What Type of Screens Are Suitable for Ultra-Short-Throw Projectors?
Ultra-short-throw projectors require screens with high light resistance, gain performance, and flatness due to their short projection distance and steep light incidence angles. Below are the types of screens suitable for ultra-short-throw projectors, along with their characteristics, analyzed through technical principles and usage scenarios:
1. Anti-Ambient Light Screens
Anti-light screens are the top choice for ultra-short-throw projectors, effectively absorbing ambient light while reflecting projected light to enhance brightness and contrast. Two main types exist:
Black Grating Anti-Light Screen
Features: A horizontal prism structure on the surface, with a sawtooth-shaped black light-absorbing layer to block ambient light from above and a white reflective layer to boost projected light. High ambient light resistance.
Use Case: Ideal for environments with complex lighting (e.g., living rooms), but weaker resistance to side ambient light.
Fresnel Hard Screen
Features: Concentric circular grooves absorb ambient light from above and sides, achieving up to 2.6x gain (e.g., Nut S1 Ultra Fresnel Screen), significantly improving brightness and color accuracy.
Use Case: Bright environments (e.g., daylight), best paired with high-brightness projectors (e.g., laser TVs). Limited viewing angle (±30°).
2. High-Contrast Screens
Gray Matte/Gray Screen
Features: Absorbs ambient light to improve black levels and contrast, ideal for dark environments.
Anti-Light Gray Screen
Features: Combines gray screen contrast with anti-light coatings for clarity in bright settings.
3. Screen Structures & Installation
Fixed-Frame Screen
Features: Rigid frame ensures perfect flatness, no warping, ideal for stability-focused setups.
Tensioned Electric Screen
Features: Maintains flatness via tensioning systems, suitable for hidden installations.
Magnetic Fresnel Screen
Features: Thin, wall-mounted designs (e.g., Nut Fresnel Screen) save space without drilling.
4. Other Materials
White Matte/Fiberglass Screen
Features: Budget-friendly, wide viewing angles, natural colors, best for controlled lighting.
Flexible White/Gray Screen
Features: PVC material with diffuse reflection, affordable for home theaters.
Selection Tips
Ambient Light:
Bright rooms: Fresnel or black grating screens.
Dark rooms: Gray or high-contrast screens.
Projector Brightness:
Low-brightness projectors (<1500 ANSI lumens) need high-gain screens.
Avoid narrow-angle screens (e.g., beaded screens) for group viewing.
Conclusion
Ultra-short-throw screens prioritize ambient light resistance, gain, and flatness. Fresnel hard screens and black grating screens excel in bright environments, while gray screens and fixed-frame screens optimize contrast and stability. Choose based on lighting, budget, and installation needs for the best experience.
CLR Screen and Fresnel ALR Screen.CLR screen is also called Black Grating ALR Screen.
I. CLR Screen and Fresnel ALR Screen Technical Principles and Structural Differences
CLR Screen
Structure: The screen surface uses a horizontal sawtooth prism structure composed of alternating black and white layers. The white angled surfaces reflect light from the projector (positioned below), while the black layers absorb ambient light from above and the sides.
Principle: Selectively reflects projector light while blocking ambient light through directional absorption.
Fresnel ALR Screen
Structure: Features semi-concentric circular grooves (similar to a flattened concave mirror). These grooves not only reflect light from the projector lens aligned with the center of the circles.while absorbing stray light from above and the sides.
Principle: Uses Fresnel lens-like focusing properties to concentrate projected light into a narrow viewing zone,enhancing brightness and ambient light rejection.
II. CLR Screen and Fresnel ALR screen Performance Comparison: Pros and Cons
1. CLR Screen
Advantages:
Wider Viewing Angle: Up to 160° horizontally, ideal for group viewing.
Superior Ambient Light Rejection:These screens significantly reduce the impact of ceiling-mounted lights.Ensuring a clear and vibrant image even in well-lit rooms.
Flexible Installation: Available in soft/flexible or rigid formats; easier to transport and store.
Adaptability: Works on most wall types; some models support magnetic or frame mounting (no drilling required).
