Choosing a Projection Screen Surface for your Projector:
The way a surface refracts light is what differentiates one screen fabric from another. Look at the gain together with the viewing angle when evaluating fabric choices. Lower gain ratings mean the light is reflected more uniformly from the center to the edge of the viewing area.
Lower gain screens are best for home theater and with today's brighter projectors.
Many people believe that the highest gain possible will give them the best picture. This is not necessarily true. Your objective is the get the right screen for your projector and viewing situation. Look for creating a good match, not just the highest gain.
If you are not sure which surface you need, ask one of our screen specialists to assist you. We can help you pick exactly the right surface for your projector and room environment.
Here are some Da-Lite Screen surface definitions to help you get started:
Front Projection Screen Surfaces
Matte White
The most versatile screen surface and the premier choice when ambient light is controllable. It evenly distributes light over a wide viewing area while colors remain bright and life-like, with no shifts in hue. Screen surface can be cleaned with mild soap and water. Flame retardant and mildew resistant.
Viewing Angle: 60° Gain: 1.0
High Contrast Matte White
Designed for moderate output DLP and LCD projectors, this screen surface is a great choice when video images are the main source of information being projected and where ambient light is moderately controlled. With its specially designed gray base material and reflective top surface, this screen material is able to provide very good black levels without sacrificing the white level output. Screen surface can be cleaned with mild soap and water. Flame retardant and mildew resistant.
Viewing Angle: 50° Gain: 1.1
Video Spectra 1.5
Especially designed for demanding video and overhead LCD projection applications where a balance of higher gain and greater viewing angle is required. The special pearlescent surface may be cleaned with mild soap and water. Screen surface can be cleaned with mild soap and water. Flame retardant and mildew resistant.
Viewing Angle: 35° Gain: 1.5
Glass Beaded
This surface has the ability to achieve a higher gain by reflecting more of the projected image back along the projection axis. Glass beads impregnated into the screen's surface provide additional reflectance. This attribute creates an unparalleled screen surface that reproduces vibrant life-like color at moderate viewing angles. Flame retardant and mildew resistant.
Viewing Angle: 30° Gain: 2.5
High Power
A technological breakthrough, combines the reflectivity of a glass beaded surface with the ability to clean the surface when required. Its smooth surface offers the highest gain of all types of screen surfaces with moderate viewing angle. Screen surface can be cleaned with mild soap and water. Flame retardant and mildew resistant.
Viewing Angle: 25° Gain: 2.8
Silver Matte
A uniquely designed screen surface with a specifically designed silver finish. This surface is perfect for situations where a silver surface is necessary for a polarized 3-D projection. The matte finish of this surface successfully rejects ambient light. Screen surface can be cleaned with mild soap and water. Flame retardant and mildew resistant.
Viewing Angle: 30° Gain: 1.3
Da-Mat
A smooth, white, vinyl finish surface for precise image reproduction. Provides an exceptionally wide angle of view with little loss of resolution. It is a highly flexible unsupported vinyl fabric and may be folded or rolled. Screen surface can be cleaned with mild soap and water. Flame retardant and mildew resistant.
Viewing Angle: 60° Gain: 1.0
High Contrast Da-Mat
A smooth, gray, vinyl finish surface for high output LCD and DLP projectors. This surface improves the perceived contrast by lowering black levels. It is a flexible unsupported vinyl fabric and may be folded or rolled. Available on all models offered with the Da-Mat surface. Screen surface can be cleaned with mild soap and water. Flame retardant and mildew resistant.
Viewing Angle: 40° Gain: 0.8
Cinema Vision
A unique unsupported vinyl surface that offers a bright, uniform image with no color shift no matter at what angle you view the image. Screen surface can be cleaned with mild soap and water. Flame retardant and mildew resistant.
Viewing Angle: 45° Gain: 1.3
High Contrast Cinema Vision
A smooth, gray, vinyl finish surface for moderate output DLP projectors. This surface improves the perceived contrast by lowering black levels while offering moderate gain. It is a flexible unsupported vinyl fabric and may be folded or rolled. Available on all models offered with the Cinema Vision surface. Screen surface can be cleaned with mild soap and water. Flame retardant and mildew resistant.
Viewing Angle: 50° Gain: 1.1
High Contrast Cinema Perf
With the same optical characteristics as High Contrast Cinema Vision, this surface is perforated to allow placement of a center channel speaker behind the screen surface while allowing the sound to transmit through the material. Ideal for use in environments with moderate control of ambient light. Screen surface can be cleaned with a mild soap and water solution. Flame retardant and mildew resistant.
Viewing Angle: 50° Gain: 1.1
Pearlescent
This surface utilizes an unsupported vinyl creating a very smooth Pearlescent coating that provides high reflectivity and brilliance without loss of image quality or resolution. Screen surface can be cleaned with mild soap and water. Flame retardant and mildew resistant.
Viewing Angle: 35° Gain: 1.5
Silver Vision
This screen surface is uniquely designed with a specially formulated silver finish. This surface is perfect for situations where a silver finish is necessary for polarized 3-D projection. The silver finish of this surface successfully rejects ambient light. It is a highly flexible fabric that must be tensioned. Screen surface can be cleaned with mild soap and water. Flame retardant and mildew resistant.
Viewing Angle: 25° Gain: 1.5
Audio Vision
This acoustically transparent front projection screen allows for the center channel speaker to be placed directly behind the screen while still transmitting the full range and brilliance of an original soundtrack with maximum clarity. Screen surface can be cleaned with mild soap and water. Flame retardant and mildew resistant.
Viewing Angle: 50° Gain: 1.0
High Contrast Audio Vision
With the same optical characteristics as the High Contrast Da-Mat material, this surface is designed to provide the viewer with a more realistic soundstage by placing speakers behind the screen and allowing the sound to be transmitted through the material. This screen surface is best used when there is good control of ambient lighting and a moderately wide viewing angle is desired. Screen surface can be cleaned with mild soap and water. Flame retardant and mildew resistant.
Viewing Angle: 45° Gain: 0.8
Rear Projection Screen Surfaces
Da-Tex
Flexible Fabric Screen:
A translucent, neutral gray vinyl surface that offers high transmission and low reflectance values for optimal viewing. It yields excellent color rendition, image contrast and a wide viewing angle. Suitable for all types of rear projection. Ideally suited for both lace and grommet and snap button type screens. Material needs to be tensioned. Screen surface can be cleaned with mild soap and water. Flame retardant and mildew resistant.
Viewing Angle: 30° Gain: 1.8
High Contrast Da-Tex
High Contrast Da-Tex is a unity gain rear projection surface with a specially designed dark gray tint and is formulated to provide lower black levels for today's high output projectors. This surface features optical characteristics similar to rigid rear projection screens. Ideally suited for both lace and grommet and snap button screens used in portable applications. Surface requires tensioning due to its flexible nature.
Viewing Angle: 40° Gain: 1.0
Dual Vision
Flexible Fabric Screen
A unity gain flexible projection fabric capable of both front and rear projection. The surface is ideal for video projection under controlled light conditions. With an exceptionally wide viewing cone, each seat in the audience will observe a uniform, bright, sharp image with no color shift. Surface needs to be tensioned. Screen surface can be cleaned with mild soap and water. Flame retardant and mildew resistant.
Viewing Angle: 50° Gain: 1.0
Please remember when shopping for screens, that all screens are not available in all fabric types.

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