Buying a Projector Screen

The first few movies that I saw on a projector were "Tom and Jerry" and "Charlie Chaplin." It was a beautiful experience that is still fresh in my mind! As I moved on in life I came across other kinds of projectors that have come into the market and was really taken aback with the changes in technology.

Kinds of Projectors

Types of Transparency Projectors

• Movie Projector
• Slide Projector
• Overhead Projector
• Magic Lantern

Types of Video Projectors

• LCD Projector
• CRT Projector
• DLP Projector
• LCOS Projector

Other Types of Projectors

• Handheld Projector
• Opaque Projector

What is a Projector Screen?

An installation that consists of a blank surface and a support structure that is used for displaying a projected image for the audience to view is called a projector screen. There are different kinds of projector screens, some of them are permanently installed like in the movie theater while others are painted on the wall or are mobile like in a conference room.

Projector screens are usually uniformly white or gray in color. Depending on the optics used to project the image and the desired geometrical accuracy of the image production, flat or curved screens may be used. Of course there are screens that can be designed for front or back projection also.

Buying Tips for Projector Screens

• Type of Projector Screen
  When you decide to buy a projector screen you would need to know the type. There are different types of projector screens in the market; the most common ones are the collapsible, tripod and the fast folding. If you would like a video projector screen that is durable and portable, you can opt for the ones that are on a tripod. Fast folding screens are portable too but the only thing is that it requires a lot of time to set up. Undecided? You can choose the collapsible screens that are either full-sized or small enough to fit on a table.
• The Mount of the Projector Screen
  Once you have decided on the type you need to consider the mount. Here you can select the screens that are permanently mounted in a certain spot or the ones that are painted onto a wall.
• The Surface of the Projector Screen
  It is important to know about the surface of the projector screens too. Basically the matt gray and white are the two most common types or projector screens available. The matt gray surface reflects more light and has a wide range-viewing angle. They also offer better contrast, which is very useful when used with a projector that produces a lot of brightness.
• The Size of the Projector Screen
  When selecting a projector screen remember to check out the sizes available. There are some designs that only measure 40 inches diagonally from one corner to another and again there are those that can measure up to 15 feet. You can determine the size of the projector screen after taking into consideration the seating arrangements of the room and the distance the projector needs to be from the screen. This needs to be done because the projector will require enough brightness to generate a quality image on the screen.
• Know the Aspect Ratio
  In the end you will be required to know the aspect ratio of the projector screen. The choice of aspect ratio is from 4:3 and 16.9. The most popular among these is the projector screen with the aspect ratio of 16.9, of course the standard one used by TV and video is 4.3.