Being able to project an image on any flat, or flat-ish, surface is one of the greatest strengths of any projector. Most modern projectors have built-in streaming and at least passable speakers, so you can binge-watch TV series from just about anywhere. That’s the pitch, anyway, but the reality is a bit different.
Unless the surface is perfectly smooth, you’re going to see that texture of what the image is projected on. Also, painted walls change the image’s colors, and all but the most perfect white surface will absorb a lot of light, something no projector has in abundance.
So what about an actual screen? Movie theaters, after all, don’t just project onto a blank wall. At their simplest, screens can create a smooth, reflective surface to help your projector look its best. More complex screens can reject ambient light, focus more of the light from the projector back to you (making the image and hence, the projector seem brighter), and more.
Given the extra cost, not to mention the added complexity of setup and mounting, is it worth getting a screen? Not to get all spoiler-y, but to put it simply, yes. Here’s why.
To screen, or not to screen
There are three main reasons to get a screen:
- Brighter image: Even simple screens are better than walls of any color.
- Smoother image: Walls have texture that will be visible in the projected image.
- Potentially better contrast and overall image quality: Some screens can “focus” more light toward your eyes, making the image seem brighter. Others can reject ambient light, so the image is better with any lights on.
Now, in fairness, if you have a tiny, budget projector that only puts out a handful of lumens, you won’t gain much by getting a screen. There’s not much performance to begin with, so there’s not much to improve. Full-size budget projectors, and anything more expensive, can definitely benefit.
If you’re willing to spend a bit more, ambient-light-rejecting screens can help considerably if you want to use a projector, but…
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