Projection Screen Materials Info

Our projection screens are manufacturered by the biggest names in the indutry, and each manufacturer has a wealth of materials available for you to choose from. To make it easier, we've put together a guide to each material from each manufacturer, with important info such as gain and viewing angle, as well as helpful tips on what application each is best for. If you have questions on materials, or on projection screens in general, feel free to give us a call!

Draper Screen Surfaces
Stewart Screen Surfaces
Da-Lite Screen Surfaces

Draper Projection Screens

Draper has manufactured screens for over 100 years. Draper projection screens are available in a wide variety of sizes and screen materials, including Draper's popular acoustically transparent screen fabric, the AT1200. Draper's M1300 Whatever the application is, school, business, theater, or home, Draper offers a diversity of screens that will fit your needs.

Fiberglass Matt White
(1.0 Gain, 180º viewing angle)
The standard to which all other screen surfaces are compared. A matt white vinyl reflective surface laminated to a woven textile base. Draper’s rugged woven fiberglass provides superior “lay flat” and tear resistance. A matt white surface diffuses projected light in all directions, so the image can be seen from any angle. Matt white offers accurate color rendition, as well as superior clarity because it is a smooth surface, not embossed. Recommended for the use with overhead projectors and high light output projection devices. Requires adequate provision for the control of ambient light in the audience area. Seamless in sizes up to 10’ in height.

High Contrast Grey
(0.8 Gain, 180º viewing angle)
Grey textile-backed surface offers excellent resolution white enhancing the blacks of LCD/DLP projected images. Performs well in ambient light condition. High Contrast Grey’s lower gain of .8 allows use with even the brightest projectors. Available on most non-tensioned motorized and manual screens.

Glass Beaded
(2.5 Gain, 90º viewing angle)
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 standard sizes up to 10’ in height.

AT1200
(1.0 Gain)
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. Not recommended for screens smaller than 80” wide when used with LCD or DLP projectors.

AT Grey
(0.8 Gain, 180º viewing angle)
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 vivid color contrast associated with high contrast grey materials. Washable, flame retardant, and mildew resistant. Not recommended for screens smaller than 80” wide when used with LCD or DLP projectors.

M1300
(1.0 Gain, 180º viewing angle)
Screen is 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 and highly recommended for CRT video or data-graphics projection. The perfect matt white diffusing surface with extremely broad light dispersion, spectral uniformity, and true color rendition. Recommended for use with any type of projector in rooms where the light level can be reasonably controlled. Washable.

M2500
(2.1 Gain, 180º viewing angle)
Screen is 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 and highly recommended for CRT video or data-graphics projection. 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.

HiDef Grey
(0.9 Gain)
Screen is 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 and highly recommended for CRT video or data-graphics projection. 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.

Cineflex
(2.3 Gain)
Screen is 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 and highly recommended for CRT video or data-graphics projection. 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.

Stewart Filmscreens

Since its establishment in 1947, Stewart Filmscreen Corporation continually leads the industry in superior craftsmanship, technical excellence and innovation. This family owned and operated corporation is the foremost large screen display developer in the world, bringing ideas into reality. All manufacturing is controlled "in-house" at their own facilities. Using the highest quality materials, Stewart technicians in the company's manufacturing centers in California and Ohio handcraft each simulation project. Stewart Filmscreen is always on the forefront of screen technology, creating the most advanced front and rear projection screens utilizing diffusion, optical lens and light pipe technologies.

GrayHawk RS
(0.92 Gain, 128° viewing angle)
The GrayHawk RS by Stewart is engineered for a single lens projector, and will maximize image fidelity and contrast. This screen is excellent in ambient light, and will also increase black levels, shadow detailing, and overall color saturation. Optional MicroPerf or CinePerf.

StudioTek 130/ Ultramatte 130
(1.3 Gain, 160º viewing angle)
The StudioTek 130/Ultramatte 130 is Stewart’s standard reference screen generally used with high output broadcast systems. It is ideal for CRT, LCD, DLP, and D-ILA. These screens are over 30% brighter than the matter white screen. The StudioTek 130 has optional MicroPerf. The Ultramatte 130 has optional MicroPerf or CinePerf.

Ultramatte 150
(1.5 Gain, 140º viewing angle)
The Ultramatte 150 is an ideal screen for HDTV. It is 50% brighter than the matter white screen. Optional MicroPerf or CinePerf.

