'Sizing Up' Your Screen Requirements
September 16th, 2010
Da-Lite offers a wide array of screens with a choice of projection surfaces. Selecting the right combination to meet your needs is important for optimum results. An important part of the selection process is determining the right size for your application. While Da-Lite can manufacture almost any size screen, making sure the size is right will ensure the highest performance and greatest comfort for your viewers.
Follow these simple rules for determining the appropriate size screen:
1. 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.
You can use the following formula for determining screen size for commercial and educational applications:
- 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.
If you are working on a home theater application, you should use these formulas, instead.
- Screen height should be approximately equal to 1/4 the distance from the screen to the last row of seats. Ideally, the first row of seats should be approximately two screen heights away.
- The bottom of the screen should be a minimum of 2 feet above the audience floor. This may require additional screen "drop" for ceiling hung screens.
2. Selecting the appropriate format for your projection application will ensure that the entire image is visible on the projection screen, with no unused screen surface. The common formats are:
| NTSC Video | 1.33:1 |
| PAL Video | 1.33:1 |
| Wide Format | 1.60:1 |
| HDTV Video | 1.78:1 |
| Letterbox Video | 1.85:1 |
| 35 MM Filmstrip | 1.32:1 |
| 2x2 Standard 35MM Double-Frame Slides | lass="lightgreycell">1.50:1 |
| Super XGA Computer | 1.25:1 |
| Cinemascope | 2.35:1 |
For more information on screen size selection, you can reference Da-Lite's article on Selecting the Right Screen. If you want a more step-by-step approach to determining the screen that works best for your application, you can always use Da-Lite's Screen Designer, our powerful online design tool.
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