Resources

THE FAQ SECTION ABOUT OUR MATERIALS STARTS HERE

The projection screen material best for you depends on your projector, physical space, projection method, lighting environment, and other factors. Always choose the material that will be best for the majority of your viewing. For example, don’t base your buying decision solely on price or solely on the gain.

Generally speaking select a white material for a dark viewing environment like a movie theater.  If there is any light in the viewing environment that will be competing with the projector; use a light gray material for low light or a dark gray material for moderate light.

With that said, here are some popular uses for each material.

• FlexiWhite, FlexiGray are the top-selling options for a wooden fixed frame, or portable kit where the screen is pulled tight and evenly in all four directions
• ALR is the top selling option for a wooden fixed frame where the screen is pulled tight and evenly in all four directions, but is not portable
• Ultra-White, Ultra-Gray and Ultra-ALR are the best options for designing your own roll down mechanism or stapling directly onto drywall (Max height: UW 98″, UG 86″ and UALR 90″)
• ProWhite or ProGray are best when designing your own roll down mechanism or stapling directly onto drywall and you need a screen taller than Ultra (max height of 126-inches)
• Rear Projection in White or Gray are the only options for placing the projector behind the screen.  It must have the words Rear Projection in the product title
• Blackout Cloth is the best for an entry-level screen when the screen is pulled tight and evenly in all four directions
• Nano Acoustic Flexi is the best option for placing your speakers behind the screen where the screen is pulled tight and evenly in all four directions
• SheerWeave is best when designing your own roll down mechanism or stapling directly onto drywall and you have placed speakers behind the screen
• SilverScreen: for passive 3D and a wooden frame, or portable kit where the screen is pulled tight and evenly in all four directions (2 projectors)
• ProSilver: for passive 3D and a roll down mechanism or stapling directly onto drywall (2 projectors)

• FlexiWhite, FlexiGray, Ultra-White, Ultra-Gray, Ultra-ALR, ProWhite, ProGray, Nano Acoustic FlexiWhite, Nano Acoustic FlexiGray, Micro Acoustic FlexiWhite, ProSilver, Ultra-Short Throw: The gray or white side faces the audience. The back is black.
• Ambient Light Rejecting (ALR): The matte finish side faces the audience. The side with the sheen is the back.  Quick Look
• White Rear Projection: The matte finish side faces the audience. Project onto the shiny side.  Quick Look
  • If you use White Rear Projection Film for front-projection, the matte finish should remain facing the audience.
• Gray Rear Projection: The matte finish side faces the audience. Project onto the shiny side.  Quick Look
• Blackout Cloth: The side with a smoother rubber coating faces the audience.  Quick Look
• SheerWeave: You can use either side. There is no discernible difference.
• SilverScreen: The grainy side faces the audience.  Quick Look

View Our Comparison Charts:  White Screens or Gray Screens

Generally speaking, we recommend using white projector screen materials for dark environments and gray projector screen materials for environments with ambient light. The darker you can get your viewing environment the better the results.  It is unlikely you will need gray if you have a dark viewing environment. Gray provides additional contrast when you have ambient light competing with your projector.

Ambient light is any light that exists in your viewing environment. It may be indoor light fixtures or street lights, etc. If you have a dark room where the lights can be turned off we call this controlled light versus dealing with a street lamp, for example, which you may not have control over. An example of a dark viewing environment is a movie theater, an example of low light might be a small light coming from the next room, moderate ambient light would be a light on in the same room as your screen and high ambient light might be from a window or door.

Unfortunately, none of our materials are meant for full sunlight.

Dusk/Sunset: If your only ambient light concern is 20 minutes of viewing time at dusk, go with white. If you will experience ambient light throughout the entire movie, even after the sun goes down, go with gray.

All of our projector screen materials are compatible with HD projection, though your projector, of course, will need to be capable of projecting a native HD resolution. That said, materials with little to no texture can provide the sharpest possible picture for your high-definition and 4K projected images.

It depends on the type of 3D system. There are two types of 3D; Active 3D (most common) and Passive 3D (2 projectors).

Ambient Light Rejecting (ALR) and Ultra-ALR are specialized products for everyday usage, HD & 4K Ultra HD in a dark to a moderately lit environment. It also works for both active 3D and with two passive 3D projectors when ambient light is controlled.

FlexiWhite and UltraWhite work great for everyday usage, HD, 4K Ultra HD and/or Active 3D in a dark viewing environment (Active 3D Glasses).

SilverScreen and ProSilver are specialized products for Passive 3D movie viewing and is the best solution for Passive 3D (Passive 3D Glasses). It is highly reflective and not necessarily meant for everyday usage – although we have had some people use it that way – it is not our recommendation. Every day, Non-passive 3D SilverScreen users may experience hotspots when paired with a bright projector. Passive 3D requires two passive 3D projectors.

Our other materials are not usually recommended for 3D usage – it may be possible in some cases, but you will get more pop from the materials mentioned above.

Our Ambient Light Rejecting (ALR) and Ultra-ALR Materials are not recommended for ultra/short-throw projectors or edge-blending because the high gain of the product may result in hot spots in these scenarios.

