The following offer guidelines for selecting a screen that suits your application. Although these recommendations will work in most situations, each must be looked at not as a strict rule, but rather as a guideline for determining your actual needs based on your own situation.
For additional help in selecting screens, contact Da-Lite for the free publication "Selecting Front Projection Screens for Today's Presentation Media Applications". Of course, your Da-Lite Sales Partner is also happy to assist you.
Four Steps to Selecting the Right Screen
- Determine the optimum screen size based on room dimensions, planned audience seating size and arrangement. The rule of thumb is to fit the screen to the audience - not to the projector. Da-Lite recommends the following formula for determining screen size:
* Screen height should be approximately equal to 1/6 the distance from the screen to the last row of seats, allowing text to be read and detail to be seen in the projected image. Ideally, the first row of seats should be approximately two screen heights away.
* The bottom of the screen should be a minimum of 4 feet above the audience floor, allowing those seated toward the rear of the audience to see the screen. This may require additional screen "drop" for ceiling hung screens.
- Select the appropriate format for your projection application. Common formats are as follows:
Common Applications Aspect Ratio
Width/HeightNTSC Video 1.33 PAL Video 1.33 Wide Format 1.60 HDTV Video 1.78 Letterbox Video 1.85 35 MM Filmstrip 1.32 2x2 Standard 35MM Double-Frame Slides 1.50 Supder XGA Computer 1.25 Cinemascope 2.35 - Choose the screen surface that best suits your projection and viewing requirements. For your convenience, below we have listed descriptions and performance characteristics for each front and rear screen surface. If the screen will be used for multiple projection methods, choose the screen surface that meets the requirements of the lesser performing projection method.
- Pick the type of screen that best suits your particular needs. For example, choose from front projection screens in either portable, wall or ceiling mounted models in either manual or electric versions or rear projection screens. Generally, if your projection application is permanent, then wall and ceiling screens are your best choice. If, however, you find your needs require moving the screen to different locations then a portable screen is a better alternative.
Guide to Selecting Front Projection Screens Step-by-Step instructions to help you select the perfect screen. |
 |
How to Calculate a Custom Screen Size
Use the following formulas to calculate a custom size. The formulas will assist you in finding the viewing area only.
| NTSC (1.33) | HDTV (1.78) | Letterbox (1.85) |
| Video Format | Video Format | Video Format |
| Diagonal/1.667 = Height | Diagonal x 0.49091 = Height | Diagonal x 0.4762 = Height |
| Height x 1.33 = Width | Diagonal x 0.87247 = Width | Diagonal x 0.88 = Width |
| Width/1.33 = Height | Height x 2.0395 = Diagonal | Height x 2.10 = Diagonal |
| Height x 1.667 = Diagonal | Width x 1.14585 = Diagonal | Width x 1.135 = Diagonal |
| Height x 1.78 = Width | Height x 1.85 = Width | |
| Width x 0.561837 = Height | Width x 0.5405 = Height | |
| Cinemascope (2.35) | 16:10 Wide (1.60) | SXGA (1.25) |
| Video Format | Video Format | Video Format | Diagonal x 0.3916 = Height | Diagonal x 0.530 = Height | Diagonal x 0.625 = Height |
| Diagonal x 0.9209 = Width | Diagonal x 0.848 = Width | Diagonal x 0.78125 = Width |
| Height x 2.554 = Diagonal | Height x 1.887 = Diagonal | Height x 1.60 = Diagonal |
| Width x 1.0868 = Diagonal | Width x 1.1.79 = Diagonal | Width x 1.28 = Diagonal |
| Height x 2.35 = Width | Height x 1.6 = Width | Height x 1.25 = Width |
| Width x 0.4255 = Height | Width x 0.625 = Height | Width x 0.80 = Height |
Screen Borders and Drop
Black masking borders are standard on most Da-Lite front projection screens at no extra charge. Borders enhance the perceived brightness of an image on a screen. The human eye perceives the image to have more contrast and a sharper picture with brighter colors. Borders also allow the projected image to "bleed-off" the screen for professional appearing presentations.
