What do you need to know about a projector screen?

The most basic projector screen is an 18" by 10" piece of white paper, or an 18" x 12" sheet of white vinyl that slides in and out from the back of the frame. 

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Projectors are available with as small as a 1-inch throw on all sides, which makes for simple projection onto wall-mounted screens.

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 In order to use any material besides these two options, you'll need to invest in a swiveling bracket that allows your future projector to be positioned behind your existing one. 

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There are several different manufacturers and designs of these brackets, but they all do the same thing. Here is my company's recommendation:What type of screen should you buy? 

 

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This varies based on the size and format of your projector, as well as your budget. Consider the size of your room and the biggest screen you would like to use with your projector before you make a decision. 

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If you use a projector that is 16" wide or smaller, the larger size of 18" will be too big. If you have the room to accommodate it,

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 consider a screen that is at least 24" x 36". But to be honest, if you don't have the money for an expensive screen, or are using one such as this and would like something better, don't spend even more money on a second one. 

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My company has found that most people who purchase a second projector screen wind up buying an extra paper/vinyl option anyway.The paper and vinyl options can be used with all types of projectors, but do begin to degrade quickly and are not as durable as a good quality fabric option.

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Which size will fit your screen?We have all seen the digital projector screens in museums and science centers. These are often 24" x 36", and they require a fairly large space due to their size and weight. 

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This is the reason so many people who purchase them use them only occasionally, or never at all. Professional cinematographers prefer to work with 35mm film, which is typically between 24" and 30" wide. 

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However, many movies today are filmed digitally (almost exclusively), and since image sizes can be smaller than the original negative, 

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it's common for a 35mm negative to be cut into two pieces for DVD / Blu-ray releases. This can be done in two ways: horizontally (standard definition) or vertically (full HD). 

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The smaller of these two versions, the 4:3 DVD will fit in a standard-sized 35mm frame. The larger version, the 16:9 DVD, is best viewed with a large-sized frame because it is five to seven inches wider than the standard version. This means that a 24" wide screen must be at least 36" wide. 

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If you have a large room and a projector that has an image bigger than 16:9 (for example, 30"), you'll need to consider a screen that is at least 24"x48".

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 It is possible to find a fabric screen larger than this, but it will cost more than you want to spend. As stated above, we recommend 24"x36".

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