Projector screens

Projector screens are used to display the image that is cast through a projector. The specialty of project screens is that they are completely flat. They can be suspended against a wall or stood-up vertically at a distance from the projector that causes picture enlargement. The further the screen is from the projector lens the bigger the projected image. The surface of projector screens is rough or matted and white colored. Some of the different types of projector screens include electric projector screens, fixed frame projector screens, home theater projector screens, manual projector screens, and portable projector screens.

Electric and manual

Electric project screens have electronic means of adjusting height, drop, tilt, and retraction. These projector screens usually come with a remote control. Manual projector screens have to be setup, pulled down, and retracted by hand. These are either ceiling mounted or wall mounted.

Fixed frame

This type of projector screen is fixed within a predefined frame and is the least modifiable. It cannot be lowered or retracted and just sits wherever it is placed.

Home theater

The projector screens for home theaters are basically arranged in a way that makes everyone in the audience feel that it is directed towards them.

Portable

These are good for temporary use and subsequent storage. They are lightweight, foldable, and can be carried around with ease.  
The two basic types of portable projector screens are reflection and transmission projector screen. Further subdivisions may be made on the basis of the material used in their construction that will be soft or hard.

No absorption, no gain

Most home theater projector screens are soft reflection screens. In most cases it might even be said that a white wall is a good enough projector screen and that nothing more needs be purchased to enjoy home theater. A white wall means that whatever is projected on that wall will be reflected right back because the color white is reflective by nature. A projector screen that does not absorb any light is the best because absorption will cause the screen to "light up" and distort the projected image. Surfaces that absorb light will make projected images look dull and washed out. While white walls make a good project screen, the only trouble is that the surface of the wall needs to be the right balance between smooth and rough. Projector screens are not perfectly smooth, like glass or mica, but are slightly matted to avoid the screen from become a mirror-like reflector. That would simply dazzle the audience without showing anything meaningful. Projector screens function on the principle of "no absorption, no gain". This means that the screen will not absorb any light that is projected on to it and everything will be reflected back.

Projector screens and walls

Quite often there is confusion in the buyer as to why they should buy a projector screen at all if they have a good enough white wall. The simplest reason is that professionals who knew the type of surface required to enjoy the best image possible did not design the wall. A wall is never designed, built, and glossed or finished with that goal in mind. Using the wall as a projector screen is almost always an afterthought. A lesser reason would be that a well designed project screen can add to the general atmosphere of a viewing room and give semblance of a movie theater in a home besides adding a certain aesthetic touch. However, the most pertinent reason to not use a wall and get a projector screen is that the screen can in many cases make up for the lack of quality in the projector and help to improve the visuals.