How to Choose a Screen – Screen Type
Choosing the right screen for your application is part science and part personal preference. Let’s start with personal preference.
In broad terms there are two types of screens – roller or frame. Roller screens are perfect for rooms where you don’t want the
screen on show all of the time – that is you want it to roll up and hideaway. Think of a frame screen as being more like a picture
frame – permanently on show. The general rule of thumb is that if it’s a dedicated room choose a frame screen, and if it's a multipurpose room then a roller screen is better suited.
But rules are there for breaking – so it’s up to you! When it comes to screen size however, there are
definite rules that apply.
How to Choose a Screen – Screen Size
So when it comes to choosing the right screen size there are several things to be considered:
- the optimum screen size for comfortable viewing,
- the screen size appropriate for your throw distance, and
- the screen size that’s going to get the best result from your projector.
First thing – yes big images are wonderful but the biggest may not actually be the best.
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Possible Image Size vs Actual Image Size
If you’ve cast your eye over your projector specs you may have noticed that theoretically with just about any projector you can create
a really big image. The question is – do you want to?
If this is the first projector you’ve bought its important to understand that there are trade-offs as the image gets bigger. In straightforward terms you will lose brightness, detail and resolution.
If you are looking at images above 2440mm wide (16:9/4:3/16:10) it might be worth double checking the suitability of your projector
to create high quality and really big images.
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Optimum Viewing Distance
Screen height x 2 - Minimum
Screen height x 3 - Optimum
Screen height x 6 – Maximum
If you go bigger than the recommended minimum viewing distance chances are you’ll end up feeling like you are in the front row of
the movies, and they are definitely not the best seats in the house.
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Screen Sizes and Throw Distance
When choosing your screen size you need to make sure that the projector you choose will be able to fill the screen with the throw distance available.
To work this out we recommend using a projector calculator like www.projectorcentral.com . Find your projector model and then work out whether you can fill the screen size easily. We recommend installations in the middle of the projector’s zoom range.
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Understanding Aspect Ratios
Understanding Aspect Ratios can be one of the most confusing parts of purchasing any new display device.
There are two key drivers – shape of the content and shape of the physical display device. Whether or not these two things match will determine whether the screen of your display device is filled. A little confused? Read on, we’ll do our best to explain.
Each aspect Ratio is presented as a ratio, first number is the number of units high, second one, number of units wide.
4:3 – Traditional TV
2.35:1 - Movies
16:9 – Widescreen format
16:10 – Windows format – allows for 16:9 images plus the start bar at the bottom of a laptop.
So the actual content that you are watching might be shot in 4;3, 2.35;1, or 16:9.
But your display device might be 4:3, 16:9, 16:10 or 2.35:1
What happens when you put a different shaped image and screen together?
One of two things – either there are black bars top and bottom or left and right OR if your display device allows you to stretch your image you may end up with short and wide people or really tall and thin people.
Bottom line is unfortunately there will always be some compromise. Our advice is to try and match up your display device and the majority of the content you’ll be viewing, and understand the trade offs.
With projection we advise matching the aspect ratio of your screen to the native aspect ratio of your projector. Unless of course you are looking at CineTheatre, in this situation 16:9 projectors team perfectly with any of the CineTheatre aspect ratios (2.35:1 and above).
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Black Bars
One of the real down sides of black bars are that you are wasting some of the resolution and brightness capability of your projector. The black bars are simply pixels turned off. Also see Aspect Ratios above.
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Why is Projector Mounting Important
Installing your projector correctly is an important part of the overall success of your system. An install professional will be able to help you with correct projector placement, both in terms of distance and vertical placement. A good quality projector mount with individually lockable adjustments will help in the finetuning and final adjustments of the system, as well as making sure it stays in alignment.
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Why are Individually Lockable Adjustments an Advantage?
It makes the final tweaking of the system a lot easier. You can get the image correctly adjusted on one plane, lock that off and then move on to the next.
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What are Pan, Tilt and Yaw?
These are the names for the different directions of adjustment that come with our projector mounts. Pan refers to the left to right or horizontal movement. Tilt is the top to bottom movement. While yaw can most easily be described as a movement similar to the rocking of a boat. Each of these individual adjustments allows for the finetuning of your projector.
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Custom Options
Did you know that LP Morgan screens are made right here in Melbourne? From our helpful Internal Sales Team, all the way through to the Screen Technicians building your screen, we can customise to your requirements.
We understand that in some ways projection screens and accessories are more like pieces of furniture than electronic components and that you need something that fit just right into your space.
Let LP Morgan help you come up with the solution that is right for you.
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1080p Ready?
Often we are asked – will an LP Morgan screen work with my new 1080p projector? Is it HD ready?
