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Does Matte Grey NOT enhance contrast ratio or be used in ambient light?

by on May 4, 2018 with No Comments

There is a lot of confusion going around lately as to what various specialty projection screen materials can and cannot do. To say it plainly a matte gray projection screen can enhance contrast ratio but it was not ideally made for use in a bright room.  Think of it as a matte white projection that has been stained a darker color.  It may aid black levels to some degree but it must be used in a dark room to really look good.  An ambient light rejecting (ALR) or ceiling light rejecting (CLR) projection screen is different.  In addition to enhancing contrast, it works superbly in bright room lighting. This chat says more about it.

 

Here are the links used in the discussion that are for some favorite UST projector-friendly screens:

 

*The discussion below is based on actual chat transcripts with the omission of any personal/confidential material to protect the customer’s privacy. An example in this case is to change the contact’s identification name/number to “Customer” or a generic name.

 

Transcripts:

  • [18:14] Customer: i had purchased a gray screen some time ago and was wondering if you have the same screen but motorized
  • [18:15] Customer: Or if  you have any motorized screens that are similar and not a white screen material please send me the links.
  • [18:18]        Rick I would be glad to help you with your selection.
  • [18:21]        Rick : We can go over a few questions so that I may match you with the best screen for the job.
  • [18:23]        Rick : If I may ask what is the model of the grey screen you purchase.
  • [18:28] Customer: I believe saber or something like that
  • [18:29] Customer: sable*
  • [18:29] Customer: CineGrey I believe it was called
  • [18:31]        Rick : If you have the standard Cinegrey material this is only provided in our fixed frames. we have a motorized screen that uses our newer ambient light reflective material that is called CineGrey 5D.
  • [18:31]        Rick : Here is the link for it. https://elitescreens.com/front/front/productdetail/product/36
  • [18:32] Customer: thanks
  • [18:33] Customer: What do  you recommend for an outdoor covered balcony?
  • [18:33] Customer: Something that may have a brighter image  with some ambient light  present?
  • [18:37]        Rick : I don’t recommend anything but an outdoor rated screen  for an installation like that. The bad news is that it only comes with a matte white surface.  You may be better off with a free-standing portable screen that does rear projection.
  • [18:42]        Rick What are your thoughts on that?
  • [18:49] Customer: ya it is over 3200 lumens but I was just speculating on different ideas.  Here is what I am really working on.  I need about a 100-120” screen in my living room.  There is a lot of ambient light so I need a grey screen but I don’t know which one.  I prefer electric so that I can roll it up when I am not using it. I guess 100-120” will do since I can easily be at least 10-feet from it but how do I find out either way?
  • [18:49]        Rick Fantastic questions and I have answers to all of them. First, You want an ambient light rejecting Cinegrey 3D or 5D projection screen, not a matte grey one.  Matte grey enhances contrast but does not do well in ambient light. Cinegrey 3D or 5D were made to excel in ambient light.   Here is a tech tip on ambient light rejecting screens – https://elitescreens.com/front/front/newsdetail/news/269
  • [18:50]        Rick : Also, here is the difference between the three types of “Cinegrey” materials.  Cinegrey  is our old matte grey material.  It enhances black levels a little bit but does not do well in ambient light.  Cinegrey 3D is an ALR material and has a wider viewing angle than the Cinegrey 5D.  However, the Cinegrey 5D has a brighter reflected image.
  • [18:51]        Rick : For you, I would get either a CineGrey 3D or 5D.  Here is a link to the various lines we have to offer. https://elitescreens.com/index.php/products/ambient-light-rejecting-screens
  • [18:52]        Rick : For you, I recommend the Starling Tab-Tensioned CineGrey 5D – https://elitescreens.com/front/front/productdetail/product/36
  • [18:53]        Rick : Also, here is the video on selecting the right screen size https://elitescreens.com/elitetube/screen_size_edu.mp4
  • [18:54]        Rick : Lastly, here is video that talks about the different screen materials we have to offer. https://elitescreens.com/elitetube/Selecting_a_screen_material_for_my_home_theater_cc_720.mp4
  • [18:50] Customer: Wow! Talk about getting all my questions answered.  I’ll go through all of this and get back to you on what will work out best.  Thank you very much.
  • [18:50]        Rick : It was my pleasure to help.  Thank you for choosing Elite Screens.
  • [18:50] Customer: excellent
  • [18:50] Customer: thank you
  • [18:51] Customer: have a great day
Link: http://elitescreens.com/front/front/cms/slug/request-a-call-back