Ultramatte 200
(2.0 Gain, 120º viewing angle)
The Ultramatte 200 is a screen used for large image sizes. It is 100% brighter than the matte white screen and is color corrected for CRT. Optional MicroPerf or CinePerf.

Snomatte 100
(1.0 Gain, 170º viewing angle)
The Snomatte 100 is in a matter white and has color and white field uniformity. It should be used for large screen applications. Optional MicroPerf or CinePerf.

FireHawk
(1.35 Gain, 100º viewing angle)
The FireHawk is specifically engineered for single chip DLP and some LCD projectors. This screen is excellent in ambient light and will maximize image fidelity and contrast. It will also increase black levels, shadow detailing, and overall color saturation. Optional MicroPerf.

Videomatte 200
(1.8 Gain, 120º viewing angle)
The Videomatte 200 is a great multi-purpose screen. It is 80% brighter that the matte white screen and is color corrected for CRT. Optional MicroPerf.

Silver 3D
(3.2 Gain, 44º viewing angle)
The Silver 3D enhance 3D effects and preserves stereoscopic images. It also produces high contrast images and minimizes depolarization of projected light. Optional CinePerf.

Da-Lite Screens

Matte White
(1.0 Gain, 50º viewing angle)
One of the most versatile screen surfaces and a good choice for situations when presentation material is being projected and ambient light is controllable. Its surface evenly distributes light over a wide viewing area. Colors remain bright and life-like, with no shifts in hue. This screen is washable, flame retardant, and mildew resistant.

High Contrast Matte White
(1.1 Gain, 45º viewing angle)
Designed for moderate output DLP and LCD projectors, this screen surface is a great choice when video images are the main source of information being projected and where ambient light is moderately controlled. With its specially designed gray base material and reflective top surface, this screen material is able to provide very good black levels without sacrificing the white level output. This screen is washable, flame retardant, and mildew resistant.

Video Spectra 1.5
(1.5 Gain, 35º viewing angle)
This screen surface is specially designed with a reflective coating, which provides an increased amount of brightness with a moderately reduced viewing angle. The increased gain of this surface makes it suitable for environments where ambient lighting is uncontrollable and a projector with moderate light output is utilized. This screen is washable, flame retardant, and mildew resistant.

Glass Beaded
(2.5 Gain, 30º viewing angle)
A glass beaded screen surface has the ability to achieve a higher gain by reflecting more of the projected light back along the projection axis making it a good choice for situations where the projector is placed on a table-top or in the same horizontal viewing plane as the audience. Glass beads impregnated in the screen’s surface provide additional internal reflectance, which results in an unparalleled screen surface for vibrant, life-like color reproduction at moderate viewing angles. Not recommended for areas where the screen will be subject to abuse or soiling. This screen is flame retardant and mildew resistant.

Silver Matte
(1.3 Gain, 30º viewing angle)
A uniquely designed screen surface with a specially designed silver finish. This surface is perfect for situations where a silver surface is necessary for polarized 3-D projections. The matte finish of this surface successfully rejects ambient light. This screen is washable, flame retardant, and mildew resistant.

High Power
(2.8 Gain, 30º viewing angle)
A technological breakthrough, combines the reflectivity of a glass beaded surface with the ability to clean the surface when required. Its smooth surface offers the highest gain of all types of screen surfaces with moderate viewing angle. Screen surface can be cleaned with mild soap and water. This screen is washable, flame retardant, and mildew resistant.

Da-Mat
(1.0 Gain, 50º viewing angle)
A screen surface with a smooth, white vinyl finish for precise image reproduction that provides an exceptionally wide viewing angle with no resolution loss. It is highly flexible fabric that may be folded or rolled. Its versatility makes it a great choice for situations with good control over ambient light and where an exceptionally wide viewing angle is necessary. This screen is washable, flame retardant, and mildew resistant.

Cinema Vision
(1.3 Gain, 45º viewing angle)
A unique unsupported vinyl surface that offers a bright, uniform image with no color shift no matter the viewing angle. This surface is designed to provide a higher amount of brightness for lower output projector types such as CRT. Its increased reflectivity will help enhance the image brightness in situations where a low level of ambient light is present. This surface is a good choice when producing video images. This screen is washable, flame retardant, and mildew resistant.

