About the Quality of Projection Screens: Smoothness > Appearance Details > Brand > Parameters
Why are parameters completely unimportant for projection screens? It's because even if your brightness gain is high, what's the use? It comes at the cost of sacrificing contrast and viewing angles. Some screens intentionally reduce brightness and won't provide the kind of screen that enhances brightness, contrast, viewing angles, and 3D effects. So, parameters are not useful. Moreover, the parameters of projection screens cannot be verified and have no reference value.
So, just remember, for the living room, choose a white screen. If it's a home theater, go for a slightly gray screen. That's all you need because in the living room, where the environment is affected by external light, a white screen will appear brighter. In a home theater, where we can control light well, we can even reduce the projector's brightness to enhance the depth and transparency of the image. That's it.
Actually, for ordinary consumers, choosing a suitable projection screen might be even more challenging than choosing a phone! The main reason for this perceived difficulty is that projector manufacturers haven't done enough to educate people about this aspect. While phones are complex in construction, those who pay a little attention to them know what makes a good phone and what specifications to look for. So today, let's talk about how to choose a projection screen.
About the Quality of Projection Screens: Smoothness > Appearance Details > Brand > Parameters
Why do we need a projection screen? For different consumers, the reasons might vary, but most can be summarized into the following two reasons:
1. The feeling of projection on a white wall without a screen is not quite like a theater experience. Many people feel this way because we are accustomed to the TV having a frame, and theaters having boundaries. The image projected on a white wall, without these boundaries, can make us feel a lack of order.
2. During home decoration, there might not have been a plan for the projection position.*Either a TV is mounted, or the wall is covered with wallpaper, or painted with colored paint, or the wall is not even. In such cases, a screen is needed to create a projection surface.
Professionally speaking, choosing a screen is to solve the problem of interference from ambient light. So, let's discuss the core factors affecting this issue.
Firstly, we need to understand that whether it's traditional projection or smart projection, the principle of how we see the image with our eyes is like this: light projects the image onto the screen or wall, and then the screen or wall reflects it into our eyes, creating the image we see.
This reflection process can be divided into diffuse reflection and directional reflection. Diffuse reflection occurs when the reflecting surface is uneven, and the reflected light is chaotic, scattering in various directions, with lower brightness. Directional reflection is when the light is reflected in the same direction, concentrated, resulting in higher brightness. Therefore, in the process of choosing a screen, we need to balance the different requirements of brightness and viewing angles, depending on our actual situation.
After laying down these principles, let's talk about the main factors: material and design. Material mainly affects the image effect, i.e., the gain mentioned earlier. Design mainly affects the usage scenario, with different designs suitable for different scenarios.
Types of Projection Screens, Differences, and Purchase Suggestions by Material:
1. White Plastic & Fiberglass White:
White plastic and fiberglass white are probably the most common types of screens on the market. The key difference between them lies in the surface texture, with fiberglass white having a finer surface that can reflect more light, resulting in higher brightness gain. However, the difference in actual experience is not significant.
2.Gray Plastic & Fiberglass Gray:
Similar to white screens, the key difference is in contrast. Gray screens can improve contrast compared to white screens, making black appear more thorough. However, the brightness gain is slightly lower than that of white screens.
3.Anti-light Screens:
Anti-light screens can be divided into black grid anti-light screens, Fresnel screens, and medium to long-throw anti-light screens. Black grid and Fresnel screens are designed for ultra-short-throw laser TVs, while medium to long-throw screens are for larger projections from smart and traditional projectors. The differences between these three types are significant, and we can delve into each.
4.Black Grid Anti-light Screen:
The surface of a black grid anti-light screen has a sawtooth pattern, with black above and transparent PU below. This design absorbs light from above and reflects light from the laser TV below, achieving anti-light effects. When installing this screen, there is a distinction between the front and back.
5.Fresnel Screen:
The principle of a Fresnel screen is similar to that of a black grid anti-light screen, but its surface structure is concentric circles of decreasing size. This structure helps block light from the top and sides, making it more effective in anti-light performance. However, due to the complex optical structure, the cost of a Fresnel screen is higher, and it cannot be bent at large angles, making it less suitable for home use. The largest size available in the market is currently 100 inches.
6.Medium to Long-throw Anti-light Screen:
This type of screen is designed for projectors like the XGIMI H1S, XGIMI Z5, and XGIMI Z4X. It does not require an ultra-short-throw laser TV. Its anti-light principle relies on a special metal coating on the surface, creating a finely textured appearance that resembles a mirror. This design reflects more light in the direction of the projector, increasing brightness gain.
These are the main types of screens and their differences based on material. Choosing the right one depends on your specific needs and usage scenarios.
How to Choose a Projection Screen: A Comprehensive Guide to Projection Screen Knowledge