Projector screen size / aspect ratio

[Doug917]

Hello,

I am trying to figure out what screen ratio to pick when I order a fixed screen for my Infocus 4805 as I am getting very close to ordering one. I know I am going to order the Carada Criterion series screen probably in the high-contrast grey as I have total light control in the room. I have been using a 16 x 9 pull-down Da-Lite high-contrast screen. I am wondering if I could use a screen with an aspect ratio of 2.35:1 and be able to bring in the sides with black velvet curtains for smaller aspect ratios. Is this possible? Is there a setting on a projector that will allow the 2.35:1 image to stretch all the way to the sides and provide a smaller aspect ratio image to fill the screen from top to bottom but not all the way out on the sides without having to physically reallign the projector each time? Thanks in advance!

 

[Catdaddy]

Personally, I think you would be better off going 16:9, Doug.

Lots of unneccesary adjusting to do, dropping to 16:9 for HDTV viewing. Plus, there are many movies that are 16:9 on DVD, anyways.

Plus (plus) you would not only have to bring in curtains for the smaller ratios you would also have to adjust your lens, as it would overscan vertically from a higher aspect ratio.

Unless you are able to get something like en electrimask from Stewart, that adjusts the viewable screen size with panels that automatically drop down from the top (and even then you would get a 16:9 aspect to begin with) I would think it becomes too cumbersome to manually have to adjust the aspect ratios with the lens and a curtain.

I know I would not do it, and I thought about it a ton before i bought my screen.

 

[Audioholics]

The only reason I would buy a 2.35:1 screen would be if I had an anamorphic lens for my projector that matched it and intended to play mostly DVD content on the screen (many popular movie titles are in that aspect ratio).

I think you will get more practical use out of 16:9 (~1.85:1) rather than 2.35:1.

 

[Doug917]

The only devices I have hooked up in my HT room are 2 DVD players and a LD/DVD player. I watch only DVDs or laserdiscs. Carada has a 1.85:1 screen available. I may just end up going with that. I do not watch any 4:3 material in this room and rarely watch anything with a 1.78:1 ratio (a few series maybe).

 

[Catdaddy]

The electrimasks from Stewart are very fine products, too.

I seriously considered buying one, but it would have doubled the cost of the screen to me and with my XV-Z12000 (and its nasty blackness ) the borders are really negligibly noticeable even in wider aspect ratios.

The electrimask actually also works to cover the screen to fit wider aspect ratios than 16:9. Black panels slowly drop from the top of the screen to cover the top and bottom of the screen, enough to perfectly fit a wider aspect ratio. There is also a version of the electrimask that covers the sides, for 4:3 viewing, and also a version that covers all four sides for a perfect screen fit for any viewing.

The masking can be done automatically, depending on the aspect ratio of the image being viewed.

The cost of a firehawk screen my size with electrimask is north of $4k, about double the cost of my screen without it.

 

[AVRat]

Isn't 16:9 actually 1.78:1 (by my math anyway)

 

[superman180]

Another question

I am also getting ready to add a projector to my theater and was a little confused with what ratio screen to buy. My system will be 95% DVD viewing and 5% cable. So what should my choice be? I am going to be projecting a 65" diagonal screen and thought I would buy an 80" screen to project onto, will I run into problems with having a screen larger that what I am projecting? Also with a 65" screen and a viewing distance of 12' will I be seated far enough away for an optimal viewing? And I think I read somewhere that the ratio for screen size to viewing distance is 3x the screen is this right?


Thank you in advance!

 

[brian32672]

I am also getting ready to add a projector to my theater and was a little confused with what ratio screen to buy. My system will be 95% DVD viewing and 5% cable. So what should my choice be? I am going to be projecting a 65" diagonal screen and thought I would buy an 80" screen to project onto, will I run into problems with having a screen larger that what I am projecting? Also with a 65" screen and a viewing distance of 12' will I be seated far enough away for an optimal viewing? And I think I read somewhere that the ratio for screen size to viewing distance is 3x the screen is this right?


Thank you in advance!

I beleive the viewing distance is between 2x to 2.5x
12' away from a 65" projection is perfectly fine.
You would be wise to get a screen that will fit the image, specially if the screen has black borders.
The human eye will perceive the image with black borders, as though image was a little brighter. At least IMO, and many others.
I have 2 screens (96" & 120") Both have black borders. And the image seems to be a tad brighter, and IMO a tad better contrast.
I also have a borderless 50" screen for comparison. Problem there is that the projector must be closer to this screen, hence close will be brighter anyways.
However, with the smaller screen (no border), it does seem as though I loose contrast.

If by chance you would be buying a 80" screen and projecting a 65" image. The only reason I could see is that you may want to upgrade in the future or you got a good price for the screen.

For the cost of masking a 65" image would surely not be worth it IMO.

I happen to be a 4:3 buff, but have been considering going to 16:9. Because all the DC3 DLP projectors that I can find are in native 16:9 format.

Note for original poster: The projector will work its best when it needs no up or downscaling. And is used at its native resolution. Most newer projectors (I beleive yours was a Infocus 4805) Use a 16:9 native format, hence that was what the lense is set up and calibrated for. So in spec terms, you would be best by getting a screen made for your projector and mask when needed.

 

[AVRat]

Viewing distance is relative to screen size and resolution. Check out the following site, it should help with most of these issues. For the most versatility you'll want a 16:9 (1.78:1) screen.

http://www.myhometheater.homestead.com/viewingdistancecalculator.html

 

[mtrycrafts]

Hello,

I am trying to figure out what screen ratio to pick when I order a fixed screen for my Infocus 4805 as I am getting very close to ordering one. I know I am going to order the Carada Criterion series screen probably in the high-contrast grey as I have total light control in the room. I have been using a 16 x 9 pull-down Da-Lite high-contrast screen. I am wondering if I could use a screen with an aspect ratio of 2.35:1 and be able to bring in the sides with black velvet curtains for smaller aspect ratios. Is this possible? Is there a setting on a projector that will allow the 2.35:1 image to stretch all the way to the sides and provide a smaller aspect ratio image to fill the screen from top to bottom but not all the way out on the sides without having to physically reallign the projector each time? Thanks in advance!

I would recommend you consider 1:85 screen size. If there are any movies in 16:9, it is very few indeed and you would loose very little on the top and bottom. there are a lot more 1.85. If you go to the full 2.35, you will have a smaller picture if you have it cropped on the sides and with a 1.85 screen your black at the bottom&top is not that much.