Da-Lite Home Theater Projection Screens

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Selecting the Right Screen

If choosing a screen for a multi-purpose room, select an electrically operated screen and use in combination with a projector lift. This combination allows for complete concealment of the products when not in use. Dedicated rooms are designed for specific installations that recreate a theater in a home. These rooms often require fixed screen systems that are built directly into the cabinetry or acoustic room treatments.

The best performance is achieved by determining the correct size. Ideally, the screen size should occupy a minimum of a 30° field of view for the audience. The rule of thumb is to use a screen width that is approximately one half the distance from the screen to the audience seating. Screen placement should be determined according to the sightlines of the installation. This will allow all members of the audience to see the screen.

Select the appropriate format for the application. Common formats and their formulas are as follows:

Many factors must be considered when choosing which screen surface best meets the needs of a custom installation. Seating configuration, projector model and type as well as ambient light are all factors that must be considered. This is why Da-Lite offers a diverse selection of screen surfaces to meet the needs of different environments.

Da-Mat
A smooth, white, vinyl surface that provides an exceptionally wide angle of view with no loss of resolution. It evenly distributes light over a wide viewing area while colors remain bright and life-like, with no shifts in hue. This material is designed to be used with projection where ambient light is controllable.
Gain: 1.0 Viewing angle: 50°

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.
Gain: 0.8 Viewing Angle: 40°

Cinema Vision
Featuring a unique optical coating, this specially designed viewing surface provides the ultimate in movie realism in controlled ambient light conditions. Offers a wide field of view so each audience member will observe a uniform, bright, sharp image with no color shift. This surface is endorsed by the Imaging Science Foundation.
Gain: 1.3 Viewing Angle: 45°

High Contrast Cinema Vision
A smooth, gray, vinyl finish surface for moderate output LCD and DLP projectors. This surface improves the perceived contrast by lowering black levels and offers a moderate amount of gain. It is a flexible unsupported vinyl fabric and may be folded or rolled. Available on all models offered with the Cinema Vision surface.
Gain: 1.1 Viewing Angle: 45°

Pearlescent
This surface was specially designed for applications where a balance of higher gain and greater viewing angle is required. This special coating provides high reflectivity and brilliance without loss of image quality or resolution.
Gain: 2.0 Viewing Angle: 35°

Audio Vision
This acoustically transparent front projection screen allows for the sound to picture match, while still transmitting the full range and brilliance of an original soundtrack with maximum clarity.
Gain: 1.0 Viewing angle: 50°

Black masking borders are standard on all Da-Lite front projection screens at no extra charge. Borders enhance the perceived brightness of an image on a screen. The human eye perceives the image to have more contrast and a sharper picture with brighter colors. Borders also allow the projected image to "bleed-off" the screen for professional appearing presentations.

Drop is also available on most Da-Lite wall and ceiling electric screens. Drop is extra fabric added to the top or bottom of the screen to adjust the screen surface to within normal viewing heights. Drop can be specified in either black or white.