Premium UST projector screen,Ideal for UST (Ultra Short Throw) Projectors–
CLR screens are optimized for ultra-short throw projectors,making them a great choice for home theaters, conference rooms, and living spaces.
Best used for Home theaters, living rooms, offices etc.
Superior Ambient Light Rejection: ~96% rejection rate; significantly better performance in bright environments.
High Brightness Gain: Up to 1.6x brightness boost due to light-focusing design, delivering sharper images.Viewing angle within 80°
Enhanced Image Quality: Supports true 8K resolution; richer colors and depth closer to OLED TV quality.
Premium UST projector screen,also premium standard throw projector screen.Optimized for UST and Standard Throw Projectors:Fresnel screens work well with both ultra short throw projectors and standard throw projectors.
Best used for High-ambient-light rooms, corporate settings,home theater,living rooms,offices etc.
III. Recommended Use Cases
CLR Screen:
Family/Group Viewing: Wide viewing angles suit living rooms.
Best used for Home theaters, living rooms, offices etc.
Fresnel ALR Screen:
Premium Home Theater: Ideal for high-ambient-light rooms or users prioritizing image quality.
Best used for High-ambient-light rooms, corporate settings,home theater,living rooms,offices etc.
IV. Summary
Ambient Light Rejection: Fresnel > Black Grating.
Viewing Angle: Black Grating > Fresnel.
Recommendation: Choose Fresnel for maximum image quality in controlled environments,and if you need a screen that maximizes brightness and works well in general ambient light conditions;
Opt for CLR screen for flexibility, wide angles, and room has significant overhead lighting.
Whether it is a commercial cinema or a home audio-visual room, more and more cinema projects will use sound-transmitting screens. First, the overall appearance is beautiful, and second, the speakers can be placed in a suitable position according to the indoor environment to achieve better sound effects.
Sound-transmitting screens are mainly divided into two categories: perforated sound-transmitting screens and woven Sound-transparent screens.
Perforated Sound-transparent screens are mainly based on PVC material curtains, and holes are punched on the curtain surface. Woven Sound-transparent screens are just like the meaning of the text, using a weaving process.
Many cinema enthusiasts have a headache. Which of these two screen materials is better?
In fact, if a product can survive in the market, it means that it has a certain value, so there is no such false proposition as which is better between perforated Sound-transparent screens and woven Sound-transparent screens.
In terms of sound attenuation, woven Sound-transparent screens have an advantage over perforated Sound-transparent screens, because the holes of woven Sound-transparent screens are denser than those of perforated Sound-transparent screens, the perforation rate is higher, and the sound attenuation is lower, but this statement is based on the fact that the woven Sound-transparent screens are not added with black blackout cloth.
However, in terms of image effect, perforated Sound-transparent screen has an advantage over woven Sound-transparent screen, because the surface of woven Sound-transparent screen cannot be coated with gain. If it is used with a low-lumen projector, a large-sized woven Sound-transparent screen will have difficulty in image quality. This is why commercial theaters have always used perforated Sound-transparent screens.
After we understand the basic characteristics of these two screen materials, how should we choose the screens for our theaters in the process of building audio-visual rooms?
We can consider it based on such a mindset. No matter which one we choose, we will have gains and losses in terms of image or sound. So I suggest that we can make a comprehensive consideration based on the authoritative standards of the industry.
In terms of brightness, according to the standards of SMPTE (Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineering), the recommended brightness value for the center projection of 2D screens is 12~16fL (PS: the brightness of 3D screen projection is 3~4.5fL). In terms of sound attenuation, according to the IMAX standard, the perforation rate is 4.5%~6.3%.
According to incomplete statistics, most audio-visual rooms over 30 square meters use perforated Sound-transparent screens. Why does this happen?
Because audio-visual rooms over 30 square meters can basically use screens over 150 inches. Now people have higher and higher requirements for picture quality, so projector manufacturers have begun to gradually increase the contrast of projectors. In this way, the contrast is increased and the brightness is inevitably reduced. Therefore, more and more people are using perforated Sound-transparent screens with gain coatings, while woven Sound-transparent screens cannot be coated with gain on the surface, and the actual gain is only about 0.8, so in terms of brightness, it cannot gain an advantage over large-sized screens.