Drop is also available on most Da-Lite wall, ceiling and electric screens. Drop is extra fabric added to the top or bottom of the screen to adjust the screen surface to within normal viewing heights. Drop can be specified in either black or white.
 |
Screen surface can be changed. |  |
Flame retardant. |  |
Mildew resistant. |  |
Number shows the optimal width of the ideal viewing half angle. |  |
Indicates Goniophotometer reflectance readings. The higher the number, the greater light transmitted to the audience. |
Front Projection Screen Surfaces
Matte White
One of the most versatile screen surfaces and a good choice for situations when presentation material is being projected and ambient light is controllable. Its surface evenly distributes light over a wide viewing area. Colors remain bright and life-like, with no shifts in hue. Flame retardant and mildew resistant. Viewing Angle: 60° Gain: 1.0
60°1.0
High Contrast Matte White
Designed for moderate output DLP and LCD projectors. This screen surface is a great choice when video images are the main source of information being projected and where ambient light is moderately controlled. With its specially designed gray base material and reflective top surface, this screen material is able to provide very good black levels without sacrificing the white level output. Flame retardant and mildew resistant. Viewing Angle: 50° Gain: 1.1
50°1.1
Video Spectra™ 1.5
This screen surface is specially designed with a reflective coating, which provides an increased amount of brightness with a moderately reduced viewing angle. The increased gain of this surface makes it suitable for environments where ambient lighting is uncontrollable and a projector with moderate light output is utilized. Flame retardant and mildew resistant. Viewing Angle: 35° Gain: 1.5
35°1.5
Silver Matte
A uniquely designed screen surface with a specifically designed silver finish. This surface is perfect for situations where a silver surface is necessary for a polarized 3-D projection. The matte finish of this surface successfully rejects ambient light. Screen surface can be cleaned with mild soap and water. Flame retardant and mildew resistant. Viewing Angle: 30° Gain: 1.3
30°1.3
High Power
A technological breakthrough, providing the reflectivity and optical characteristics of a traditional glass beaded surface with the ability to clean the surface when necessary. Its smooth textured surface provides the highest gain of all front projection screen surfaces with no resolution loss. The moderate viewing angle and its ability to reflect light back along the projection axis make this surface the best choice for situations where there is a moderate amount of ambient light and the projector is placed on a table-top or in the same horizontal viewing plane as the audience. Flame retardant and mildew resistant. Viewing Angle: 30° Gain: 2.8
30°2.8
Da-Mat™
A screen surface with a smooth, white vinyl finish for precise image reproduction that provides an exceptionally wide viewing angle and no resolution loss. It is a highly flexible fabric that may be folded or rolled. Its versatility makes it a great choice for situations with good control over ambient light and where an exceptionally wide viewing angle is necessary. Screen surface can be cleaned with mild soap and water. Flame retardant and mildew resistant. Viewing Angle: 60° Gain: 1.0
60°1.0
Cinema Vision
A unique non-supported vinyl fabric that offers a bright, uniform image with no color shift at any viewing angle. This surface is designed to provide a higher amount of brightness for lower output projector types such as CRT. Its increased reflectivity will help enhance the image brightness in situations where a low level of ambient light is present. This surface is a good choice when producing video images. Screen surface can be cleaned with mild soap and water. Flame retardant and mildew resistant. Viewing Angle: 45° Gain: 1.3
45°1.3
Pearlescent
A non-supported vinyl fabric, offering a higher degree of reflectivity and brilliance without loss of image quality or resolution. This surface is a good choice when producing video images with a lower output projector and where there is a high amount of ambient light present. Screen surface can be cleaned with mild soap and water. Flame retardant and mildew resistant. Viewing Angle: 40° Gain: 1.5
40°1.5
Audio Vision
Designed for applications where a more realistic soundstage is desired, this fabric allows for the installation of speakers to be placed behind the surface. With virtually no sound loss and good image quality, this fabric provides the same optical characteristics as the Da-Mat surface with specially designed perforations to allow sound to pass through the screen material. Screen surface can be cleaned with mild soap and water. Flame retardant and mildew resistant. Viewing Angle: 60° Gain: 1.0
60°1.0
High Contrast Da-Mat™
