Retractable projector screens are screens that can be rolled up into a housing unit when not in use, and then unfurl for projection purposes. These screens are typically used in conference rooms, schools, multi-purpose rooms, or other locations where a projector is regularly used, but where space is limited. They offer a convenient and space-saving solution, as they do not take up valuable floor or wall space when not in use.
Special Features: | Tensioned |
Supported Resolution: | 4K, 8K |
Screen Type: | Electric |
Mount Type: | Wall and Ceiling |
Format: | HDTV [16:9] |
Brand: | Stewart Filmscreen |
Viewable Diagonal in.: | 100 |
Viewable Width in.: | 87 |
Viewable Height in.: | 49 |
Surface Color: | White |
Product Status: | Leaves Warehouse within 4-6 Weeks |
Gain: | 1.1 |
Case Color: | White |
Product Line: | Cima BC |
Front/Rear Projection: | Front |
Projection Surface: | Neve |
Supported Resolution: | 1080P |
Screen Type: | Manual |
Mount Type: | Wall and Ceiling |
Format: | HDTV [16:9] |
Brand: | Draper |
Viewable Diagonal in.: | 106 |
Viewable Width in.: | 92 |
Viewable Height in.: | 52 |
Surface Color: | White |
Product Status: | Leaves Warehouse within 5-10 Business Days |
Gain: | 1.0 |
Case Color: | White |
Product Line: | Luma |
Front/Rear Projection: | Front |
Projection Surface: | Matt White XT1000E |
Special Features: | Ambient Light Rejection, Tensioned, Ultra Short Throw |
Supported Resolution: | 4K |
Screen Type: | Electric, Ultra Short Throw |
Mount Type: | Floor |
Format: | HDTV [16:9] |
Brand: | Spectra Projection |
Viewable Diagonal in.: | 120 |
Viewable Width in.: | 104.6 |
Viewable Height in.: | 58.8 |
Surface Color: | Gray |
Product Status: | Leaves Warehouse within 2-3 Weeks |
Gain: | 0.7 |
Case Color: | Black |
Product Line: | Phoenix |
Front/Rear Projection: | Front |
Projection Surface: | Phoenix |
Special Features: | Ambient Light Rejection, Tensioned, Ultra Short Throw |
Supported Resolution: | 4K |
Screen Type: | Electric, Ultra Short Throw |
Mount Type: | Floor |
Format: | HDTV [16:9] |
Brand: | Vividstorm |
Viewable Diagonal in.: | 100 |
Viewable Width in.: | 87.2 |
Viewable Height in.: | 49.1 |
Surface Color: | Gray |
Product Status: | Leaves Warehouse within 2-3 Weeks |
Gain: | 0.6 |
Case Color: | Black, White |
Product Line: | S PRO |
Front/Rear Projection: | Front |
Projection Surface: | Vividstorm UST |
Special Features: | Tensioned |
Supported Resolution: | 4K |
Screen Type: | Electric |
Mount Type: | Wall and Ceiling |
Format: | HDTV [16:9] |
Brand: | EluneVision |
Viewable Diagonal in.: | 100 |
Viewable Width in.: | 87 |
Viewable Height in.: | 49 |
Surface Color: | White |
Product Status: | Leaves Warehouse within 2-3 Weeks |
Gain: | 1.0 |
Case Color: | Black |
Product Line: | Reference Studio 4K 100 |
Front/Rear Projection: | Front |
Projection Surface: | Reference Studio 4K 100 |
Special Features: | Tensioned |
Supported Resolution: | 4K, 8K, 16K |
Screen Type: | Electric |
Mount Type: | Wall and Ceiling |
Format: | HDTV [16:9] |
Brand: | Stewart Filmscreen |
Viewable Diagonal in.: | 100 |
Viewable Width in.: | 87 |
Viewable Height in.: | 49 |
Surface Color: | White |
Product Status: | Leaves Warehouse within 4-6 Weeks |
Gain: | 1.0 |
Case Color: | White |
Product Line: | Luxus |
Front/Rear Projection: | Front |
Projection Surface: | StudioTek 100 |
What Are The Advantages Of A Retractable Projector Screen?