When choosing perforated Sound-transparent screens with gain coatings, do not choose too high gain, which is easy to cause the “sun effect” and there will be viewing angle problems. 1.0~1.8 gain is recommended.
At the same projector brightness, the illumination is 60 percentage points higher than the diffuse white screen without any coating, and the contrast is 34 percentage points higher. Since the pearl powder optical coating screen is a reflective digital screen, it suppresses the secondary reflection of the room better than the traditional diffuse white screen, and is significantly better than the diffuse screen in terms of picture sharpness (clarity) and black level (black level), making the picture sharper, better color reproduction, and better black level performance.
How to choose a sound-transparent screen that meets the standard of sound attenuation?
I mentioned above that in terms of sound attenuation, the woven Sound-transparent screen has an advantage over the perforated Sound-transparent screen, but that is without the addition of black blackout cloth. After adding the black blackout cloth, the sound attenuation of the woven sound-transparent screen at a high frequency of 8KHZ exceeds 5dB. Based on the brightness just mentioned, can I take into account the sound while ensuring the picture quality? Of course, as just said, as long as the sound attenuation meets the standard, we can also choose a perforated sound-transparent screen with gain.
There are now woven Sound-transparent screens with a nominal gain of 1.0 or above on the market. In fact, this data is false and not real. Because the woven screen material cannot be coated, the gain basically hovers around 0.8. However, some people have measured that some woven sound-transmitting screens do have a gain of 1.0. What’s going on? I believe the data is real, because there has also been a process of directly spraying gain coating on 4K woven screens, but in this way, the micropores on the screen surface will be covered by the coating, which means that the east wall is repaired, but the west wall collapses instead.
Let’s talk about the sound attenuation of perforated Sound-transparent screens
IMAX’s perforation rate standard is 4.5%~6.3%. If we can reach this perforation rate standard range, our sound attenuation is well controlled.
Summary
If you want better sound-transmitting,choose the woven sound-transmitting screen fabric,it is better to use brighter projector especially more than 150″
If you want better bright and have no brighter projector,especially more than 150″,it is better to choose the perforated screen fabric,usually white PVC perforated fabric
Choosing the right projection screen depends on the usage scenario, projector performance, budget, and personal needs. Here are the key steps and considerations for choosing a projection screen:
Determine the usage scenario Home theater: Pursue high image quality and immersion, suitable for choosing a screen with high contrast and good color reproduction.
Business presentation: Focus on portability and ease of use, suitable for choosing an electric screen or a portable screen.
Education or training: Need to be durable and suitable for multiple people to watch, choose a manual screen or an electric screen.
Outdoor activities: Need a screen that is resistant to ambient light and high brightness, choose a portable screen or a high-gain screen.
Choose the type of screen Fixed frame screen: The picture is flat, suitable for fixed installation home theaters or conference rooms.
Electric screen: It can be raised and lowered, suitable for occasions that require flexible use, such as conference rooms or home theaters.
Manual screen: Economical and affordable, suitable for small venues with limited budgets.
Portable screen: Easy to carry and install, suitable for temporary use, such as outdoor activities or business presentations.
Floor-pull screen: It is movable, suitable for occasions that need to change venues frequently.
Choose the material of the screen Matte White:
Gain: 1.0 (standard).
Features: good color reproduction, wide viewing angle, suitable for most environments.
Applicable scenarios: home theater, conference room, classroom.
Glass Beaded:
Gain: 1.5-2.5.
Features: strong light reflection, suitable for darker environments, but narrow viewing angle.
Applicable scenarios: small conference rooms, home theaters (light controllable).
Gray screen:
Gain: 0.8-1.2.
Features: improve contrast, suitable for high-brightness projectors or occasions with strong ambient light.
Applicable scenarios: home theaters (strong ambient light).
Acoustic transparent screen:
Features: allows sound to pass through the screen, suitable for placing speakers behind the screen.
Applicable scenarios: high-end home theaters or professional theaters.
Metal screen:
Gain: 2.0-3.0.