With a special gray surface, this screen material is designed for use with today's high output LCD, DLP and D-ILA projectors. By lowering the black levels of the projected video image, this surface creates a more film-like image and is a good choice when video is the main source of projected information. This screen surface is best used when there is good control of ambient lighting and a moderately wide viewing angle is desired. Screen surface can be cleaned with mild soap and water. Flame retardant and mildew resistant. Viewing Angle: 45° Gain: 0.8
45°0.8
High Contrast Cinema Vision
Designed for today’s moderate output DLP and LCD projectors, this screen surface is a great choice when video images are the main source of information being projected and where ambient lighting is moderately controlled. With its specially designed gray base surface and a reflective top surface, this screen material is able to provide very good black levels without sacrificing the white level output. With its enhanced black levels and brilliant white levels, this screen surface provides deep life-like colors and greater detail and sharpness to the image. Screen surface can be cleaned with mild soap and water. Flame retardant and mildew resistant. Viewing Angle: 50° Gain: 1.1
50°1.1
High Contrast Audio Vision
With the same optical characteristics as the High Contrast Da-Mat material, this surface is designed to provide the viewer with a more realistic soundstage by placing speakers behind the screen and allowing the sound to be transmitted through the material. This screen surface is best used when there is good control of ambient lighting and a moderately wide viewing angle is desired. Screen surface can be cleaned with mild soap and water. Flame retardant and mildew resistant. Viewing Angle: 45° Gain: 0.8
45°0.8
High Contrast Cinema Perf
With the same optical characteristics as High Contrast Cinema Vision, this surface is perforated to allow placement of a center channel speaker behind the screen surface while allowing the sound to transmit through the material. Ideal for use in environments with moderate control of ambient light. Screen surface can be cleaned with a mild soap and water solution. Flame retardant and mildew resistant. Viewing Angle: 50° Gain: 1.1
50°1.1
Silver Vision
This screen surface is uniquely designed with a specially formulated silver finish. This surface is perfect for situations where a silver finish is necessary for polarized 3-D projection. The silver finish of this surface successfully rejects ambient light. It is a highly flexible fabric that must be tensioned. Screen surface can be cleaned with mild soap and water. Flame retardant and mildew resistant. Viewing Angle: 30° Gain: 1.5
30°1.5
Rear Projection Screen Surfaces
Polacoat ® Optical Coatings
DA-100
A neutral gray diffusion coating that provides contrast enhancement while maintaing uniformity and color rendition. Its versatility makes it a good choice for situations with good control over ambient light and where a wide viewing angle is necessary. It is also well suited for high resolution applications. Screen surface can be cleaned with mild soap and water. Flame retardant and mildew resistant. Viewing Angle: 35° Gain: 1.0
35°1.0
DA-130
A neutral gray diffusion coating designed to provide a moderate amount of brightness for applications where ambient light is controllable and moderately wide viewing angels are required. Screen surface can be cleaned with mild soap and water. Flame retardant and mildew resistant. Viewing Angle: 34° Gain: 1.3
34°1.3
DA-150
A neutral gray diffusion coating designed to provide a higher amount of brightness and contrast for situations where a low level of ambient light is present or where a projector with moderate output is utilized. Screen surface can be cleaned with mild soap and water. Flame retardant and mildew resistant. Viewing Angle: 32° Gain: 1.5
32°1.5
DA-180
A neutral gray coating offering a higher on-axis gain for situations where a moderate output projector is utilized and where there is a high amount of ambient light present. This coating is well suited for applications where viewing angles are not wide and a higher gain coating is needed for on-axis viewing. Screen surface can be cleaned with mild soap and water. Flame retardant and mildew resistant. Viewing Angle: 30° Gain: 1.8
30°1.8
DA-230
A neutral gray coating with high gain and a moderate viewing angle. The increased gain of this surface makes it suitable for environments where ambient light is uncontrollable and a projector with moderate light output is utilized. Good for situations where the audience is centered within a 50-degree cone from the center of the screen. Screen surface can be cleaned with mild soap and water. Flame retardant and mildew resistant. Viewing Angle: 25° Gain: 2.3
25°2.3
Video Vision
A special coating process generates a screen ideal for video projection under controlled light conditions. This material offers an exceptionally wide field of view so each audience member will observe a uniform, bright, sharp image with no color shift. This screen material is a good choice when producing video images with a projector that has good black levels. Screen surface can be cleaned with mild soap and water. Flame retardant and mildew resistant.. Viewing Angle: 55° Gain: 1.0