Retractable screens have a number of advantages over other types of display surfaces.
- Space-saving: A retractable projector screen can be pulled down only when needed and can be easily stored away when not in use, saving valuable wall space in the room. If you don’t have the wall space for a fixed frame, the ability to be drawn down expands the limits of your desired screen size.
- Versatility: A retractable projector screen can be used in a variety of settings, including conference rooms, home theaters, classrooms, and auditoriums.
- Convenience: Retractable projector screens can be easily operated with a pull down string for manual and remote control or wall switch for electric screens, making it convenient to use and simple to put away when not in use.
- Aesthetics: A retractable projector screen provides a professional look to a presentation in a conference room or a hideable minimalist design for an entertainment setup, making it ideal for both business and personal use.
- Durability: When you invest in your retractable screens you get a display that is made with high-quality materials that are durable and long-lasting, providing reliable performance for many years.
- No assembly required: Almost all retractable projection screens come pre-assembled in their case. All you need to do is install it and it’s ready to use.
Are There Disadvantages To Using A Screen That Can Retract?
Rollup screens are often fantastic, but they do have a number of disadvantages compared to other projector screen types.
- Cost: Often the largest disadvantage is that retractable projector screens tend to be more expensive compared to fixed projector screens due to their mechanism for retracting and extending.
- Maintenance: Because they’ve got moving parts, retractable screens can be more prone to damage and require regular maintenance, such as cleaning and lubrication, to ensure smooth operation.
- Limited sizes: Retractable screens are often available in limited sizes, so finding one that fits your specific projector and room may be a challenge. This is especially true of retractable ultra short throw screens that are limited to 120 inches. Getting larger rollup screens can increase the price exponentially.
- Installation: Installing a retractable screen can be more complex and time-consuming compared to a fixed screen, and may require the assistance of a professional. Particularly for ceiling recessed screens that are installed above the ceiling.
- Longevity: Because the screen is rolled and unrolled so often the lifespan of the display surface might not last as long as a fixed frame screen.
When Are Roll-Up Screens Most Useful?
Retractable projector screens can be used in a variety of settings, including:
Living rooms: Retractable screens are a popular choice for living rooms & multipurpose rooms in a home as they provide a high-quality, professional-looking display and can be easily stored away when not in use. That means you won’t need to have a large white or gray rectangle on your wall at all times and can put something like art behind it. Having a screen that can roll up is especially useful when you have kids or pets at home that could accidentally damage the display surface.
Conference rooms: Retractable screens are ideal for conference rooms, allowing for clear and large presentations to be made without the need for a permanent screen. These displays come across as professional and impressive.
Classrooms: Retractable screens can be used in classrooms to display educational materials, videos, and images. This gives teachers the ability to use a large screen for part of their lesson and then easily switch back to using the white board at the front of the classroom.
Auditoriums and social halls: Retractable screens are a great choice for auditoriums, providing a large display for presentations, films, and performances. This is especially useful for schools and houses of worship where the large social halls typically are used for a variety of purposes.
Outdoor spaces: Some retractable screens are specifically designed for outdoor use, making them suitable for outdoor presentations, movie screenings, and other events. Draper’s Nocturne series are a prime example of backyard projector screens that are retractable.
Trade shows: Retractable screens can be used at trade shows to display presentations and videos, providing a professional and convenient display solution. They’re quick to set up and break down, making them a great choice for conventions and expos.
Overall, retractable projector screens are versatile and can be used in just about any setting where a large, high-quality display is needed.
Where Are Retractable Screens Not Needed?
In many situations a retractable screen is preferable to a fixed frame one but not in every scenario. Typically retractable screens are overkill in dedicated settings where the room isn’t used for other purposes. Most people typically don’t need a retractable home theater screen because the room is only used for watching movies and other media, so it makes sense to save money by getting a fixed frame screen. For larger exhibition booths, folding frame screens may be a better option.
What Are The Types Of Retractable Projector Screen?
There are two main types of retractable display surfaces: manual projector screens and motorized projectors screens. Each one has their own benefits and ideal use case.