The best projection screen material right for you depends on your projector, physical space, projection method, lighting environment, frame, and other factors. Instead of asking which material is the best, ask yourself which material is best for my specific needs. For example, don’t base your buying decision solely on price or solely on the gain.  Buying a more expensive material that is not compatible with your projector, frame or lighting environment will not produce the desired results.

No, sorry it cannot. Front-projection screen materials are opaque. The image will not show through the screen.

Compare White Rear Projection to Gray Rear Projection

Yes! Carl’s White Rear Projection Film works great for both rear and front, dual-sided projection! It also offers a wider viewing angle and fewer chances for any hotspots due to its semi-transparency. White Rear Projection Film works best in a dark viewing environment.

In short, Gray Rear Projection Film can but it is not its specialty. Our Gray Rear Projection Film is translucent and may work for front-projection; however, compared to an opaque front-projection screen, it will not be nearly as bright. Used in a rear-projection set-up environment, though, it will rival any front-projection set-up. If you do use Gray Rear Projection Film for both front and rear projection; use a smaller seating viewing angle and make sure there is no light behind the screen as it will show through. Gray Rear Projection Film works best in low ambient light situations.

Yes! Carl’s Gray Rear Projection Film and White Rear Projection Film are perfect for most AtmosFX Virtual Halloween or Virtual Santa Window Projections. Safely run your projector from inside your home and project through your window or door, using our translucent gray or semi-translucent white projection screen. They work great with Standard and HD Projection Videos.

• For photographic DVDs, our Rear Projection Material is best when stretched tight
• For shadow/silhouette DVDs, hang the screen loosely over your window or door like a window curtain

Unlike static window clings, a Carl’s Rear Projection Screen can be used year-round as an indoor/outdoor movie screen.

These materials are not clear and may not be compatible with any holographic illusions requiring a clear surface.  Please note, these projection screens do NOT have an adhesive backing and are NOT a static window cling. You can find AtmosFX virtual projections, such as Jack-O’-Lantern Jamboree, here on Amazon.

No, sorry Carl’s Projector Screen Materials do not have an adhesive backing, nor are they a static window cling.

Yes definitely! Carl’s Blackout Cloth is manufactured to provide a crisp, clear projected image and is available in much larger sizes than fabric stores offer. Fabric store material is often used as a backing material for window curtains. Since the material doesn’t show behind the curtain, some imperfections in the rubber coating are acceptable. These imperfections in the rubber coating may drastically impair your image, especially in brighter scenes. You may also experience hotspots, due to these imperfections, where a portion of the screen is just a bright white spot. However, Carl’s Blackout Cloth is coated with multiple consistent high-quality layers of thin reflective rubber which will provide accurate color and clarity in a dark viewing environment.

Yes! Our Blackout Cloth will block out light from your window. Several of our customers have used Blackout Cloth to greatly reduce ambient light in their viewing environment.

Here at Carl’s Place, we use the word Remnant and/or Clearance item interchangeably.

Disclaimer:  Carl’s Place remnants/clearance items have slight blemishes, stubborn folds, are lightly soiled, have backward grommets, are an uncommon size or come in an opened box but should generally be OK for projection.

• Remnants/Clearance items are sold as is.
• Remnants/Clearance items are not flawless.
• Remnants/Clearance items are not returnable for refund.
• All sales are final, no returns.

All clearance items are pre-packaged for shipping so unfortunately, we are unable to indicate the exact defect on any specific item. We can tell you the flaw or defect will be visible, and we would never sell anything in poor condition. Remnants/Clearance items are priced in such a way that most customers will be happy with the purchase, including the defect, at the discounted price. However, since clearance items are non-returnable, if a visible defect is going to bother you then you may want to consider a brand-new product which is guaranteed to be flawless. Remnants/Clearance items are Not flawless.

Generally speaking, if you are looking at a product that has “(x) Sizes” in the product title it has never been used but has a manufacturing defect of some kind. If the product title lists only one specific size, this is usually a gently used return from a customer.

Remnants/Clearance items are sold as is. They are not customizable. Unless specified, this item ships folded in a box and cannot be rolled. Prices are good while supplies last. Remnants/Clearance items are not returnable for refund. All sales are final, no returns.

Please note, we strongly encourage international customers to consider brand new items due to international shipping costs on Remnants and Clearance items.

Our movie screen materials will NOT withstand the impact of a golf ball.

THE FAQ SECTION ABOUT TECHNICAL INFORMATION STARTS HERE

Put simply, aspect ratio refers to the shape of the image being projected (slightly more square or widescreen). Matching the projector’s native aspect ratio and the screen’s aspect ratio will ensure the image fills the entire screen.

A 4:3 is slightly more square, like old CRT TVs. A 16:9 is a wider screen like today’s flat screen TVs. And a 2.39:1 is wider yet. It is best to match the native aspect ratio of the projector to that of the screen so the image fills the entire screen. But if the ratio on your projector is adjustable, pick the ratio that will match the majority of your viewing. The 16:9 is the most common. Additionally, an aspect ratio of 16:9 can accommodate both the 4:3 and 2.39:1 with the least amount of masking (black letterbox style bars).

The optimum screen size for a given seating area is a largely subjective choice, but we like to follow recommendations made by a few organizations like THX and the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers. For more information visit Wiki’s-Optimum HDTV viewing distance. In our brief opinion, measure the distance from the screen to your optimum seat, divide by three, and that’s the best height for a screen.