Retractable Projection Screen – How Do You Know You Are Getting the Best Projector Screen Possible?
A retractable projection screen could be the best projector screen for your home theater. There are many reasons why you would want to choose a high quality retractable motorized projector screen instead of a fixed projector screen.
Imagine this situation…
You set up your home theater, and you decide to save some money and go for a painted projector screen. You spend the time painting the wall, and then just a day later some company comes over, and you see marks all over the wall. Inevitably these marks drive you crazy when watching movies and you decide to repaint the screen. A couple months later some more marks show up, and you end up painting the screen again.
This is very common with painted screens and can be avoided with a quality retractable projector screen for your home theater.
Here are 4 key factors to look at when purchasing a retractable electric projection screen:
You will need to choose the screen color, and material type appropriate for your home theater. The typical coloring is matte white which is a good all around color. A brighter projector screen material such as one coated with melted glass beads will be more sensitive to ambient light, while a darker display will reflect less overall light and look better with ambient lighting.
Also, the material that you choose should be cleanable. Typically the display area can be easily cleaned if you purchase a quality name-brand such as a Draper, Da-Lite or elite projection screen. However, if you decide to go with a lesser known brand you will want to check to make sure that it is a cleanable surface. A good cleanable display will last for many years.
Make sure that you pick a screen that can retract to the right screen ratio for your projector. A high definition projector will be best with a screen size of 16:9, and a normal definition projector will work best with a 4:3 ratio. If the screen is not usable at the proper ratio there will be annoying white space on at least two sides of the screen. Typical the price for a HDTV projection screen will be a bit higher, but it is well worth the price difference with a HD projector.
Another thing to look for is to make sure that non-reflective fabric is on all sides of the screen. Many screens will have reflective metal material, often only at the bottom of the screen, and this is not suitable for the ideal picture, and does not make for the best projector screen. The reason why you want it on all sides is because it will give the appearance of better screen contrast, and absorb excess light on the edges of the screen.