Features: high brightness, high contrast, suitable for 3D projection or high brightness environment.
Applicable scenarios: 3D cinema, outdoor activities.
Determine the screen size Choose according to viewing distance:
Viewing distance = screen diagonal length × 1.5 to 2.5.
For example, a 100-inch screen (diagonal about 2.5 meters), the best viewing distance is 3.75 meters to 6.25 meters.
Choose according to room size:
Small room: 80-100 inches.
Medium room: 100-120 inches.
Large room: 120-150 inches or larger.
Choose the screen ratio
16:9: suitable for modern home theaters and most video content (movies, TV, games).
4:3: suitable for old projectors or business presentations (such as PPT).
2.35:1: suitable for widescreen movies, providing a cinematic experience.
Consider ambient light Environments with controlled light (such as home theaters): choose ALR screens or gray screens, focusing on color reproduction and contrast.
Environments with strong light (such as conference rooms or outdoors): choose high-gain screens (such as glass bead screens or metal screens) to increase the brightness of the picture.
Budget Economical type: manual screens or matte white screens, suitable for users with limited budgets.
Mid-range type: electric screens or glass bead screens, suitable for users pursuing cost-effectiveness.
High-end type: acoustically transparent screens or gray screens, suitable for home theater users pursuing ultimate picture quality.
Installation method Ceiling installation: suitable for electric screens or fixed frame screens.
Wall installation: suitable for fixed frame screens or manual screens.
Floor installation: suitable for floor-pull screens or portable screens.
Testing and adjustment If possible, test the screen effect in the actual environment to ensure that the brightness, color and clarity of the picture meet the requirements.
Adjust the screen selection according to the brightness and resolution of the projector.
Summary Choosing a suitable projection screen requires comprehensive consideration of usage scenarios, screen type, material, size, ratio, ambient light, and budget. Here is a quick selection guide:
Home theater: fixed frame screen or electric screen + gray screen/acoustic screen.
Business presentation: electric screen or portable screen + matte white.
Outdoor activities: portable screen or floor screen.
Through the above steps, you can find the projection screen that best suits your needs and improve your viewing or presentation experience.
ALR screen fabric usually includes fresnel farbic,black grid fabric,black crystal fabric etc.Fresnel fabric has a better ambient light rejection effect,black grid has a big viewing angle.
In the side,black grid is better than fresnel fabric.All these fabric can be used for UST projector and standard focus projector.
How to choose a right screen color is depended on your needs and projectors,
White screens and gray screens each have their own advantages. Which one to choose depends mainly on your specific needs and usage scenarios.
Simply put, white screens can reflect all colors. This allows the projector to display colors more fully. They have better color reproduction of the picture. There is also a greater gain effect on the picture. It is especially suitable for scenes with high requirements for picture quality and color performance.
Gray screens are more suitable for projectors with high brightness. They increase the contrast of the picture. They enhance the light and dark relationship of the picture. This makes objects look more three-dimensional.
Specifically:
If you don’t need high requirements for color reproduction, white screens will suit you better. They are ideal if your focus is on visual effects. Consider them for decorative purposes, such as watching movies and decorating rooms.
If you want the picture to have a stronger contrast and layering, consider gray screens. If your environment has strong light and needs to reduce reflections, they may be a better choice.
Projection Screen Gain refers to the brightness of the reflection. It measures the screen material’s reflection at all angles. This is expressed in numbers. Projection Screen Gain is an important parameter to measure the ability of the screen to reflect light. It determines the brightness of the projected image. A higher gain makes the image brighter. However, the viewing angle becomes smaller. A lower gain affects the image brightness more with ambient light. But the viewing angle becomes larger.
Definition and calculation method of gain Gain is calculated by comparing the brightness of the light reflected by the screen. This is done against the brightness of the light reflected by a completely diffuse scattering surface. A completely diffuse scattering surface has equal reflectivity in all directions. The gain of a projection screen is the ratio of the screen’s center point brightness. It is compared to the brightness of a completely diffuse scattering surface. This measurement is taken when light is projected perpendicularly to the screen under the same conditions.
