The following offer guidelines for selecting a screen that suits your application. Although these recommendations will work in most situations, each must be looked at not as a strict rule, but rather as a guideline for determining your actual needs based on your own situation.
For additional help in selecting screens, we recommend and invite you to contact our facotry trained sales consultants at 800-329-6506 opt 2. We can take the guess work out of selecting the correct screen size and surface for your Home Theatre or business needs.
Four Steps to Selecting the Right Screen
- Pick the type of screen that best suits your particular needs. For example, choose from front projection screens in either portable, wall or ceiling mounted models in either manual or electric versions or rear projection screens. Generally, if your projection application is permanent, then wall and ceiling screens are your best choice. If, however, you find your needs require moving the screen to different locations then a portable screen is a better alternative.
- Determine the optimum screen size based on
room dimensions, planned audience seating size and arrangement. The
rule of thumb is to fit the screen to the audience - not to the
projector. The Final Click recommends the following formula for determining screen size:
* Screen height should be approximately equal to 1/6 the distance from the screen to the last row of seats, allowing text to be read and detail to be seen in the projected image. Ideally, the first row of seats should be approximately two screen heights away.
* The bottom of the screen should be a minimum of 4 feet above the audience floor, allowing those seated toward the rear of the audience to see the screen. This may require additional screen "drop" for ceiling hung screens.
- Select the appropriate format for your projection application. Common formats are as follows:
Common Applications Aspect Ration
Width/HeightNTSC Video 1.33 PAL Video 1.33 HDTV Video 1.78 Letterbox Video 1.85 Cinemascope 2.35 35 MM Filmstrip 1.32 2x2 Standard 35MM Double-Frame Slides 1.50 SXGA 1.25 - Choose the screen surface that best suits your projection and viewing requirements. For your convenience, below we have listed descriptions and performance characteristics for each front and rear screen surface. If the screen will be used for multiple projection methods, choose the screen surface that meets the requirements of the lesser performing projection method.
How to Calculate a Custom Screen Size
Use the following formulas to calculate a custom size. The formulas will assist you in finding the viewing area only.
| NTSC (1.33) | HDTV (1.78) | Leterbox (1.85) | SXGA (1.25) |
| Video Format | Video Format | Video Format | Video Format |
| Diagonal/1.667 = Height | Diagonal x 0.49091 = Height | Diagonal x 0.4762 = Height | Diagonal x 0.625 = Height |
| Height x 1.33 = Width | Diagonal x 0.87247 = Width | Diagonal x 0.88 = Width | Diagonal x 0.78125 = Width |
| Width/1.33 = Height | Height x 2.0395 = Diagonal | Height x 2.10 = Diagonal | Height x 1.60 = Diagonal |
| Height x 1.667 = Diagonal | Width x 1.14585 = Diagonal | Width x 1.135 = Diagonal | Width x 1.28 = Diagonal |
| Height x 1.78 = Width | Height x 1.85 = Width | Height x 1.25 = Width | |
| Width x 0.561837 = Height | Width x 0.5405 = Height | Width x 0.80 = Height |
Screen Size Conversion Chart
Use the following chart to convert an existing NTSC video format screen size to either an HDTV or Letterbox format size.
Calculated using existing height
| NTSC (1.33) Viewing Area | HDTV (1.78) Viewing Area | Letterbox (1.85) Viewing Area |
| H x W | H x W | H x W |
| 43" x 57" | 43" x 77" | 43" x 80" |
| 50" x 67" | 50" x 89" | 50" x 92.5" |
| 57" x 77" | 57" x 102" | 57" x 105" |
| 60" x 80" | 60" x 107" | 60" x 111" |
| 69" x 92" | 69" x 123" | 69" x 128" |
| 87" x 116" | 87" x 155" | 87" x 161" |
| 105" x 140" | 105" x 187" | 105" x 194" |
Calculated using existing width
| NTSC (1.33) Viewing Area | HDTV (1.78) Viewing Area | Letterbox (1.85) Viewing Area |
| H x W | H x W | H x W |
| 43" x 57" | 32" x 57" | 31" x 57" |
| 50" x 67" | 38" x 67" | 36" x 67" |
| 57" x 77" | 43" x 77" | 42" x 77" |
| 60" x 80" | 45" x 80" | 43" x 80" |
| 69" x 92" | 52" x 92" | 50" x 92" |
| 87" x 116" | 65" x 116" | 63" x 116" |
| 105" x 140" | 79" x 140" | 76" x 140" |
Screen Borders and Drop
Black masking borders are standard on most front projection screens
at no extra charge. Borders enhance the perceived brightness of an
image on a screen. The human eye perceives the image to have more
contrast and a sharper picture with brighter colors. Borders also allow
the projected image to "bleed-off" the screen for professional
appearing presentations.
