HD projection screens

High Definition projectors are able to project an image which has a higher resolution and as such result in a projected image that is a lot sharper than “standard” images. High Definition is important for projection. It allows you to set up a home theater with perfect image quality and a cinematic size projection screen. We’re not talking 42″ or 50″ flat screens. No, it’s about 92″, 100″ and 120″. And larger. And the larger the screen becomes, the more important high definition becomes.

“There is no such thing as a full-hd or a hd-ready projection screen.”

HD projection screens are projection screens which are the perfect companion for High Definition projectors. There is no such thing as a full-hd or a hd-ready (read here about the difference between both) projection screen. A projection screen can only reflect the image from the projector. This means that when your projector is Full-HD (as well as the rest of your equipment), you can get a full-hd image on your projection screen. This would essentially give you a full-hd projection screen. So, anyone claiming to sell Full-HD or HD-ready (learn here what the difference is)  projection screens would not exactly be telling you the whole story.

And don’t let the term HDTV confuse you either, because an HDTV projection screen is not necessarily related to HD. As you can read here.

This doesn’t mean that you can use just any projection screen if you want to benefit fully from the quality of high definition…

The 3 requirements for projection screens with HD projection

Even though there is no such thing as a Full-HD or HD-ready projection screen, there are requirements for a projection screen used in an HD home cinema. The main task of a projection screen is to bring out the most from your projector. To fulfill its job, there are some requirements to be fulfilled. When you want the best performance, these are the 3 minimum requirements for your projection screen:

1. Perfect Planarity

The most important requirement for a projection screen and HD projection. If a projection screen is not perfectly flat, the image is distorted and the movie you’re watching does not look like it should. You are most likely to see this distortion when the camera pans from right to left or vice versa. But, with some poorly made projection screens, the distortion will be apparent 100% of the time.

2. Black Borders

These surround the projected image and increase the perceived brightness of the projected image. Compared to a completely white projection screen, an image framed by black borders stands out and looks a lot brighter. The ultimate black border is made of black velvet, which not only frames the image, but absorbs any ambient light or overscan. Black velvet can be found on the A-Velvet frame screens.

3. Smooth Surface

The projection screen surface can not be coarse. The high resolution can create a moiré effect when a coarse surface is used. And, even if it does not create a moiré effect, a coarse surface takes away the sharpness and crispness of HD projection. A smooth projection screen surface avoids the moiré effect completely. It makes the most of the projected image.

Conclusion