Do ultra short throw projectors need a special screen?

 

 

If you primarily watch in dimly lit settings, a screen might not be necessary. However, for brighter environments, an ALR screen for ust is recommended.

Technically speaking, ultra short throw projectors can work with nearly any standard screen. Even a plain white wall will do.

But, and this is crucial:

When you're in a bright environment, especially during daytime, the difference in viewing experience is stark.

Ultimately, it's about your environment and your budget.

 

Comparing Ultra Short Throw Projector Display on an ALR Screen and a White Wall

 

If you plan to watch only in dimly lit conditions:

If you're in an absolutely dark environment with no ambient light, you might not need a screen. Because, in the absence of any ambient light, the color effect on a white wall is the best.

Regardless of the screen type, each has its own inherent color tint. So, color-wise, the untouched hue of a white wall ensures the projected image is at its prime.



Why skip the white screen?

In complete darkness, telling the difference between a white screen and a white wall? It's a challenge—they look almost identical. Perhaps, with a white plastic screen against a white latex-painted wall, you might notice a slight distinction in uniformity, especially when viewing high-resolution 4K content or detailed close-ups.

However, ultra-short throw projectors require a highly flat projection surface.

 

Here, I'm using the AWOL Vision LTV-3500, and you can see that the picture quality is acceptable. However, you may notice that the lines at the edges of the picture are not perfectly straight. This is not a problem with my projector but rather due to the flatness of the white wall.

A long-throw projector directly projected onto a wall may not exhibit this effect, but an ultra-short throw projector will.

Similarly, when I projected the ultra-short throw projector onto a regular projector screen, the image was distorted.

 

Therefore, if you intend to use a screen with your ultra-short throw projector, ensure that the screen is specifically designed for ultra-short throw projection before purchasing.

If you project your ultra-short throw projector onto a white wall without experiencing the issues mentioned above, congratulations!

You don't not need to buy a screen.

 

If your room is affected by ambient light and you're on a tight budget:

If your budget is under $300, you might consider a white screen.
The price difference between white and grey screens on the market is minimal. Under the influence of ambient light, the visual difference between a white and a grey screen is not significant.

Neither can effectively suppress ambient light. In fact, a white screen might even offer better color reproduction than a grey one.

However, under bright light, both white and grey screens tend to provide subpar visual effects, resulting in a washed-out image that impacts contrast.

If this concerns you, it's recommended to use an ALR screen.

 

We have an ALR screen specifically designed for ultra short throw projectors, and a 100-inch screen costs around 400 US dollars.

Check our Nothingprojector Classic ALR Screen:

 

 

Check This Screen 

 

If your budget exceeds 500 dollars and you prioritize viewing experience, you might want to consider an ALR screen.

Due to its unique construction, ALR (Ambient Light Rejecting) screens are specifically designed to suppress ambient light, effectively absorbing it. The resulting projected image boasts even color and brightness. Even in spaces with complex lighting such as homes and conference rooms, an ALR screen stands out from typical screens, achieving high contrast and color saturation reproduction.

It notably enhances the image's black levels and depth, making colors appear deeper and more vibrant.

  

However, not all ALR screens perform consistently. We have a highly popular ALR screen in the market called the "black series." The material of this screen is of superior quality, arguably one of the best in the industry. Its performance surpasses that of the “ Classic” .

 

Check This Screen

 

You can also view the performance comparison of these two screens in both lit and dark environments

 

 

FAQ:

What kind of screen for ultra short throw projector?

Ultra short throw projectors can be paired with regular screens, or ALR screens (black grid screens or Fresnel screens). However, due to the inability of regular screens to resist ambient light, their performance cannot be compared to that of ALR screens.