Your projection image is only as good as the surface it’s been projected on to. So it is important to pick the right screen to suit the room, projector and audience. The ideal screen needs to take a number of variables into account. These include: the projector; the viewing angle; the amount of ambient light in the room; and the distance of the projector from the screen.
This article describes what you need to know before purchasing a video projection screen.
Characteristics of the Room
Before making a purchase, familiarise yourself with the room you will be placing the video projector in. Is there sufficient room to project as large an image as you intend project? Is there any furniture in the way that you are unable to remove? Are you using the screen in daylight or in the evening or both? Excess ambient light could prevent the room from being dark enough for video projection use.
Screen Size
The distance between the projector and the screen determines how large an image can be projected on the screen. The greater the distance is the larger the image can be. The size of the screen is also determined by the projector used as each has a unique throw ratio. The throw ratio can be considered to determine how large an image can be projected from a given distance. Bigger does not always mean better as you will need to take into consideration the seating position for the viewer.
Screen Aspect Ratio – 4:3, 16:9, or 16:10
The popularity of widescreen DVD and HDTV has driven the trend in video projection screens towards the 16:9 aspect ratio. However. with newer generation laptops having native resolution of 16:10, there has been a surge of demand in the 16:10 screens in the recent months. The traditional 4:3 ratio is still popular in the corporate projection screen market even though a 16:9 image on a 4:3 ratio screen will result in a larger unused screen surface area. Note that it always advisable to use the same screen aspect ratio as the projector’s native resolution to optimise picture quality. If you are thinking of replacing a projector see this article on choosing a new screen.
Custom Screen sizes
We are often asked to provide screens in non standard sizes. A customised screen can maximise your projection space and fully utilise your various AV equipment. Screen International specialises in producing screens with a wide range of measurements from standard to custom sizes in order to satisfy any requirement. For more information contact Terry Lin on 01252 510363.