To answer that question properly you need to understand what the 1080p stands for.
Display devices are described by their resolution capabilities, as measured by the number of pixels wide by the number of pixels high.
So a 1080p projector has 1920 lines wide x 1080 lines high.
On a 100” screen 2210mm wide each pixel is approximately 1.116mm wide (2210 divided by 1920).
The patterning on our Novares, Plana U, and Plana RP projection screen fabrics is significantly finer than the 1920 x 1080p resolution. This means that not only is your LP Morgan screen HD ready, it is future proofed for any resolution improvements in the coming years.
Atrex screen material is designed as a large format screen material, and its structure is therefore coarser than our other fabrics. Because of the seating distance this doesn’t create any problems. The formulation of Atrex allows for it to be seamless over 5m widths, as well as having exceptionally good lay flat qualities over large areas.
One note of caution, not every 1080p projector is designed for very large projected images. Using your projector at the outer limits of its specified size range can result in duller, washed out images.
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Who Should I use for Installation of my LP Morgan Product?
We always recommend using professional installers. You can find a reputable installer through a recommendation from your retailer, or by visiting www.cedia.com.au . If you prefer DIY all of our individual products are supplied with comprehensive instruction manuals.
CEDIA Australasia has recently released a set of helpful guides for architect, home owner and builder discussing the benefits of using a professional CEDIA member.
Architects & Designers Fineline electronic lifestlyes technology guide for architects and designers
Home Owners Fineline electronic lifestlyes technology guide for home owners
Builders Fineline electronic lifestlyes technology guide for home owners
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What does Anamorphic Mean?
The definition of the word Anamorphic means a distorted optical image, in particular marked by unequal magnification along perpendicular axis. When it comes to projection, an anamorphic lens like the LP Morgan Scope lens distorts the image by stretching it horizontally (making it wider), without it affecting the height of the image.
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How Does the Anamorphic Set Up work?
To set up a horizontal expansion anamorphic system you will need the following:
- A cinemascope screen (see below for discussion of exact aspect ratios)
- A 16:9 digital projector with Mode 1 scaling for a moveable install
- A 16:9 digital projector with Mode 2 scaling for a fixed install
- If no Mode 1 or 2 scaling you will require an external scaler
- A horizontal expansion anamorphic lens
- Appropriate mounting hardware
- And for the finishing touch a masking system.
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What will I need to convert my Existing 16:9 Home Theatre to the CineTheatre Experience?
To enjoy the CineTheatre experience in your existing 16:9 theatre you’ll need to look at the space for conversion to a 2.35:1 screen. Take your existing screen width and multiply it by 1.33. If you have the space to accommodate a screen of this width then you are
on your way.
You’ll need to upgrade your screen to a CineTheatre model, buy the lens and possibly make some small adjustments to the projector mounting hardware you already have. A masking system would be the final touch.
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How much Bigger is a CineTheatre Image?
When you have a 2.35:1 image showing on a 16:9 screen, there is approximately 25% of the screen that is wasted showing black bars. When you convert the screen to a 2.35:1 screen, and keep the screen height the same, the CineTheatre image is 33% bigger than your full size original 16:9 image. But a whopping 80% bigger when you watch a 2.35:1 image.
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What is the CineTheatre Experience?
CineTheatre is our term for describing the immersive experience of watching movies at home in their full size 2.35:1 aspect ratio. The range includes an anamorphic lens, screens, masking options, and seating.
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What is Cinemascope?
Cinemascope is the term used to describe movies made in the extra wide 2.35:1 aspect ratio. It originated in the 1950’s and involved the use of an anamorphic lens on the camera to compress the original image so it would fit onto standard 4:3 film stock, and then the use of an anamorphic lens at the time of screening to expand the image to fill a full 2.35:1 screen.
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Is an Anamorphic Lens Necessary to Watch Movies in Cinemascope Aspect Ratio?
Technically, no. On some projectors there is an option which allows you to ‘zoom’ a 2.35:1 image out to fill a 2.35:1 screen. The drawbacks are that you are losing brightness, and resolution, and by default you are more limited in the size of image you can achieve.
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Why can I still see Black Bars on my Widescreen?
You’ve just upgraded from an old TV. You have a brand new 16:9 widescreen projector. You’ve bought a new 16:9 widescreen projector screen. You sit down to watch your favourite movie – and there they are – a black strip top and bottom.
And you wonder – why? I thought I’d gone widescreen, you think to yourself. Well you have, but 16:9 widescreen is not actually true widescreen when it comes to cinema.
70% of blockbuster movies are made in this shape, called cinemascope: 2.35:1 as opposed to 16:9
To fit these two different shapes into one, means that there has to be a compromise. And the black bars are the way of achieving this compromise.