Pearlescent
(1.5 Gain, 40º viewing angle)
A non-supported vinyl fabric, offering a higher degree of reflectivity and brilliance without loss of image quality or resolution. This surface is a good choice when producing video images with a lower output projector and where there is a high amount of ambient light present. This screen is washable, flame retardant, and mildew resistant.

Audio Vision
(1.0 Gain, 50º viewing angle)
Designed for applications where a more realistic soundstage is desired, this fabric allows for the installations of speakers to be place behind the surface. With virtually no sounds loss and good image quality, this fabric provides the same optical characteristics as the Da-Mat surface with specially designed perforations to allow sounds to pass through the screen material. This screen is washable, flame retardant, and mildew resistant.

High Contrast Da-Mat
(0.8 Gain, 45º viewing angle)
With a special gray surface, this screen material is designed for use with today’s high output LCD, DLP, and D-ILA projectors. By lowering the black levels of the projected video image, this surface creates a more film-like image and is a good choice when video is the main source of projected information. This screen surface is best used when there is good control of ambient lighting and greater detail and sharpness to the image. This screen is washable, flame retardant, and mildew resistant.

High Contrast Cinema Vision
(1.1 Gain, 45º viewing angle)
Designed for today’s moderate output DLP and LCD projectors, this screen surface is a great choice when video images are the main source of information being projected and where ambient lighting is moderately controlled. With its specially designed gray base surface and a reflective top surface, this screen material is able to provide very good black levels without sacrificing the white level output. With its enhanced black levels and brilliant white levels, this screen surface provides deep life-like colors and greater detail and sharpness to the image. This screen is washable, flame retardant, and mildew resistant.

High Contrast Audio Vision
(0.8 Gain, 45º viewing angle)
This surface is designed to provide the viewer with a more realistic soundstage by placing speakers behind the screen and allowing the sounds to be transmitted through the material. With its specially designed gray base surface and a reflective top surface, this screen material is able to provide very good black levels without sacrificing the white level output. With its enhanced black levels and brilliant white levels, this screen surface provides deep life-like colors and greater detail and sharpness to the image. This screen is washable, flame retardant, and mildew resistant.

High Contrast Cinema Perf
(1.1 Gain, 45º viewing angle)
This screen surface is perforated to allow placement of a center channel speaker behind the screen surface while allowing the sounds to transmit through the material. With its specially designed gray base surface and a reflective top surface, this screen material is able to provide very good black levels without sacrificing the white level output. With its enhanced black levels and brilliant white levels, this screen surface provides deep life-like colors and greater detail and sharpness to the image. Ideal for use in environments with moderate control of ambient light. This screen is washable, flame retardant, and mildew resistant.

Silver Vision
(1.5 Gain, 30º viewing angle)
This screen surface is uniquely designed with a specifically formulated silver finish. This surface is perfect for situations where a silver finish is necessary for polarized 3-D projection. The matte finish of this surface successfully rejects ambient light. Its is a highly flexible fabric that must be tensioned. This screen is washable, flame retardant, and mildew resistant.

Da-Tex
(1.8 Gain, 30º viewing angle)
A translucent, neutral gray vinyl surface that offers high transmission and low reflectance values for optimal viewing. It yields excellent color rendition, image contrast and a wide viewing angle. Suitable for all types of rear projection. Ideally suited for both lace and grommet and snap button type screens. Material needs to be tensioned. Screen surface can be cleaned with mild soap and water. Flame retardant and mildew resistant.

High Contrast Da-Tex
(1.0 Gain, 40º viewing angle)
High Contrast Da-Tex™ is a unity gain rear projection surface with a specially designed dark gray tint and is formulated to provide lower black levels for today's high output projectors. This surface features optical characteristics similar to rigid rear projection screens. Ideally suited for both lace and grommet and snap button screens used in portable applications. Surface requires tensioning due to its flexible nature.

Dual Vision
(1.0 Gain, 50º viewing angle)
A unity gain flexible projection fabric capable of both front and rear projection. The surface is ideal for video projection under controlled light conditions. With an exceptionally wide viewing cone, each seat in the audience will observe a uniform, bright, sharp image with no color shift. Surface needs to be tensioned. Screen surface can be cleaned with mild soap and water. Flame retardant and mildew resistant.