How to Choose Your Ideal Outdoor Projector Screen?

by Una Tao September 22, 2022 Tips & Tricks

Not too long ago choosing to go outdoors would have meant to give up on home movies and videos, but that's not the case anymore. Projectors now are more portable and higher-quality than ever before, and this means you can wrap up a backyard gathering or even a camping night with a movie presentation. After all, being able to gather together and enjoy one special moment together is what being outside and together is what the experience is all about.

That said, projecting outdoors does require more than just a projector, if you want to make the most of your display you'll also need a proper screen, and that's what we want to focus on today.

What is an outdoor projector screen?

So what even is an outdoor movie projector screen? A projector screen is in short the surface in which you will display your projector's image. While at the most basic a projector will display its image on any surface it's aimed at, a projector screen is a dedicated accessory that provides a proper flat surface that has been optimized for projection.

In other words, a projector screen is a dedicated display area for your projector that you can set up anywhere you bring your device.

Why are outdoor projector screens important?

So why should someone pick up a screen if a projector can already display on any surface you pick? Well, because at the end of the day an outdoor screen and projector are meant to go together, and you need both to ensure you'll be able to enjoy your movie at the highest quality possible.

A screen provides you with a stable area to display your picture, that means no uneven surfaces to warp your display or any flaring imperfections that will show even as the beam hits it.

On top of that if you are outdoors there's a very real possibility that you'll have no workable area to display a picture, especially when camping. In those times a screen can provide you with a clear solution that you can pack anywhere and move with ease.

Benefits of outdoor projector screens

An outdoor screen is basically a necessity to make the most out of a projector, but nonetheless let's go in detail over the main benefits you can gain if you do choose to pick one up.

First and foremost, the screen material is designed to work with projections in a way walls and other surfaces aren't. Screens are designed to reflect the light, meaning that the display will be more accurate when projected on top of them and the material selection will also help reduce the potential eye strain that comes from watching bright lights at night.

Having a screen to use with your projector improves its portability, as now you'll be able to have a perfect movie night no matter where you go. Many projectors go out of their way to be designed for portability in mind, and while that's a great feature in and of itself on their own they are limited by their potential projection areas. With a screen at your side any location is good for your projector, even if it's completely empty and with no walls in sight.

Projector screens have the right color to make sure the movie's original color palette is respected. If you beam your projector towards a pink wall for example the image will inevitably come across differently. That means that on its own your projector's accuracy will be limited by its potential display areas. A screen completely circumvents this, helping you avoid any complications.

How to choose your outdoor projector screen?

So now that we've made the benefits of an outdoor projector screen crystal clear, let's go into what you should keep in mind to choose a projector of your own. Not all screens are the same, and depending on your needs you might prefer a given model over another. But ultimately the main considerations can be easily summed up, so let's go over each item once at a time.

Screen style

The screen style ultimately refers to the way it's set up. Some screens are designed to be affixed to a wall, some unfold automatically as needed and others are foldable for portability. For outdoors use a foldable screen is what you are looking for.

Screen mount type

Ideal outdoor projection screen

A screen's mount type directly refers to how a screen is designed to be propped up. Ceiling screens are fixed permanently with screws for example, while stand based ones can be affixed to an included tripod or designed for hanging. Fixed screens are of course not a great pick for outdoor screens.

Format of the projector screen according to aspect ratio

The aspect ratio is a number that references the proportion of a picture's width compared to its height. Which means that depending on your intended use you might need a different size or ratio for your screen. The HDTV ratio is 16:9, which means that in general you'll want a surface that is considerably wider than taller,

Screen material

The material of your chosen screen affects various factors like the way it reflects light or portrays colors, which means that based on your specific needs you might prefer one given material over the other. For ease of understanding we divided material into 4 main considerations:

A screen's gain will determine how well it reflects the light of a projector. A screen with a gain of 2.0. will display a picture that is doubly as bright as the stated lumens of your projector for example. For outdoors use a brighter image is generally better, but do keep in mind your projector's level so as to not overcompensate.

A screen's color will also affect how your picture is displayed, so let's go over each color and what they are intended for. White screens are general use screens which benefit when used in dark rooms. Gray screens are meant for very bright areas like conference rooms. Black screens are also designed for particularly bright areas, but the color choice does mean they can't display whites properly.

Viewing angle refers to the maximum angle from which an individual can see a clear and bright picture. If your screen has too high of a gain ratio the viewing angle will be reduced, so you should strive for a balance between the two.

Acoustic transparency refers to a material's ability to let sound pass. In short if you want the best possible sound quality in your setup then you should look for a screen with acoustic transparency.

Other things to consider

We briefly touched ambient light rejection when discussing colors, as this is the quality that makes some fabrics behave better or worse under bright lights. A screen with ambient light rejection is necessary for people who plan to project in heavily illuminated areas whether they are indoors or outdoors.

Rear projection screens are screens designed to receive a projector's light beam from behind, so they are translucent and only work in that intended direction. Ultimately this is a choice for comfort and space, as it can considerably reduce the space needed to set up your projection.

How much do outdoor projector screens cost?

Providing a single average value for projector screens can be hard, not only because of the wide range available for them but also because some companies offer untreated fabrics that simply aren't fit for the role of a screen. High-end screens can break the $1,000 mark, and similarly some sellers might offer "screens" for less than $50 but these usually are just regular fabric.

For outdoor use you will need a portable screen, and in that specific category you can expect screens to be in the $100 to $300 range. The specific price will vary based on brand, whether it includes a stand and other specifications like gain. But the price range should give you a good idea of what to ultimately expect.

WEMAX Outdoor Projector Screens

So now that you know precisely what to look for in a projector screen it's time to take a look at some of our WEMAX products in this category. All of these picks are meant for outdoor use, so you should be able to find a screen that is just right for you from them.

WEMAX 120-inch Portable Projector Screen with Stand

For those looking for a large projection area and maximum stability the 120-inch portable projector is the ultimate pick. A polyester fiber material is used to ensure that your screen won't see any wrinkles even after washing it, a 160 viewing angle ensures that image quality will remain crisp regardless of where you are seated and the weighted stand means that this screen can be easily propped up anywhere and will remain rock solid the entire time.

WEMAX 40-inch Portable Projector Screen

The 40-inch portable screen uses a retractable pull down design that makes it easy to retract and compact it anywhere, and which makes it easy to carry around in its aluminum casing. The screen has 1.1 gain which means it does improve on your existing brightness without negatively impacting the viewing angle, and since you only need to hook it to its pole to set it up that means you'll be ready for a 4k projection experience in no time at all.

WEMAX 50-inch ALR Portable Projector Screen

When it comes to ease of use outdoors it's hard to beat the 50-inch ALR screen. Its pull-up design means that you simply have to drop it on the ground with no other setup needed, just pull up and your screen will be ready for any task.

On top of that, its specs are nothing to scoff at, as 85% rejection of ambient light makes it look great outdoors, and the ALR technology means that it selectively reflects light improving on both picture quality and gain all at once.

Wrapping it up

Having a great projector is the first step for an unforgettable outdoors experience, but you will need an appropriate screen to go with it if you really want to see the displayed image as intended. So if you are looking for the best screens in the market to complement your projector here at WEMAX we have you covered.

Wemax is one of the leading brands when it comes to visual applications, and at the forefront of laser technologies. At WEMAX we make the highest-quality projectors with cutting edge technology, and that means that we know how to make screens that help bring out the max potential in any projector.

Tags: Tips & Tricks

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