What sort of picture quality are you looking for?
Most of our clients answer “the same as what we have on TV”. Well then you are going to have to invest in a proper screen; a blank white wall, piece of matt white plastic or a traditional roll up screen is just not going to do. What you are looking for is a gain screen with a higher contrast that also reproduces accurate colour. The screen will also need to give you uniformity in brightness from the centre to the edge, and must not show any ambient reflections. At the end of the day, what you pay for is what you’re going to get.

Front or rear projection?

Front projection is more widely used and also provides a wider field of view, up to 130 ̊on one of our Quintessence screens. Rear projection is a solution if a person is to stand in front of the screen, like teaching and seminars; the size and layout of the room is dictated by rear projection and is best, pre planned in the design stage of the project.
 

Do you purchase a Gain or Lambertian (zero gain) screen?

A gain screen will perform brilliantly in all projection environments and a quality screen will not flare or produce an uneven picture as is commonly believed. A zero gain (standard matt white screen) will only perform well in a totally dark environment and even then it will still not accurately reproduce the image detail.

How high should I mount the screen?

As low as possible, as a guide, I recommend 600mm from the floor. I recommend that you do a simple test before mounting the screen. From your intended viewing position, fix your eye on the wall where the screen is to be mounted roughly midway between the ceiling and floor, now drop your eyes to a spot roughly a quarter of the wall height, you’ll feel your eyes relax – less strain equates to less fatigue which means you’ll derive far more entertainment pleasure from the correct screen setup.

How big should the screen be?

There is no such thing as too big a screen, as long as you have the space to enjoy it. The larger the screen the more impressive the experience. So, the answer to the question would be as big as you feel comfortable with or your partner will let you have! From my perspective, one should allow the projection distance and viewing wall size (screen space) determine your optimal size. Keep in mind that the whole idea is to create a cinema experience in your home.

2D or 3D or a combination thereof?

Protracted viewing of 3D active shutter technology is going to give you a headache, your brain simply does not like being tricked; nonetheless, 3D is undoubtedly a fantastic experience on a very big screen in the comfort of your living room.

Maintenance?

This will depend on how dusty the environment is. The screen will require a damp wipe down from time to time, probably once every six to twelve months. The projector and more importantly, the lens will also need to be cleaned from time to time. Lens cleaning is a gentle wipe with the correct cleaning kit. Also the forced cooling filters will require a clean from time to time. The incandescent lamp will need to be replaced after approx. 5000 hours of use; under normal viewing conditions, this is around every 4 years.

How much space will the screen and projector take up?

The screen is flat +-25mm so just wall space; the projector, wall or ceiling mounted, utilises unused space below the ceiling, making it a very good option in homes today.

What about the ambient light in the room in which you intend projecting?

Ambient light or any incidental light striking the screen will destroy a projected image on a Lambertian screen or matt white wall (pretty much the same thing actually). The image on a gain screen will also be affected but to a far lesser extent as it controls the light back to the audience. Get the highest gain you can get with a wide field of view, as it will give you the best all round image irrespective of the lighting. With a gain screen you and your family/friends can watch with the lights on, interact with one another and go to the loo without falling over the coffee table. With the correct screen, even with ambient lights on you will still see the ball and pitch when watching sport. When used in training, viewers will be able to clearly see the projected image whilst having sufficient light to take notes, ideal for a boardroom or lecture auditorium. Avoid a Ballotini screen; although an effective retro reflection lens, it will produce a fantastic image only for the 2 or 3 people sitting in the sweet spot, as it has an extremely narrow field of view.

​

​