What you lose is the size and impact of the image, as the 2.35:1 vision becomes significantly smaller than the nightly news on your 16:9 screen, the immersive experience, and the resolution and brightness of the image are reduced as those black bars take up valuable pixel space.
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Where can I Learn more about Masking Options?
Masking is a way of keeping the crisp black borders around your image while showing different aspect ratio images on your screen. This is particularly important in a 2.35:1 and 16:9 arrangement. If you have a 2.35:1 screen and are watching 16:9 content you will have strips of white left and right of your 16:9 image. Vertical masking strips cover these areas and provide the sharp black contrast border that you normally have on a screen. Then when you are ready to watch 2.35:1 content, simply remove the masking and your image will fill the whole screen.
Masking is available in either a motorised version, built into a Galleria frame screen or as a manual add on extra.
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What is Radial Cut Technology (RCT)?
Roller screens are great, they hide away when not in use and are perfect for use in multi use spaces. The only possible down side is that when you unroll them, you need them to be perfectly flat. RCT is one of LP Morgan’s unique product features that helps to provide you with a flat image area every time you unroll the screen. It spreads tension evenly down the entire side of the screen.
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Why are Black Over Scan Borders Important?
Whether on a roller screen or a frame screen a black border will frame your image for your eye, making whatever you are showing appear sharper, more defined, and subconsciously improving the contrast. Matte black borders also give some allowance for over-scan for final image adjustment.
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Which Frame Finish is Best for Home Theatre?
We recommend the deluxe velvet velour frame finish. Its lush finish absorbs any stray light as well as looking great.
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How do I Calculate the Space Required Behind a Rear Projection Screen?
With direct throw rear projection, you will need as much space behind the screen as you would have done in front of the screen. So to cross check if you are going to have enough available space, we recommend using a projector calculator like www.projectorcentral.com . Find your projector model and then work out what screen size you can fill with the space you have available. We recommend installations in the middle of the projector’s zoom range.
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We have always believed that the most important part of any screen is the screen material – after all that’s what you look at!
We encourage you to judge for yourself. Look for the following five characteristics when you are assessing a projector screen:
- Resolution that brings sharpness, detail and clarity.
- Colours that are true to life.
- A contrast ratio for depth, shading and brightness.
- Smooth brightness from the centre to the edges.
- The widest possible viewing angle for a great view no matter where you are sitting.
And if you were wondering, LP Morgan screens are specifically formulated to suit all modern home theatre and professional data projectors, whether they be LCD, DLP or LCOS technologies. Please see below for further information on each of the screen materials we use in our range.
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Materials Information
Plana U
High definition suitable screen material exclusive to LP Morgan Galleria and Rondo projection screens.
Features:
- Matte white front projection
- Gain 1.1
- 180 degree viewing angle
- Colour neutral reproduction, high resolution capacity
- Anti hot-spotting formation
- Easy to clean with care
Plana RP
Rear Projection Screen material suitable for Galleria and Rondo projection screens.
Features:
- Neutral grey N5 for high contrast
- Gain 1.8
- 45 degree viewing angle to half gain
- Colour neutral reproduction, high resolution capacity
- Anti hot-spotting formation
- Easy to clean with care
- Can be ultrasonically welded for large screens
Atrex
Suitable for extra large Rondo Roller screens with a seamless finish.
Features:
- Matte white front projection finely patterned screen material
- Includes a micro steel wire mesh insert to ensure lay flat qualities of the screen
- Gain 1.2
- 180 degree universal viewing angle
- Colour neutral reproduction, good resolution capacity
- Anti hot-spotting formation
- Easy to clean with care
Novares
Australia's first ISF certified fabric, Novares is specially formulated to achieve the best possible resolution and colour reproduction. Suitable for Galleria Frame Screens.
Features:
- No optical structure for the sharpest possible image resolution
- Matte white front projection
- Gain 1.1
- 180 degree universal viewing angle
- Colour neutral reproduction, optimum resolution capacity
- Anti hot-spotting formation
- Easy to clean with care
Plana S
Available only in the LP Morgan Mirage, Manual Masking screen, Plana S features:
- Matte white front projection material
- 160 degree viewing angle
- Features black backing for durability in screen construction
Plana AT
Acoustic transparent machine woven fabric which has a degree of variation in strand thickness and placement, reducing the moire effect. Will have some light penetration.
POP Screen
For visual merchandise applications. Rigid Rear Projection Screen.
Mid Grey
Features:
- Colour Neutral Reproduction
- Non Glare Viewing Surface
- Suitable for use under most light conditions to achieve optimum contrast and colour saturation
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