Draper Projector Screen Surface Guide

When selecting a front projection surface, consider several key factors:

 
 

The quality of image which the human eye perceives is primarily a function of gain, contrast, uniformity and resolution.

Gain A relative measure of a screen's reflectivity.
Contrast The ability to accurately reproduce and differentiate light and dark characters and backgrounds, or light and dark areas of an image. Ambient light rejection properties: the ability to perform well under normal to adverse lighting conditions in the audience area.
Resolution The clarity of the projected image.
Uniformity The screen's performance when viewed from various points off the projection axis (both horizontally and vertically), and when the brightness of the center of the image is compared to the corners.
Projection
Format
The height and width of the projected image determines the screen's size and shape (AV, NTSC, HDTV, WideScreen, CinemaScope, overhead, slide or motion pictures). See the Draper screen format and dimension chart.

Textile Backed Screen Surfaces - Non-Tensioned Screen Surfaces

In this group, the reflective surface is laminated to a woven textile base. The screen surface hangs suitably flat because of the stability of the material and the weight of the bottom dowel. Good for all types of projection. Commonly used for single lens video projection, as well as for CRT video and data-graphics projection.

 

Fiberglass Matt White
The standard to which all other screen surfaces are compared.
Matt white vinyl reflective surface laminated to tear-resistant woven fiberglass. A matt white surface diffuses projected light in all directions, so image can be seen from any angle. Provides accurate color rendition as well as superior clarity. Recommended for use with all high light output projection devices. Requires control of ambient light in the audience area. Washable, flame and mildew resistant. Seamless in all standard sizes through 10’ high.
Gain Chart

    Care and Maintenance: Clean surface with a solution of mild dishwashing liquid diluted with warm water. Sponge the surface, rinse with clear water and blot dry. Do not use cleaning solvents or abrasives.
 
 

Panamax
(Available only on screens larger than 10' x 10'.) Seamless matt white material for large roller operated screens-through 16' wide. Panamax has excellent dimensional stability. Washable. Most motorized screens with Panamax are not UL listed.  Gain Chart

    Care and Maintenance: Clean surface with a solution of mild dishwashing liquid diluted with warm water. Sponge the surface, rinse with clear water and blot dry. Do not use cleaning solvents or abrasives.
 
 

Glass Beaded
Spherical glass beads embedded in surface provide brighter on-axis viewing than matt white, within a narrower viewing cone. All glass beaded surfaces have some loss of clarity and perform best with table-mounted projectors. Flame and mildew resistant; cannot be cleaned. Seamless in all standard sizes through 10’ high. Gain Chart

    Care and Maintenance: Clean surface with a very soft brush or cloth and carefully dust the surface. Do not use soap, water, solvents or abrasives.
 
 

AT1200
The most innovative and versatile acoustically transparent screen material. Similar in gain performance to standard matt white and does not require tensioning for flatness. Acoustical properties comparable to the finest speaker grille cloth. Washable, flame and mildew resistant. Not recommended for screens smaller than 80" wide when used with LCD or DLP projectors. Available in sizes through 72" x 96" or 10' diagonal. (Not available on screens less than 80" wide.) Gain Chart

    Care and Maintenance: Clean surface with a solution of mild dishwashing liquid diluted with warm water. Sponge the surface; rinse with clear water and blot dry. Allow screen to air dry overnight in down position. Do not use cleaning solvents or abrasives.
 
 

AT Grey
Offers the acoustical properties of our popular AT1200, while providing the best optical qualities of both Matt White and High Contrast Grey. It is unique in that it offers both a 180° viewing cone and the vivid color contrast associated with high contrast grey materials. Washable, flame and mildew resistant. Gain of 0.8. Available in sizes through 72" x 96" or 10' diagonal. Not recommended for screens smaller than 80" wide when used with LCD or DLP projectors. (Not available on screens less than 80" wide.) Gain Chart

    Care and Maintenance: Clean surface with a solution of mild dishwashing liquid diluted with warm water. Sponge the surface, rinse with clear water and blot dry. Allow screen to air dry overnight in down position. Do not use cleaning solvents or abrasives.
 
  High Contrast Grey
High Contrast Grey: Grey textile-backed surface offers excellent resolution while enhancing the blacks of LCD and DLP projected images, even as whites and lighter colors are maintained. Performs well in ambient light. Lower gain of 0.8 allows use with even the brightest projectors. Available on most non-tensioned motorized and manual screens, in sizes through 8' high, without seams. Viewing cone of 180°. Gain Chart
    Care and Maintenance: Clean surface with a solution of mild dishwashing liquid diluted with warm water. Sponge the surface, rinse with clear water and blot dry. Do not use cleaning solvents or abrasives.

100% Vinyl Screen Materials - Tensioned Screen Surfaces
These screen surfaces are tensioned vinyl with no backing. Draper offers motorized, crank-operated and permanently tensioned screens with built-in tensioning systems. The surface is stretched perfectly flat, resulting in better picture quality. Flatness is always desirable, particularly for video or data-graphics projection.

  HiDef Grey
A grey front projection surface that provides greater contrast and black reproduction than standard surfaces, with a lower gain to handle today's super-bright projectors. The grey color enhances color contrast and black levels in the projected image and also allows for more ambient light in the audience area than traditional surfaces. Available on all tab-tensioned and permanently tensioned screens, in sizes through 96" x 96", or 6' high in greater widths. Gain Chart
    Care and Maintenance: Clean surface with a solution of mild dishwashing liquid diluted with warm water. ARMOR ALL® Multi- Purpose Cleaner may also be used. Remove stubborn stains with a solution of rubbing alcohol and water. Do not allow any cleaners to be absorbed by the fabric. Do not use cleaners which contain abrasives or wax.
 
  M1300
The perfect matt white diffusing surface. Extremely broad light dispersion and spectral uniformity. Panoramic viewing angle and true color rendition. Recommended for use with any type of projector in rooms where the light level can be reasonably controlled. Washable. Gain Chart
    Care and Maintenance: Clean surface with a solution of mild dishwashing liquid diluted with warm water. ARMOR ALL® Multi- Purpose Cleaner may also be used. Remove stubborn stains with a solution of rubbing alcohol and water. Do not allow any cleaners to be absorbed by the fabric. Do not use cleaners which contain abrasives or wax.
 
  M2500
A high-contrast front viewing surface, with excellent resolution and high gain. For data-graphics projectors producing through 1000 ANSI lumens. M2500 tolerates a higher ambient light level than most other front projection screen surfaces. Available on all permanently tensioned and tab-tensioned screens. Gain Chart
    Care and Maintenance: Clean with a very soft brush or cloth and carefully dust the surface. Do not use soap, water, solvents or abrasives.
 
  Cineflex
A neutral grey vinyl for rear projection. Cineflex has high resolution and excellent contrast, even in lighted rooms. For use with any type of projection equipment. Gain Chart
    Care and Maintenance: Gently clean this rear projection material with a diluted solution of mild dishwashing liquid and warm water. ARMOR ALL® Multi-Purpose Cleaner may also be used. It is best to lay the surface flat during cleaning. Do not use cleaners which contain abrasives or wax.
 
  Flexible Matt White
Pliable matt white material for use in our portable folding screens. It can be stretched, folded and restretched repeatedly without damage. Flexible matt white is an excellent matt white material with a gain of 1.0 and a viewing cone of 180°.

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