If you wish to know what makes projector screens different from one another, read here to gather knowledge on what is screen gain? A detailed guide to projector screen gain.
If you don’t have much experience with projector screens, you might face difficulties choosing the right kind of projector screen for your use. The first time I went out to buy a projector screen for myself, I was unsure which one to select. The major reason behind my confusion was that I was unaware of the features of a projector screen.
I had no clue what screen gain is and how it affects my visibility experience. Did you know that screen gain is one of the primary factors that affect the viewing experience of any viewer?
In this article, I will explain to you what screen gain is and how it affects your visibility. I am sure after you have understood what a screen gain is, it will be a lot easier for you to choose the right projector screen.
What is Screen Gain? How does a projector screen work?
In technical terms, the measure of light reflection on a screen is known as screen gain.
When we switch on a projector and angle it towards the projector screens, the projector produces an image and projects it on the projector screen, and the screen reflects the light of the image towards the eyes of the viewer so that you see the image.
The level of brightness of the light reflected from the screen to the eyes of the viewer is measured in terms of gain.
More or less, every projector screen comes with a certain gain number. Today projector screens come with N number of features. Some have high screen gain, whereas others have low screen gain. Generally speaking, if you see a projector screen reflecting bright images, it implies the screen gain is more. Similarly, if the brightness of the images on the screen is less, the screen gain is low.
Different Standards: Industry Vs. Common
Industry Standards
Now that you know what screen gain is, I shall walk you through the industry standards of screen gain and its uses. But before you run your eyes through the industry standards of a screen gain, keep in mind that the screen gain is always measured compared to a whiteboard.
For example, if we say the viewing angle is set to 1.0, it implies that the screen reflects the same quantum of light reflected on a whiteboard. Similarly, if the viewing angle is set to zero degrees, the image brightness will scale down 50% from what is reflected on a whiteboard. This is precisely why it’s called “half gain viewing angle.”
Common Industry Standards
| Viewing Angle | Percentage of Light Reflected On a Whiteboard |
|---|---|
| 1.0 Gain | Reflects the same amount of light as that of a white board. |
| 1.5 Gain | 50% more light as that from a white board. |
| 0.8 Gain | 80% of the light from a white board. |
If you are buying a projector screen for the first time, the chart below can help you get a brief idea about which screen to choose based on screen gain.
Low Gain
Low-gain Screens
- 1.0-1.3 Gain
- Most suitable for home theater
ALR Screens
Ambient Light Rejecting Screens
- 0.6 Gain ~
- ALR screens are also considered as low gain screens
High Gain
High-gain Screens
- 4.0 or beyond
- Suitable for conference rooms and classrooms
Which is better – A High Gain Screen or a Low Gain Screen?
As stated above, a high gain screen reflects brighter images than a low gain screen. But if you ask us which is better, we would say you cannot say that blindly. Both high gain and low gain screens have their uses, advantages, and limitations.
To help you understand the basic difference between a high gain and low gain screen, we have listed the basic differences between a projector screen of 1.0 screen gain and a high gain projector screen.
In case you are wondering why I am considering a screen with a 1.0 gain as a low gain. Let me tell you that most projector screens designed to be used as home theatres are set to 1.0 gain, and here is why it is so.
Low Gain
The 1.0 screen gain uniformly spreads light in all directions. As a result, seating can be positioned at a broad viewing angle about the screen, and all rows will provide a consistent user experience irrespective of the viewing angle.
High Gain
On the other hand, Red, green, and blue do not always reflect equally on a high-gain screen. As a result, it can cause huge shifts in the image that are visible as you walk around the screen and look at it from various angles. The image formed for each viewer differs based on where they will be sitting.
Moreover, any display with a gain greater than 1.0 will have some form of hot spotting. While looking at the screen from the center, the picture will be clearer in the middle than in the corners. This isn’t apparent on displays with less than 1.3 gain, but if gain rises above 1.3, it could become a major annoyance.
Also, High-gain screens, on the other hand, can be highly useful in improving visual quality in conference rooms and schools where some lighting is required. The majority of the seats are inside the display’s limited reflection cone. In a home cinema setting, however, if you are thinking of setting up a home theatre at home, then its best if you opt for a low-gain screen instead of a high-gain screen.
FAQ
What is “screen gain,” and how does it work?
The intensity of the image created on the screen is referred to as screen gain. A bright screen has a high screen gain, while a dark screen has a low screen gain. Reflectivity is measured by gain. The gain on the screen can range from 0.5 to 12.
What is the meaning of the term “viewing angle”?
When a person looks at a screen from the side, the viewing angle is the angle measured at which the image may be identified. Both the vertically (up or down) and horizontally (left or right) angles of the screen describe the viewing angle.
Gain and Directivity on the Screen
Brightness is increased when the screen gain is increased. The scale of reflected light directivity narrows as the screen height increases. To put it another way, the viewing angle shrank. As a result, in addition to the room conditions and the implementation, the connection between screen gain and directivity should be considered when deciding which screen to use.
Final Takeaway
Therefore, I can say that both a low gain and a high gain screen are used. And both come with their advantages and disadvantages. Ideally, the amount of light reflected from the projector screen is measured in terms of gain. The brightness defines the quality of the image projected on the projector screen from the projector. Therefore, depending on the screen again, you can assess the quality of the image you can see. Suppose you opt for a projector screen for a conference room or a classroom. In that case, it is recommended that you go for a high-gain projector screen for better visual quality but if you are thinking of setting up a home theatre at home, then choosing a projector screen with low gain seems to be the perfect option.
I believe this article has been helpful enough to understand ‘what is screen gain‘ and how to choose a screen based on screen gain.