Our measurements are based on the actual viewing area of projector screens. Please note that measurements can vary within manufacturing tolerances. Never install projectors at their minimum or maximum throw distance to the projector screens, always make sure that you can zoom in and out (undershoot and overshoot) on the viewing area of the projector screens.
Manual Pull Down Projector Screens
Manual projector screens are inexpensive and very easy to use. They operate just like a window blind, a manual projector screen is used by simply pulling the projector screen down by the handle that is attached to the bottom of the bottom of the screen.
Manual projector screens are now made with two mechanisms, normal quick retract and the NEW slow retract. Although the slow retract projection screens are a little bit more expensive, they tend to be more reliable and last longer. Its also quite come for projection screen manufacturers to use different types of brackets on the projector screen. The two types of projector screen bracket used in the UK are, fixed brackets and channel fixed projection screen brackets. Channel fixed brackets on a projector screen make installations easier because you can slide the projector screen left or right to locate the centre of a projectors lens, rather than move the projector. Sapphire and Beamax both use fixed and channel fixings on some of their range of projection screens. Fixed projector screen bracket are just that, fixed at either end of the projection screen casing.
Electric Projector Screens
Just like manual projection screens ,there are a number of ways that electric projector screens can be mounted, wall mounted, ceiling mounted or if you want to hide the screen then, ceiling recessed. Recessed electric projector screens tend to be used in home cinema systems and also boardrooms. The quality of electric motors used in electric projector screens do vary in terms of performance and most good quality electric projection screens use motors made by a French company called SOMFY. You should also find than any good electric projector screens manufacturer that uses SOMFY offers a 5 year guarantee on the motor. Most electric projector screens come with an IR remote control or Radio remote control, the radio remote controls are used when there is no line of sight to the projection screens. In addition some electric projection screens come with a wall mounted switch and also a 12 volt screen trigger relay built into the side of the projection screen casing. This 12 volt trigger links back to a projector, so when the projector is turned on, the electric projector screen drops down. You will require a projector that has a 12 volt output trigger on the back to make use of this feature.
Portable Floor Projector Screens
A portable projector screen can be used when it is impossible or impractical to mount the screen to a wall or a ceiling. Again, like most projector screens the quality of manufacture will vary. The lower cost pull up floor projector screens use a central pole that you extend upwards and then hook the projector screen to. The disadvantage of this type of projector screen is that the projector screen surface will not always be tight across the whole projection area and you will get some movement of the projector screen at the top. More expensive and better built types of portable projector screens use gas filled suspension struts, located at the bottom of the casing. These gas filled struts support the projection mechanism in place and the mechanism attaches to the top of the projection screen. Portable pull up floor projector screens that use the gas filled struts are very easy to use, no poles needed, just open the projector screen case and lift upwards. Our portable projector screens are very popular with Camera Clubs around the UK. A new generation of floor projector screens that use an electric motor to raise the screen from the case are becoming more popular.
Fixed Frame Projection Screens
Fixed frame projection screens are mainly used in dedicated home cinema systems, where wall space is not an issue and you are trying to achieve to true cinema experience. Like a picture frame, fixed frame projection screens have an outer black surround of around 60-80 mm. This outer surround on lower cost fixed frame projection screens is made from aluminium and coated with a black spray paint. On more expensive fixed frame projection screen the outer frame will be covered in black velvet, this black velvet does a better job of absorbing any unwanted light or overshoot. You also need to look at how the projection screen material is attached to the frame. There are a number of ways but the two most popular are Velcro or steel tensioning rods, fixed frame projection screens using steel rods are better. If you are stuck to a tight budget then the fixed frame projection screens using Velco will be ok.
Rear Projection Screens
Rear projection screens provide a clean and impressive alternative to front projection screens and are used in full custom installation in home cinema's and control rooms . Placing the projector behind the screen requires good deal of darkened space behind the viewing surface and usually a mirror system that will reflect the image over a far enough distance to correct the image size. There is usually enough space behind the projection screen to accommodate all the addition audio visual equipment in racks.
The other use of rear projection screens is in a staging or show environment, where the area in front of the screen needs to be used and projector screen shadow have to be eliminated. Rear projection eliminate all shadows as the projector is at the back of the screen.
Tab Tensioned Projector Screens
To achieve a flat projection area, Tab tensioned projector screens use nylon strings running down the sides of the projector screen. These strings are periodically attached to the screen by small "tabs", hence the name Tab Tensioned Screens. The nylon strings pull outwards, left to right, whist the bottom bar pull downwards creating a true flat projection surface. | 