Effect of gain on projection effect Brightness of the image: The higher the gain, the brighter the image. This is suitable for darker environments. However, too high a gain will cause the middle of the image to be bright. The four corners will be dark, and the high-brightness part may lose its layering. Observation angle: The higher the gain, the smaller the observation angle. This is suitable for small-scale viewing. When the gain is low, the picture is more affected by ambient light. However, the observation angle is larger, which is suitable for large-scale viewing. Ambient light influence: Low-gain screens are easily affected by ambient light. High-gain screens can resist ambient light to a certain extent. Application scenarios of different gain values High-gain screen: This is suitable for darker environments. These environments include home theaters or dark rooms. It can provide brighter pictures and better contrast. Low-gain screen: Suitable for brighter environments. These screens are ideal for daytime use. They can better resist the influence of ambient light and maintain the natural brightness of the picture.
The significance and role of projection screen gain The projection screen gain refers to the screen’s ability to reflect light. It is also one of the key factors affecting the projection effect. Generally speaking, if the gain value is higher, the screen’s reflective ability becomes stronger. This can make the projected picture brighter and clearer. When the same projector is projected on different screens, the brightness and clarity of the picture will also be different.
Usually, a low-brightness projection environment requires a screen with a higher gain. On the contrary, using a screen with a higher gain in a darker projection environment can cause “too high brightness.” “Snowflakes” will also affect the visual effect. Therefore, the projection environment should be considered when choosing a projection screen to avoid mistakes.
Factors affecting the gain of a projection screen Several factors affect the gain of a projection screen. They include the projection environment. These factors also include the brightness of the projector and the projection distance. The higher the brightness of the projector, the less important the gain of the projection screen. A screen with a higher gain can provide better projection effects when the projector brightness is low. It is also beneficial when the projection distance is far.
How to choose a suitable projection screen
Consider the projection environment
When choosing a projection screen, the first thing to consider is the projection environment. The darker the projection environment, the higher the gain required. On the contrary, for a projection environment with a higher brightness, a screen with a lower gain should be selected.
Choose the screen gain according to the brightness of the projector
The brightness of the projector is also a key factor in choosing a projection screen. Generally speaking, the brighter the projector, the more suitable the screen with a lower gain is. Conversely, when the brightness of the projector is low, a screen with a higher gain can provide better projection effects.
Choose the screen gain according to the projection distance
The projection distance will also affect the choice of projection screen. If you are very close to the projection screen, you can choose a screen with higher gain. If you are far away from the projection screen, you should use a screen with lower gain. This helps avoid the problem of excessive brightness.
In short, choosing a suitable projection screen involves comprehensive consideration of several factors. These factors include the projection environment, projector brightness, and projection distance.
Whether it is a commercial cinema or a home audio-visual room, more and more cinema projects will use perforated sound screen. First, the overall appearance is beautiful, and second, the speakers can be placed in a suitable position according to the indoor environment to achieve better sound effects.
Perforated sound screen are mainly divided into two categories: perforated sound-transmitting screen and woven sound-transmitting screen.
Perforated sound-transmitting screens are mainly based on PVC material curtains, and holes are punched on the screen surface. Woven sound-transmitting screens are just like the meaning of the text, using a weaving process.
Many cinema enthusiasts have a headache. Which of these two projector screen materials is better?
In fact, if a product can survive in the market, it means that it has a certain value, so there is no such false proposition as which is better between perforated sound-transmitting screens and woven sound-transmitting screens.
In terms of sound attenuation, woven sound-transmitting screens have an advantage over perforated sound-transmitting screens, because the holes of woven sound-transmitting screens are denser than those of perforated sound-transmitting screens, the perforation rate is higher, and the sound attenuation is lower, but this statement is based on the fact that the woven sound-transmitting screens are not added with black blackout cloth.
However, in terms of image effects, perforated acoustic screens have an advantage over woven acoustic screens, because the surface of woven acoustic screens cannot be coated with gain. If used with a low-lumen projector, a large-sized woven acoustic screen will have difficulty in producing images. This is why commercial theaters have always used perforated acoustic screens.
