If you are choosing to run a projector in
your new home theater, rather than using a television or monitor,
you’ll need to consider what you want in a
home
theater
screen.
This is a serious consideration. Not only is
the screen for
your home theater a hefty investment, the quality of the screen
directly impacts the quality of your viewing experience. Many people
believe that the projector is the main concern in viewing quality, but
they are mistaken.
The screen makes a huge difference. This is
another
case of “you get what you pay for.” And
remember… although you will likely be upgrading your
projection equipment now and then over the years to keep up with new
gains in technology, a good screen can last decades without upgrading!
You will want to research brands and
materials of screens before coming to a decision about which to buy.
Each kind of projector fabric performs well under specific
condition…no material performs perfectly in all conditions.
The four main categories of movie screen surfaces are Matte White,
Pearlescent, Silver, and Glass Bead.
Matte White home theater screens have a
surface with less than five percent reflectivity. The image is not very
bright, but black will show up black or very dark grey on this screen.
Pearlescent screens have a surface reflectivity of about 15%. This kind
of screen has the best overall contrast, with black showing up as a
very dark grey and a bright image.
A silver screen’s reflectivity is
30%. Black is medium grey, and darker colors might come across as dull.
The image is very bright. The surface of glass bead screens has a
reflectivity of about 40%. The image is very bright, and black appears
as a light to medium grey. Keeping these descriptions in mind,
Pearlescent is probably the preferred choice for your home theater.
Of course, you will want to consider other
things before deciding for sure on what kind of surface to get for your
home theater screen. Concerns such as room size, projector type, and
light quality in the room should all play a part in your decision.