Additional border or "Drop" is also
available on most of our wall, ceiling and electric screens. Drop is
extra fabric added to the top or bottom of the screen to adjust the
screen surface to within normal viewing heights. Drop can be specified
in either black or white.
Note: Tensioned electric screens are standard with 12"
black drop at the top in all sizes except for 200" diagonal which is
standard with 2" black drop.
Front Projection Screen Surfaces
Matte White
The
most versatile screen surface and the premier choice when ambient light
is controllable. It evenly distributes light over a wide viewing area
while colors
remain bright and life-like, with no shifts in hue. Screen surface can
be cleaned with mild soap and water. Flame retardant and mildew
resistant.
Viewing Angle: 50 Degree
Gain: 1.0
High Contrast Matte White
Designed
for moderate output DLP and LCD projectors, this screen surface is a
great choice when video images are the main source of information being
projected and where ambient light is moderately controlled. With its
specially designed gray base material and reflective top surface, this
screen material is able to provide very good black levels without
sacrificing the white level output. Screen surface can be cleaned with
mild soap and water. Flame retardant and mildew resistant.
Viewing Angle: 45 Degree
Gain: 1.1
Video Spectra 1.5
Especially
designed for demanding video and overhead LCD projection applications
where a balance of higher gain and greater viewing angle is required.
The special pearlescent surface may be cleaned with mild soap and
water. Screen surface can be cleaned with mild soap and water. Flame
retardant and mildew resistant.
Viewing Angle: 35 Degree
Gain: 1.5
Silver Matte
A
uniquely designed screen surface with a specifically designed silver
finish. This surface is perfect for situations where a silver surface
is necessary for a polarized 3-D projection. The matte finish of this
surface successfully rejects ambient light. Screen surface can be
cleaned with mild soap and water. Flame retardant and mildew resistant.
Viewing Angle: 30 Degree
Gain: 1.3
Glass Beaded
This
surface has the ability to achieve a higher gain by reflecting more of
the projected image back along the projection axis. Glass beads
impregnated into the screen's surface provide additional reflectance.
This attribute creates an unparalleled screen surface that reproduces
vibrant life-like color at moderate viewing angles. Flame retardant and
mildew resistant.
Viewing Angle: 30 Degree
Gain: 2.5
High Power
A
technological breakthrough, combines the reflectivity of a glass beaded
surface with the ability to clean the surface when required. Its smooth
surface offers the highest gain of all types of screen surfaces with
moderate viewing angle. Screen surface can be cleaned with mild soap
and water. Flame retardant and mildew resistant.
Viewing Angle: 25 Degree
Gain: 2.8
Da-Mat
A
smooth, white, vinyl finish surface for precise image reproduction.
Provides an exceptionally wide angle of view with little loss of
resolution. It is a highly flexible unsupported vinyl fabric and may be
folded or rolled. Screen surface can be cleaned with mild soap and
water. Flame retardant and mildew resistant.
Viewing Angle: 50 Degree
Gain: 1.0
High Contrast Da-Mat
A
smooth, gray, vinyl finish surface for high output LCD and DLP
projectors. This surface improves the perceived contrast by lowering
black levels. It is a flexible unsupported vinyl fabric and may be
folded or rolled. Available on all models offered with the Da-Mat
surface. Screen surface can be cleaned with mild soap and water. Flame
retardant and mildew resistant.
