What is a good screen for outdoor ambient light in my room?

This discussion covers the various ambient light rejecting screen options in addition to reviewing Elite’s various return policies.

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

Aeon CLR video https://elitescreens.com/elitetube/UST_Compatibility.mp4
Saker Tab-Tension ALR Product Video – https://eliteproav.com/product/saker-tab-tension-alr-series/

*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:

[22:03] Jaime: Hello, how may I help you?
[22:04] Customer: I want to pick a screen for an ultra-short throw projector in a room that gets a lot of ambient light (not from the ceiling but from one side).
[22:04] Customer: Or if I get just the material so I can build the screen myself.
[22:05] Jaime: For an ultra-short throw projector, your only option is our CLR material. Here is a good video on it. https://elitescreens.com/elitetube/UST_Compatibility.mp4
[22:05] Jaime: it is offered in either a motorized or fixed frame version
[22:05] Customer: Is this Starbright CLR screen?
[22:05] Jaime: this is the fixed frame: https://elitescreens.com/front/front/productdetail/product/154
[22:06] Customer: that is very pricy. Do you sell just the material so I can build it myself a fraction of that price? What if I chose the Cinegrey 3D or 5D with a regular projector.
[22:07] Jaime: We don’t. By itself, this is a delicate material so the frame is included. Besides, the lion’s share of the cost is in the material. Getting rid of the framework would not bring down the price that much. If you decide to not go with the UST projector, the Cinegrey 3D/5D materials would be lower-priced. We even have motorized versions of this product. This is the motorized version: https://eliteproav.com/product/saker-tab-tension-alr-series/
[22:08] Customer: What is the return policy in case it I get it and does not fit my needs?
[22:08] Jaime: If you buy it from us, you have 14 days but there is a restocking fee.
[22:08] Jaime: This could vary from sales source to sales source.
[22:09] Customer: So, there is no restocking fee or return shipping fee if I return it within the 14 days?
[22:09] Jaime: There would be a restocking fee.
[22:09] Jaime: you get free shipping to your address
[22:10] Customer: oh ok. So, I pay for return shipping if I want to return it but there are no other fees as long as I return it within 14 days. ok.
[22:10] Jaime: Correct, and also, everything must be put back in the box.
[22:10] Jaime: There are additional fees if something is missing or damaged
[22:11] Customer: Apart from the motorization aspect, are both the screens the same in terms of quality and how good they are at rejecting ambient light?
[22:11] Jaime: yes, same quality. Although, the flatter material will be on the fixed frame model.
[22:12] Customer: I also see the CineWhite aeon series https://shop.elitescreens.com/store/p38/Aeon_Series also says that it is good for ultra-short throw projectors. Why not take that instead?
[22:13] Customer: Same thing with the CineGrey as well.
[22:13] Jaime: Those do not reject ambient light.
[22:13] Jaime: You can order those if you’d like, but the ambient light is going to wash out the image
[22:14] Customer: Ok. What lumen rating do you recommend for the fixed projector screen option that you gave (the aeon CLR with Starbright CLR).
[22:15] Customer: I am looking at the 100-inch screen and the sitting area is 12 feet from the screen.
[22:15] Jaime: You might get a decent image with about 1200 lumens from a UST projector but that is pretty weak. However, I recommend higher than 2500 lumens if you have ambient light and a matte white material.
[22:15] Jaime: you do have to start with the projector
[22:16] Customer: I have a 1000 lumen projector for which the image is washed pretty bad due to the ambient light.
[22:16] Jaime: You’ll need to have a much higher output. 1000 lumens is way too low.
[22:16] Customer: Right now, projecting on the wall.
[22:16] Jaime: Try maybe 1500 lumens
[22:16] Jaime: you have to research the projector first
[22:17] Jaime: you can do so at www.projectorcentral.com
[22:17] Customer: ok. yeah .. that’s what I thought until I noticed the screen cost can also run up to 1K .. so, I am researching both in parallel.
[22:18] Customer: One more question. how much does the Starbright CLR screen weigh? I am considering on whether this is portable if I want to move it to another room to entertain a larger audience occasionally.
[22:18] Jaime: It does not weigh more than 20lbs
[22:19] Jaime: you still should have two people move it each time
[22:19] Jaime: this is to avoid damaging the material
[22:19] Customer: yeah. ok. thank you.
[22:19] Customer: bye
[22:19] Jaime: Sure thing. Thank you for contacting us today