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.

Types of Transparency Projectors

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

Types of Video Projectors

• LCD Projector
• CRT Projector
• DLP Projector
• LCOS Projector
• Handheld Projector
• Opaque Projector

Projectors 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

• When you decide to buy a projector, you would need to know the type. There are different types in the market; the most common ones are the collapsible, tripod and the fast folding. If you would like a video projector 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.
• 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.
• It is important to know about the surface of the screen too. Basically the matt gray and white are the two most common types or screens. 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.
• When selecting a 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 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.
• In the end you will be required to know the aspect ratio. The choice of aspect ratio is from 4:3 and 16.9. The most popular among these is a screen with the aspect ratio of 16.9, of course the standard one used by TV and video is 4.3.

This was some information on buying a projector screen. These are used in offices, parties and social gatherings. So, if you are planning to buy one, rest assured that you are making a smart investment.