Projection Screens: Tips, Care & Maintenance and FAQs

Using Front Projection Screens

• Front projection screens have a highly reflective surface, which ensures that the most amount of light is reflected back at the audience, resulting in a brighter image. Its reflective surface can cause issues with ambient light, such as daylight, house lights, and any additional stage lighting. As this too will be reflected, care should be taken to minimise ambient light around the screen, in order to prevent the desired image being washed out.
• In front projection, the source is usually hidden from the audience. However, care should be taken to ensure clear line of sight from projector to screen, to avoid shadows being cast on the screen.
• Positioning the projection source at extreme angles in order to hide it from the audience can distort the projected image, which may require correction through keystoning if there is no more suitable position.
• At long distances, the projector would need to be suitably powerful to compensate for loss of light over distance.
• Typically, when not in use, lighter coloured screens are more likely draw the audience’s eye than darker coloured screens. This isn’t an issue in cinema setups, where the screen is the sole focus and always in use. However, in theatre, where the projection screen may be built into the scenery and used for a single element, then left unused on stage, a light coloured screen can distract from other action.
• Also, used on stage, care should be taken to back or sidelight actors and scenery to reduce shadows cast on the screen.




• Due to the previous two items, a rear projection screen is more often used for theatrical applications. However, rear projection screens have narrower viewing angles, so it helps to be conscious of screen placement and size of audience.

Using Rear Projection Screens

• Rear projection requires the image to project through the screen from behind. Therefore, the projector used would need to be stronger than that of a front projection for a comparably bright result.
• As the projection source is hidden behind the screen, this allows more freedom of placement, out of view of the audience. It also allows the projector to be placed perpendicular to the screen, reducing any image distortion. In front projection, the audience is viewing reflected light; in rear projection, the audience are seeing the light, direct from source, and diffused through the screen material. This can sometimes create a “hot spot” where the viewer may be able to see a bright spot at the centre of the projected image where the source would be.
• Rear Projection Screens, however, are designed to help reduce the effect of “hot spotting”. As a result, this means that the effective viewing angle is narrowed to between 60 and 110 degrees, depending on darkness of the material. The darker the colour, the narrower the viewing angle.
• In theatre, care should be taken to ensure that actors and crew do not interrupt the line of sight between projector and projection screen to prevent casting shadows, which would be visible at the front of the screen on the audience side.

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Using Projection Screens Outdoors

• Exposure to UV rays will degrade any vinyl product over time, however they should be expected to be usable for several years depending on environmental conditions and length of exposure.
• Extreme cold can cause the vinyl to freeze. If this occurs then allow the screen to come to room temperature before handling to help avoid cracking.
• When using Projection Screens outdoors considerations must be made in relation to wind speed. In particular when exposed to high wind speeds provisions should be made for perforations, scalloping, strong support structures or break away tie downs.
• Water will not affect Projection Screens as long as any residues or cleaning materials are removed completely and promptly.

Minimising Bounce Light

• Rear Screen Projection is less affected by ambient light than Front Projection, so it is highly recommended to use Rear Projection where bounce light may be an issue.
• Deaden the reflective quality of the floor by using a paint such as Mylands Black Stage Paint, Rosco Tough Prime Black, or Rosco Supersaturated Black mixed with Rosco Clear Flat as a sealer.
• Move the screen to two feet or more above the stage floor so that bounce light is reflected and lost below the screen.
• Make sure light in the vicinity of the screen is angled away or controlled with high-hats or barndoors to reduce light being thrown directly on the screen.
• Have actors maintain a ‘neutral-zone’ with at least a four foot distance between them and the screen so that lighting with backlight and sidelight is easier.
• Maximise the brightness of the image by using high contrast imagery and keeping the projector as close to the screen as possible.

Paint For Pros Beamer Projection Paint

A video projection paint, with great reflective qualities. For projecting onto walls and curved surfaces, where you can’t easily install a taut projection screen. Turn any smooth surface into a projection screen.