Having an actual movie projection screen in your home theater replicates the look and feel of going to a theater without the need to share your space with hundreds of others. Projection screens display images from a projector that is either in front of or behind it. When it comes time to select just the right one, consider the composition, shape, and size since all of these factors affect the clarity and crispness of the image.
It's also important to consider the environment of the room where you intend to place the projection screen. Some screens perform well in a brightly lit room while others do better with the lights turned low. Manufacturers recognize that people want the best ambient lighting experience for their home theater and have designed projection screens to meet a wide range of needs.
Projection Screen Technology to Look for in Your Next Purchase
The composition of the materials used to make the screen allow it to produce a sharp picture when exposed to sunlight, high wattage lightbulbs, complete darkness, and other unique situations. Some of the specific technology that manufacturers have included in current projection screens for home theaters include:
- Shading materials on the main screen that viewers can access when the lighting conditions warrant it
- Uniformity characteristics, which means that the screen can spread an image across the entire width whether it is placed horizontally or vertically
- Extremely high resolution without distorting the image on the screen
- The appearance of a flat panel television set with the ability to mount anywhere on a wall
- The ability to play live streamed content or video games
- Multi-pane viewing capacity to watch several programs at once
Homeowners are often pleasantly surprised to learn that installing a projection screen in their home theater isn't much more expensive than purchasing a typical flat panel television set.