LCD projectors and projection screens - 5 factors determining image quality
LCD projectors and projection screens
If you have an LCD projector, the following 5 factors are an influence on the quality of the image you will get on your projection screen. Here's what they do and and how to deal with them to get the most from your projector.
- Ambient light. This is the factor that will influence the projected image most. Reducing the amount of ambient light will have a positive effect on the quality of the projected image.
- The projector's light output. The amount of light coming out of the LCD projector is expressed in the amount of ANSI lumen. The higher the amount of lumen, the brighter your image will be. If your projector is a few years old and you find the image a bit too dull, a screen with a higher gain can help. The gain of a projection screen is the reflection value of the projection screen fabric. The higher the gain, the brighter the image. A good example of an electrical projection screen with a higher gain is the M-series. The 1.5 Gain can help in situations with high ambient light or with projectors that do not put out enough light. Do not choose a projection screen with a gain that is too high, as this will limit the viewing angle. The result of a limited viewing angle is that the people who are not in the center of the screen, see less of the projected image.
- Black borders can really help the perceived brightness of the image as well. These black borders create a frame around the picture and thus the image looks brighter. They are normally available on the whole range of projection screens. In the Beamax range, they are available on the entry models, such as the manual projection screens from the R-series, to the X2 portable projection screens.
- The projector's resolution. A high resolution image means a very sharp and detailed projected image. This requires your projection screen to be perfectly flat. If it is not, you will loose that sharpness as wrinkles and waves in the fabric will distort the image. This would mean you are not getting the most from your projector. Projection screens that are always perfectly flat are fixed frame screens and tensioned projection screens. Even though they are more expensive than a manual projection screen, over the 5 to 10 year life span, the difference isn't that big. For a less than a dollar a day more over a period of 5 years, you can get a tensioned screen in stead of a manual one. The performance difference will be enormous, making your movies more realistic or your business presentations look a lot more professional.
- Contrast ratio. The contrast ratio of your projector tells you how much contrast you can have in your projected image. The contrast is the difference between black and white. The higher the ratio, the better the contrast. Especially for home theatre projectors, a high contrast ratio is important. In dark movie scenes, a lot more detail will be visible if the contrast ratio is high. For business presentations the contrast is important too, especially when a lot of data is presented. If you find that your projector lacks contrast, you can opt for a high contrast fabric. This grey fabric gives your eyes darker colours and black levels. This helps when you are projecting in a room with a lot of light. This fabric is not suitable for projectors with limited light output, as it would make the image too dull and no longer bright enough. High contrast fabric is not available from all manufacturers and not in all types of projection screens. In the Beamax range it can be used in the M-range of electrical screens and the A-range of fixed frame screens.
If you are buying a screen, this information will help you to find the right reseller on-line.
To get more information, you can also call us or mail to info @ beamax.com