55°1.0
Wide Angle Polacoat ® Optical Coatings
DA-75 WA
A light gray diffusion coating with a .75 gain and extremely wide viewing angles. DA-75 WA is designed for use in applications where a short throw lens is required. Due to the increased half angles, DA-75 WA performs well with wide format screens. From the viewer's perspective, side-to-side uniformity of the screen is maximized. Viewing Angle: 78° Gain: 0.75
78°0.75
DA-100 WA
A light gray diffusion coating that provides a unity gain and especially wide viewing angles. This wide angle optical coating is designed for use in applications where a short throw lens is required. Due to the increased half angles, DA-100 WA performs well with wide format screens. From the viewer's perspective, side-to-side uniformity of the screen is maximized. Viewing Angle: 52° Gain: 1.0
52°1.0
Profiled Type Display Screens
Da-View
Profiled Type Display Screen Offers a bright image at a relatively wide field of view perfect for single image display. This screen is a single element double profile cast acrylic with a back surface comprising a Fresnal lens and the front surface exhibiting an array of lenticulations. Fresnel grooves have a pitch of .5mm and the lenticulations have a .28 mm pitch. Screen surface can be cleaned with mild soap and water. Flame retardant and mildew resistant. Viewing Angle: 32° Gain: 3.5
32°3.5
Data-Pro
This single element, fresnel/lenticular screen is designed with a very high contrast to compliment today's brighter digital projectors. The Data-Pro screen prevents ambient light from degrading the black level in the image, which resulting in incredibly good image contrast, even in high ambient light environments. Fresnel frooves have a pitch of .19 mm and lenticulation have a pitch of .25 mm. Viewing Angle: 20° Gain: 1.5
20°1.5
Holoscreen
The Holoscreen has been specifically designed for use in high ambient light environments and point-of-sale applications. The viewer can see a crisp image and see through the screen at the same time. Recommended for use with a projection angle of 18-35° . The Holoscreen is designed for use with any single lens projector. Viewing Angle: 28° Gain: 4.0
28°4.0
Flexible Fabric Screens
Da-Tex™
Flexible Fabric Screen: A translucent, neutral gray vinyl fabric that allows rear projection in applications where a rigid acrylic or glass screen are not possible. This specially designed gray vinyl surface offers the same high transmission and low reflectance values as a rigid rear projection screen for optimal viewing. It yields excellent color rendition, image contrast and a moderately wide viewing angle. Ideally suited for both lace and grommet and snap button type screens used in portable installations. This material requires tensioning due to its flexible nature. Screen surface can be cleaned with mild soap and water. Flame retardant and mildew resistant. Viewing Angle: 30° Gain: 1.3
30°1.3
High Contrast Da-Tex™
Flexible Fabric Screen: High Contrast Da-Tex™ is a unity gain rear projection surface with a specially designed dark gray tint and is formulated to provide lower black levels for today's high output projectors. This surface features optical characteristics similar to rigid rear projection screens. Ideally suited for both lace and grommet and snap button screens used in portable applications. Surface requires tensioning due to its flexible nature. Screen surface can be cleaned with mild soap and water. Flame retardant and mildew resistant. Viewing Angle: 40° Gain: 1.0
40°1.0
Dual Vision
Flexible Fabric Screen: A unity gain flexible projection fabric capable of both front and rear projection. The surface is ideal for video projection under controlled light conditions. With an exceptionally wide viewing cone, each seat in the audience will observe a uniform, bright, sharp image with no color shift. Surface needs to be tensioned. Screen surface can be cleaned with mild soap and water. Flame retardant and mildew resistant. Viewing Angle: 50° Gain: 1.0
50°1.0
Ultra Wide Angle
Flexible Fabric Screen: Ultra Wide Angle is a flexible rear projection fabric formulated for applications where exceptionally wide viewing angles are desired and ambient light is controlled. Based on its ability to diffuse light uniformly, Ultra Wide Angle fabric is ideal for installations utilizing multiple projection edge blending or wide format screens with short focal length projection lenses. By virtue of its characteristics, Ultra Wide Angle fabric dramatically reduces the potential of hot spotting. Viewing Angle: 80° Gain: 0.70
80°0.70
3D Virtual Black™
Flexible Fabric Screen: 3D Virtual Black is a flexible vinyl rear projection fabric that retains 99 percent polarization, thereby maintaining a high fidelity 3D image and virtually eliminating all image ghosting. The black surface finish provides excellent image contrast and its 3.0 gain offers exceptionally vivid images even in ambient light conditions. Viewing Angle: 10° Gain: 3.0
10°3.0