Viewing Angle: 40 Degree
Gain: 0.8
Cinema Vision
A
unique unsupported vinyl surface that offers a bright, uniform image
with no color shift no matter at what angle you view the image. Screen
surface can be cleaned with mild soap and water. Flame retardant and
mildew resistant.
Viewing Angle: 45 Degree
Gain: 1.3
High Contrast Cinema Vision
A
smooth, gray, vinyl finish surface for moderate output DLP projectors.
This surface improves the perceived contrast by lowering black levels
while offering moderate gain. It is a flexible unsupported vinyl fabric
and may be folded or rolled. Available on all models offered with the
Cinema Vision surface. Screen surface can be cleaned with mild soap and
water. Flame retardant and mildew resistant.
Viewing Angle: 45 Degree
Gain: 1.1
High Contrast Cinema Perforated
With
the same optical characteristics as High Contrast Cinema Vision, this
surface is perforated to allow placement of a center channel speaker
behind the screen surface while allowing the sound to transmit through
the material. Ideal for use in environments with moderate control of
ambient light. Screen surface can be cleaned with a mild soap and water
solution. Flame retardant and mildew resistant.
Viewing Angle: 45 Degree
Gain: 1.1
Pearlescent
This
surface utilizes an unsupported vinyl creating a very smooth
Pearlescent coating that provides high reflectivity and brilliance
without loss of image quality or resolution. Screen surface can be
cleaned with mild soap and water. Flame retardant and mildew resistant.
Viewing Angle: 35 Degree
Gain: 1.5
Silver Vision
This
screen surface is uniquely designed with a specially formulated silver
finish. This surface is perfect for situations where a silver finish is
necessary for polarized 3-D projection. The silver finish of this
surface successfully rejects ambient light. It is a highly flexible
fabric that must be tensioned. Screen surface can be cleaned with mild
soap and water. Flame retardant and mildew resistant.
Viewing Angle: 25 Degree
Gain: 1.5
Audio Vision
This
acoustically transparent front projection screen allows for the center
channel speaker to be placed directly behind the screen while still
transmitting the full range and brilliance of an original soundtrack
with maximum clarity. Screen surface can be cleaned with mild soap and
water. Flame retardant and mildew resistant.
Viewing Angle: 50 Degree
Gain: 1.0
High Contrast Audio Vision
With
the same optical characteristics as the High Contrast Da-Mat material,
this surface is designed to provide the viewer with a more realistic
soundstage by placing speakers behind the screen and allowing the sound
to be transmitted through the material. This screen surface is best
used when there is good control of ambient lighting and a moderately
wide viewing angle is desired. Screen surface can be cleaned with mild
soap and water. Flame retardant and mildew resistant.
Viewing Angle: 45 Degree
Gain: 0.8
Rear Projection Screen Surfaces
Video Vision
A
special coating process generates a screen ideal for video projection
under controlled light conditions. Offers an exceptionally wide field
of view so each audience member will observe a uniform, bright, sharp
image with no color shift. Imaging Science Foundation approved. Screen
surface can be cleaned with mild soap and water. Flame retardant and
mildew resistant.
Viewing Angle: 55 Degree
Gain: 1.0
DA-180
A
neutral gray screen offering an on-axis gain of 1.8, the DA-180 is a
coating well suited for applications whose viewing angles are not large
but which can benefit from moderate screen gain. Screen surface can be
cleaned with mild soap and water. Flame retardant and mildew resistant.
Viewing Angle: 30 Degree
Gain: 1.8
DA-230
An
excellent choice where a balance between gain and viewing angle is
needed. Ideal for situations with a high level of ambient light. Screen
surface can be cleaned with mild soap and water. Flame retardant and
mildew resistant.
Viewing Angle: 25 Degree
Gain: 2.3
Data Vision
An
optical coating which is dark in appearance and produces a unity gain
screen ideal for data projection. The special coating successfully
rejects ambient light and maintains a high contrast level. Screen
surface can be cleaned with mild soap and water. Flame retardant and
mildew resistant.
