SCREEN IDOLS

Chris Dawson, Screen Innovations product manager at Invision, smart home distributor, explains why projector screens enable projection to be a great choice for home entertainment.

It was estimated that the average Brit watched more than 22.5 hours of television per week in 2021. With an increased desire for excellent entertainment without the need to leave home, choosing the right technology for the environment is paramount.

Due to advances in technology, customer awareness and varying market conditions, the custom installation market is constantly evolving. As an industry, we rely on manufacturers to respond to these changes and provide innovative solutions to meet the demands of customers.

To accommodate this consumer demand, the availability of ever-increasing sizes of flat screen TVs carries on apace. Despite this, two-part projection continues to thrive due, (in no small part), to the developments in projector screen technology.

Regardless of projector price and quality, the final image viewed is determined by the screen and the viewing environment. Therefore, the choice of screen material and the screen design are critical to meet customer expectations.

In dedicated home cinema installations, screen materials must meet the requirements of the latest Ultra HD 4K and 8K projectors by providing high resolution images as well as being acoustically transparent, to allow for the perfect placement of speakers for today’s immersive audio formats.

Two-part projection was once the preserve of dedicated, blacked out cinema rooms but the demand for extra large screens now encompasses a multitude of locations within the home. Projector screen development has risen to the challenge with projection systems now being a viable option in almost any area.

Control of ambient light within the viewing area has always been a prerequisite for projection installations to avoid destroying black levels and hence picture quality. The development of Ambient Light Rejection (ALR) materials has enabled a dramatic improvement in contrast and black levels to be achieved giving a great quality picture previously not achievable with room lights on or in daytime viewing. This opens up opportunities for installation in lounges, kitchen areas, media rooms etc. that were previously not possible.

As the screen materials expand the areas within a home that screens can be used, the case design and aesthetics have to be addressed to match these new environments. Fixed frame models are now available with slim edge frames which are more elegant, similar in looks to a large TV, and some offer the option of LED lighting surrounds to enhance the design aesthetic.

Traditional on-wall and in-ceiling cases have been joined by drop models with slimmer, more elegant cases and the option of colour finishes to match the décor have been introduced. Even models with battery operated motors are available that address the need for transportable units that can be fitted in outdoor areas for use then packed away.

One spectacular solution is a ‘levitating’ screen. Rather than a large area of black material above the image area, the screen is lowered on barely visible fine wires, up to 4.8 metres (16 feet), giving the illusion of hanging in space. The extra-long drop makes them suitable for very high ceilings in both residential and commercial applications. With no material above the screen area - these screens look amazing in front of windows, artwork and indramatic architectural spaces.

This combined development of screen materials and aesthetic designs changes the priority of layout and positioning from being determined by the screen itself to being able to install the screen where it best suits the design of the room.