Electric Screens

Electric screens are those which descend and ascend back in to the casing electronically. Often they are operated by remote control. Electric cases may be externally mounted to the ceiling, or recessed into the ceiling (additional construction may be required). They may also be mounted to the wall, both wall and ceiling or ascend up from the floor. Many electric screens are tensioned, which means that the screen is pulled taut from the sides to create the smoothest possible image surface. Projector Screen Store.com allows you to narrow your search among electric screens to those which feature the tensioned option, as well as those with a remote control.

I recommend: The Da-Lite Cosmopolitan Electrol is a great all-around electric projector screen.

Manual Screens

Manual screens tend to be less expensive than their electric counterparts. Just like electric screens, they are available in ceiling, wall, both ceiling and wall, or floor-mounted models. They are operated by hand, and therefore are subject to more wear and tear. To avoid some of the problems that come about handling manual screens, certain mechanisms are put in place to make the screens tougher. For example, Controlled Screen Return (CSR) helps regulate the speed at which the screen rolls back into the casing.

I recommend: Find an extra-durable manual screen, as the constant pulling up/down of the fabric takes it's toll on any screen. Screens from Da-Lite, Draper & Buhl all come in heavy-duty models.

Fixed-Frame Screens

Fixed Screens are permanently set up, with no raising or lowering required. If you are planning on using your screen regularly, and have a space set aside for it, this may be the best option. Many fixed screens are permanently tensioned, much like a canvas stretched over a frame.

I recommend: Fixed-Frame screens are excellent for the home theater enthusiast. The Da-Lite Acoustical Imager has it's own built-in 5.1 Surround Sound.

Front vs. Rear Projection

Front projection screens are placed facing the projector. This is a more commonly used set-up, but allows for obstacles between the projector and the screen to block or obscure the image. Rear projection screens are specially designed to allow the image to be projected from behind the screen. Rear projector screens come in many different varieties and fabric types, each for different applications.

I recommend: Rear Projection Screens require more technical knowledge (choosing, installation etc) as well as more space; the projector must be behind the screen and not positioned above the viewing audience.
For something really unique, check out Da-Lite's Holo Screen.

Wall Mounted Screens

Wall Mounted screens affix easily to your wall using a bracket system. They may be manual, electric, or fixed. Many may be placed flush to the wall, or extend out a bit to allow for some space behind the screen.

I recommend: Use the advanced filtering options to find the perfect wall screen for any application, whether it is electric, manual or fixed-frame.

Ceiling Mounted Screens

Ceiling Mounted screens affix easily to your ceiling using a bracket system. They are available in models which hang from the ceiling or are recessed. Recessed screens are available in manual or electric, but there are many fixed ceiling screens as well. Many screens may be affixed to either your both the ceiling and wall, depending on your needs. They may be manual, electric, or fixed.

I recommend: A screen which can be mounted both on the wall as well as the ceiling offer you the most flexibility, should your viewing room and/or conditions change. Using the advanced filtering options on the Wall/Ceiling Projector Screen page makes it easy to find one that fits teh bill.

Portable Screens (Floor Mounted)

Portable, or floor screens are the best option for maximum mobility. Projector Screen Store.com offers many options for screens to take with you on the go. Below are descriptions of the broad categories of floor or portable screens available on the market today.

I recommend: *Floor mounted manual screens are stored in the base, and extend upwards using a number of different possible manual mechanisms.     *Folding or Frame screens are supported on both sides by vertical legs.  They are often light-weight and very easy to set up.     *Inflatable Screens are an innovative new design perfect for outdoor use.  Easy to store and assemble.     *Tripod screens are supported by a tripod base, and are easy to move and store.     *Ultra Portable Screens are smaller formats, and ideal for table-top presentations.

Screen Format

Screen format refers to the aspect ratio, or the proportion of width to height of a particular screen. There are several types of standard formats; the best format depends on how you use the screen.

I recommend: HDTV: These screens have a width to height ratio of 16:9.  This matches the specifications for widescreen viewing, and is therefore best for home theater set-ups with HDTV capabilities.

Square:  These screens have a width to height ratio of 1:1.  These screens are ideal for presentations and use with overhead projectors.  Square screens may be partially descended, thereby changing the aspect ratio. For example, if you pull a ceiling mounted square screen only half-way down, the width dimension remains the same, but the height is half.  This could be useful for more widescreen applications.

Video:  These screens have a width to height ratio of 4:3.  This format is the standard format for television screens and computer monitors.  This format is good for home theater set-ups when you are watching programs in either widescreen or regular formats.

Fabric Types

Choosing the right screen fabric type is very important in maximizing the quality of the image you are projecting. The two most important qualities of a specific fabric are its gain and viewing angle. Gain is a measurement of how reflective a screen is. The higher the gain, the brighter the image. However, as gain goes up, viewing angle goes down. Viewing angle refers to the maximum angle from center up to which the image appears clearly. There are many different fabric types, each of which have unique qualities.

I recommend: The Projector Screen Buyer's Guide  goes into great detail about the many different fabric types that each manufacturer offers.