When you're in the market to buy a projection screen, there are a few things you'll need to decide before you buy. Do you want a screen that you can mount to your wall or ceiling, or do you want something that is portable and can be carried with you? Once you know what you're looking for there, then you have the option of a manual or electric screen. These are pretty self-explanatory; while a manual screen is your only option if you're looking for something portable, the mounted screen gives you options of a pull-down spring-loaded manual option or an electric screen that lowers and rises with the use of remote control or wall switch.
After you've figured that out, you'll want to consider the fabric material of your screen. The two most important things to think about are gain and viewing angle. These two items are related to one another; the higher the gain of your screen, the more your viewing angle is minimized. Gain measures the brightness of your screen and how much it reflects or absorbs the light coming from your projector. Most screens are rated around 1.0-1.3 gain, but some screens are rated lower and are best in dimly-lit rooms. The brightness of your screen affects your viewing angle, in that depending upon where you sit in front of the screen, the image can be darker or brighter. The image can be much brighter in the middle of the projection and darker on the edges, so if you're seated to the side you'll be seeing a dimmer picture.
Finally, you'll need to decide what size screen you need. A square screen of 1:1 ratio is good for projected presentations, while a 4:3 video format ratio is great for projecting television and computer monitors. Then there's 16:9, which is the accepted ratio for letterbox and widescreen. HDTVs are the same ratio and are best for high-def TV and motion pictures.
Read on to see some of our picks for the top projector screens on the market now!