Viewing Angle: 24 Degree
Gain: 1.0
Polacoat Ultra
Combines
your choice of a Polacoat diffusion coating and a Fresnel lens for the
ideal single image display. This design offers the best center to edge
uniformity obtainable. Available in sizes up to 125" diagonal. Gain and
viewing angle depend on the Polacoat diffusion coating selected. Screen
surface can be cleaned with mild soap and water. Flame retardant and
mildew resistant.
Da-View
Profiled Type Display Screen
Offers
a bright image at a relatively wide field of view perfect for single
image display. This screen is a single element double profile cast
acrylic with a back surface comprising a Fresnal lens and the front
surface exhibiting an array of lenticulations. Fresnel grooves have a
pitch of .5mm and the lenticulations have a .28 mm pitch. Screen
surface can be cleaned with mild soap and water. Flame retardant and
mildew resistant.
Viewing Angle: 32 Degree
Gain: 3.5
Wide Angle
Profiled Type Display Screen
This
screen is a single element double profile cast acrylic with a back
surface comprising a Fresnal lens and the front surface exhibiting an
array of lenticulations. Fresnel grooves have a pitch of .19mm and the
lenticulations have a .25 mm pitch. Offers a bright image at a
relatively wide field of view perfect for single image display. Screen
surface can be cleaned with mild soap and water. Flame retardant and
mildew resistant.
Viewing Angle: 32 Degree
Gain: 3.5
Giant Screen
Profiled Type Display Screens
This
screen is a single element optical system with two active lens
surfaces. The back surface is a Fresnel lens with a pitch of .5 mm and
the front surface is a lenticulation array with a pitch of 0.8 mm.
Screen surface can be cleaned with mild soap and water. Flame retardant
and mildew resistant.
Viewing Angle: 21 Degree
Gain: 3.0
Graphics Screen
Profiled Type Display Screen
This
screen is a double element system with four active lens surfaces. The
rear element includes a Fresnal lens towards the front surface. The
front element consists of a lenticular lens array. The front side has a
unique wide angle lenticular array with a pitch of .33 mm. Screen
surface can be cleaned with mild soap and water. Flame retardant and
mildew resistant.
Viewing Angle: 32 Degree
Gain: 3.5
Black Stripe Screen
Profiled Type Display Screen
This
screen is a double element with four active lens surfaces. The rear
element is a horizontal lenticular lens on the back with a Fresnal lens
on the front side. The back of the front element is a lenticular lens
array with a pitch of 1.04 mm to 1.2 mm. The front surface is a black
stripe system covering 37% of the screen's surface for ambient light
absorption. Screen surface can be cleaned with mild soap and water.
Flame retardant and mildew resistant.
Viewing Angle: 41 Degree
Gain: 4.0
Da-Tex
Flexible Fabric Screen
A
translucent, neutral gray vinyl surface that offers high transmission
and low reflectance values for optimal viewing. It yields excellent
color rendition, image contrast and a wide viewing angle. Suitable for
all types of rear projection. Ideally suited for both lace and grommet
and snap button type screens. Material needs to be tensioned. Screen
surface can be cleaned with mild soap and water. Flame retardant and
mildew resistant.
Viewing Angle: 30 Degree
Gain: 1.8
Dual Vision
Flexible Fabric Screen
A
unity gain flexible projection fabric capable of both front and rear
projection. The surface is ideal for video projection under controlled
light conditions. With an exceptionally wide viewing cone, each seat in
the audience will observe a uniform, bright, sharp image with no color
shift. Surface needs to be tensioned. Screen surface can be cleaned
with mild soap and water. Flame retardant and mildew resistant.
Viewing Angle: 50 Degree
Gain: 1.0
DA-100
A
neutral gray screen that provides contrast, uniformity and color
rendition ideally suited for high resolution applications. Screen
surface can be cleaned with mild soap and water. Flame retardant and
mildew resistant.
Viewing Angle: 35 Degree
Gain: 1.0
DA-150
A
neutral gray screen well suited for multi-image displays where bend
angles from some images may be severe. It makes a good choice for
audiences with a wide seating arrangement. Screen surface can be
cleaned with mild soap and water. Flame retardant and mildew resistant.
Viewing Angle: 32 Degree
Gain: 1.5