4 Things to look for when buying a Motorized Projector Screen

What to look for when buying a Motorized Projector Screen

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Simply buying a projector system means you are halfway done with your job. 

To get the most out of the projector’s features, you must also find a place in your room for a motorized projector screen. The screen and the projector go together like peanut butter and jelly, and anyone who is only using a white wall is missing out big time!

The screen can be a great addition to your work conference room or home cinema. 

With so many options on the market, the search for the best projector screen that fits your needs and ambient can become an overwhelming task. 

If this is your first time shopping for a screen projector or you are looking for ways to upgrade your old one, the buying guide in my article can help you make a much better decision. So, without further ado, let’s get to it! 

So, what do you look for when buying a motorized screen projector?

A motorized projector screen is not a one type fits all situation, and you have to make a purchase based on your needs and preferences. 

If you know what you are looking for, selecting the perfect screen projector will be a piece of cake once you read my article.

There are plenty of options to choose from, and understanding how to navigate them can be challenging. That’s why I’m here to help.

To purchase the best-motorized projector screen, you need to focus on four things:

  1. Screen type
  2. Screen fabric
  3. Screen size
  4. Screen accessories
Buying a Motorized Projector Screen
Source: JumpStory

Motorized Projector Screen Buying Guide

Using a combination of projector and screen instead of a white surface can enhance every viewing experience; you can become the cool teacher who plays YouTube, make a better point with your presentation at work, or eat snacks while watching Quentin Tarantino movies while bullets fly all around you

If you enter a store, you will quickly notice many offers and more than a hundred projector screens, all offering different image quality, sizes, and accessories, each made of another material.

Let me clarify some things and explain what you should pay the most attention to. 

1: The screen type of the projector

The first step in selecting the most eligible screen projector is choosing the perfect type. Three types of projectors differ in screen retraction and mounting style. Before selecting a type, you must consider everything. 

Do you need a projector that will stay put, or do you need a portable version? 

Wall fixed, or ceiling mountable?

You can simply think of the screen’s functionality to narrow your decision. 

Find each type of motorized screen projector explained below so you can make a more informed decision. 

Electric screen projectors 

Working with one single push of a button, the electric screen projectors are the greatest technological invention so far, well, next to my Nespresso machine… 

They can be mounted on the wall, ceiling, floor; you name it.

You can operate these projectors via remote, and the screen will show up once you press the button. The electric screens can be mounted or recessed to the ceiling, which is another huge benefit. 

The electric projector screens tend to be larger and are perfect for classrooms, home theaters, conference rooms, and auditoriums.

Manual screen projectors 

Coming in a smaller size than electric projectors, manual screen projectors work like a window shade. 

They are affordable and relatively easy to set up. Instead of remote control, these screen projectors can be retracted or extended by hand. 

Once you pull down the screen, it can be locked at a certain height. To withdraw the canvas, all you have to do is retract it. 

The best manual projector screens come with a CSR-controlled screen return feature. 

This characteristic prevents the screen from retracting too quickly to avoid any damage. 

Portable screen projectors 

If you need a screen projector that you can constantly move, portable screen projectors are your best choice. 

They come in various styles and sizes, so you can pick one that fits your needs.

The Tripods and the Floor Rising projectors are the most popular portable screen projectors. 

The portable choices are great for traveling, businesses, or schools. 

They also require almost zero assemblies and are very light. 

2: The material of the projector 

Once you decide on the perfect type of screen projector, the next step is figuring out which fabric will benefit you the most. 

The material that the canvas is made from plays a huge role in the effectiveness, resolution, lighting, acoustic conditions, and viewing angle of the viewers. 

Projector screens can be made from many different fabrics like textiles, fiberglass, paint variants, and more. 

The best material that will always offer value for money is white blackout cloth. It is coated in many foam layers and utilizes a PVC or cotton blend. 

The fabric is great for darker rooms because it successfully absorbs light. 

To fully understand how the screen’s fabric affects the viewing experience, you need to focus on the screen’s brightness or gain and the viewing angle. 

As the gain increases, the viewing angle is simultaneously decreasing. 

Understanding these two features will allow you to choose a material that complements the viewing experience and blends in with the environment. 

Projector Screen at home
Source: JumpStory

Gain 

When a screen material has no gain, the picture will stay the same no matter which angle is viewed. If several people across the room are watching the movie, they all see the same brightness level. 

When the material of the screen offers high gain, the middle of the audience will see a much lighter and clearer picture, contrary to the people on the sides, who will experience a dimmer view.

Viewing angle 

This feature is a measurement that describes the maximum angle from the center of the screen, which offers the highest quality of the image. 

Side note, short throw projectors are a great choice if the distance between your screen and projector is really short.

The screen projectors that reflect most of the light in the middle send a darker appearance to the sides, which doesn’t allow optimal screen viewing. 

If you don’t want to experience this, stay away from high-gain fabrics.

3: The size of the projector 

The aspect ratio of the screen projector can be calculated with many confusing formulas that focus on the seating distance. 

You’ll likely still purchase the most popular sizes on the market, which are 100 and 150-inch diagonal ranges.

The most important thing you should consider regarding screen size is your taste and available space. 

Everyone is eager to get a larger screen for the best experience, but your chosen projector also affects the viewing because every model has a fixed amount of light. 

If you try to spread a small image on a big surface, the result will have less brightness. 

The 1:1 screen format works perfectly with overhead projectors, the 16:10 format is great for presentations and work meetings, and the 16:9 is perfect for movies and gaming. 

4: The accessories of the screen 

Once you have figured out everything I mentioned, the accessories to the projector screen are like the cherry on top of the ice cream. 

You can choose a mounting bracket, projector mount, extra cable, remote control, VR set, etc. 

Installing VR goggles reminds me of that Modern Family episode when Phil Dunphy got lost in the oceanic virtual world to relax. 

If you use the information in my article and purchase the best-motorized projector screen, that could totally be you.

A passion for writing and ongoing research projects gives Catherine an incredibly broad knowledge of all things. She has authored an incredible number of articles and can be found in the wilderness when not attached to technology or listening to podcasts.


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