme and expensive measure.

Tension

Ideal for home cinema, attached to the frame and is permanent in use, that is, if you decide to purchase given unit, it’s better to immediately apply the design of the room to it, because it does not collapse and is attached to “completely”, as television. Of the advantages, it is distinguished by high image quality, because it provides a perfectly flat screen surface, however, it is not very easy to fit such a huge installation into the interior of the room.

Mobile screen types

Mobile screens can be rearranged and they are quite compact in size, which allows displaying in small rooms. These types include:

• Screen mounted on a tripod. It is the most popular in the segment of mobile screens, because it is easy to carry and can be installed in rooms of different sizes. However, if the canvas is larger than 2.5 m, then such a screen will not be stable. In addition, image distortion occurs in this embodiment of the mobile projection and wear of the structure, which is inevitable with frequent use.
• Two-legged screen. It will cope with a canvas that is more than 2.5 m, and without distorting the image, it is also the most stable. Such an assembly is assembled not in a tube, but in a case, and is less subject to wear even with frequent use.
• Desktop and floor screens. They are used when using a short-focus projector and are also great for office needs when you need to reproduce diagrams, presentations, and tests. The tube is mounted on a table (or on the floor) and a screen is already pulled out of it, which is fastened with a scissor mount, which suggests its stability.

Types of screen designs

What screen designs are there?

On grommets

They are located around the entire perimeter of the screen and are permanently mounted on the wall. These models should not be ordered through the online store. The fact is that for sending such a parcel the screen is minimized several times, after which viewing becomes impossible, since the canvas is hopelessly spoiled.

Profile

The cost of such a screen is slightly higher than the previous opponent. It is presented without return mechanisms, since above and below there are profiles that serve to maximize the tension of the screen canvas.

A flexible installation system is provided here, which is accessible to everyone, plus the mount can be either wall or ceiling, therefore, if we consider an inexpensive and high-quality choice, then this screen relative to the previous one is more reliable and universal.

Spring loaded

These are screens in tubes that are of great value. They are distinguished by a built-in mechanism that allows you to quickly expand the screen and minimize it with one movement of the hand. However, there are some disadvantages here that relate to the durability of this mechanism. Often such designs burst and are used as profile ones.

Motorized

These are electric screens. Models, the most expensive in this segment, but also the highest quality. The electric drive allows you to hide the screen in the ceiling and adjust the height of the screen. All this is done with the touch of a remote control.

Types and directions of projection

The type of projection screen is not everything that affects the image quality, therefore, we consider the projection options that will help determine the need to purchase a particular unit:

1. Front projection screen. As a rule, it is made of white fabric or vinyl. The projector is located in front of a screen that reflects light toward the audience. These types of projection screens are most common, but before installing them, take care so that the room is dimmed for high-quality viewing of images or video.
2. Rear Projection Screen. The projector is located behind the screen, while the canvas itself is translucent. Such a screen requires a large room and powerful lighting, so often the installation of such projection screens is carried out in large industrial premises or shopping centers. Under these circumstances, the quality and color scheme of images or videos will be on top, but the cost of this unit is about the same.
3. Front and rear projection screen. It is installed more often in offices and in production than at home. In this case, projectors are installed on either side, and does not require the installation of a second screen for the purpose of showing 360 degrees.

Selection and calculation of screen size

The canvas size is what will allow you to calculate how many visitors you can count on when viewing, and from here what screen size you need to purchase. There are several tasks and the optimal ratio for each of them:

• if you pursue the goal of showing diagrams, charts and data for presentations, then the necessary and optimal option for the ratio of width to height is 4: 3;
• if you purchase a screen exclusively for home viewing, then your option is projection screens with an aspect ratio of 16: 9 (HDTV);
• if you need to play not only movies, but pictures and video games with full maintaining proportions, the ideal option is screens with a ratio of width to height of 16:10 (Wide Screen);

• if you need to adjust the height for images or video sequences of any format, then a good option is 1: 1 square screens, however this becomes possible only if the return mechanism in this model allows you to fix the height in your chosen point.

Having determined the size of the canvas, you can calculate the desired screen size:

1. If you choose a 4: 3 screen for the presentation, and the distance from the screen to the last viewer, for example, is 18 m, then the height calculation will be as follows: 18: 6 = 3 m. Given these proportions, the width of such a screen will be 3 × 4: 3 = 4 m
2. To find out the diagonal of the screen in the ratio of 16: 9 or 16:10, you need to divide the distance to the most distant viewer by 2, and then by 2.54 to convert the figures to inches. For example, the distance to the most distant viewer is 10 m. Thus, 10: 2 = 5 m or 500 cm, and 500: 2.54 = 197 inches. This is the diagonal of the projection screen.

Important nuances when placing the screen:

• the distance from the floor to the bottom of the screen has a recommended value of 125 cm;
• the distance from the projection screen to the nearest viewer should not be less than 1.5 m.

If you are not sure about the screen size, it is always better to choose a screen with a margin, that is, you can always display a smaller image on a large screen and never a larger image on a small one.

Projection Screen Materials

Fabric is the most common and most popular material that is used in screens of all types. It has good wear resistance and does not require a special approach system. But there is vinyl - it is used as a coating for tension screens, it guarantees high definition and image quality, however, this is reflected in the increased price.

The following canvases are less popular:

• Matte finish. Provides maximum visibility at an angle of 100 to 180 degrees. Uniform light scattering in this coating makes it possible to observe a clear picture regardless of your location in the hall and does not require 100% dimming of the room. It is used both in household goods and for office purposes.
• Glossy. Allows you to see a brighter picture with high contrast regardless of the capabilities of the projector. Such a screen is much more expensive, despite the fact that when viewing it creates glare and requires special conditions in the form of a completely darkened room. Glossy screens are mirrored (advantageous in terms of viewing if the projector is located on the ceiling) and vice versa reflections (good for a small room, because to improve the image quality it is necessary to position the projector opposite screen). In any case, glossy screens are most often used for the home as a movie theater.

Important nuances when buying a screen

What should I look for when buying a screen, in addition to its type and size? Such moments are enough:

• The shape of the screen, which is not only a stationary line, but also indirect. In this case, the screen focuses the light at the same point, which will achieve a 3D effect. Of course, this significantly increases the cost of the unit.
• The sound is directly dependent on the screen. If a acoustic speakers located behind the screen, then a translucent screen is used. In this form, the voice acting of the actors reaches us from the middle of the canvas. In other cases, you can select an opaque screen.
• Gain - a parameter that directly affects the quality of a video sequence or image. For home use with the possibility of maximum dimming, it makes sense to purchase a screen with by a factor of not more than 1.5, and in bright and large office or industrial premises - above this values.

Projection Screen Selection Video

In the video, all criteria for selecting screens are succinctly and clearly stipulated, given which you can buy high-quality functionality for the projector:

Having considered all the nuances, calculating the correct size and height of the canvas of the projection screen, you can purchase exactly the unit that fully meets your needs. Successfully selected projector model will allow you to enjoy high-quality picture and video from anywhere in the room.