Manual Projector Screens
Supported Resolution: | 1080P |
Screen Type: | Manual |
Mount Type: | Wall and Ceiling |
Format: | HDTV [16:9] |
Brand: | Draper |
Viewable Diagonal in.: | 106 |
Viewable Width in.: | 92 |
Viewable Height in.: | 52 |
Surface Color: | White |
Product Status: | Leaves Warehouse within 5-10 Business Days |
Gain: | 1.0 |
Case Color: | White |
Product Line: | Luma |
Front/Rear Projection: | Front |
Projection Surface: | Matt White XT1000E |
Supported Resolution: | 1080P |
Screen Type: | Manual |
Mount Type: | Wall and Ceiling |
Format: | Square [1:1] |
Brand: | Draper |
Viewable Diagonal in.: | 119 |
Viewable Width in.: | 84 |
Viewable Height in.: | 84 |
Surface Color: | White |
Product Status: | Leaves Warehouse within 5-10 Business Days |
Gain: | 1.0 |
Case Color: | White |
Product Line: | Luma |
Front/Rear Projection: | Front |
Projection Surface: | Matt White XT1000E |
Supported Resolution: | 1080P |
Screen Type: | Manual |
Mount Type: | Wall and Ceiling |
Format: | Square [1:1] |
Brand: | Draper |
Viewable Diagonal in.: | 99 |
Viewable Width in.: | 70 |
Viewable Height in.: | 70 |
Surface Color: | White |
Product Status: | Leaves Warehouse within 5-10 Business Days |
Gain: | 1.0 |
Case Color: | White |
Product Line: | Luma 2 |
Front/Rear Projection: | Front |
Projection Surface: | Matt White XT1000E |
Supported Resolution: | 1080P |
Screen Type: | Manual |
Mount Type: | Wall and Ceiling |
Format: | HDTV [16:9] |
Brand: | Da-Lite |
Viewable Diagonal in.: | 159 |
Viewable Width in.: | 139 |
Viewable Height in.: | 78 |
Surface Color: | White |
Product Status: | Leaves Warehouse within 5-6 Weeks |
Gain: | 1.0 |
Case Color: | Black, White |
Product Line: | Model C |
Front/Rear Projection: | Front |
Projection Surface: | Matte White |
Supported Resolution: | 1080P |
Screen Type: | Manual |
Mount Type: | Ceiling |
Format: | Widescreen [16:10] |
Brand: | Da-Lite |
Viewable Diagonal in.: | 113 |
Viewable Width in.: | 96 |
Viewable Height in.: | 60 |
Surface Color: | White |
Product Status: | Leaves Warehouse within 5-6 Weeks |
Gain: | 1.0 |
Case Color: | Black, White |
Product Line: | Advantage Manual w/CSR |
Front/Rear Projection: | Front |
Projection Surface: | Matte White |
Supported Resolution: | 1080P |
Screen Type: | Manual |
Mount Type: | Wall and Ceiling |
Format: | Video [4:3] |
Brand: | Draper |
Viewable Diagonal in.: | 100 |
Viewable Width in.: | 80 |
Viewable Height in.: | 60 |
Surface Color: | White |
Product Status: | Leaves Warehouse within 5-10 Business Days |
Gain: | 1.0 |
Case Color: | White |
Product Line: | Luma |
Front/Rear Projection: | Front |
Projection Surface: | Matt White XT1000E |
Manual projection screens are screens that require the user to physically pull down and winding up, usually via a small handle or pull-string at the bottom of the screen. They typically feature a mechanism like a window shade that allows the screen to be wrapped back up into the housing. Quality made pull down screens will feature a controlled return mechanism so the surface doesn’t shoot back into the casing potentially damaging the screen or causing injury.
Hand operated roll down displays are often a more cost effective option. This makes them perfect for offices, classrooms, conference rooms, and particularly for smaller multipurpose rooms.
Motorized Projector Screens
Special Features: | Tensioned |
Supported Resolution: | 4K, 8K |
Screen Type: | Electric |
Mount Type: | Wall and Ceiling |
Format: | HDTV [16:9] |
Brand: | Stewart Filmscreen |
Viewable Diagonal in.: | 100 |
Viewable Width in.: | 87 |
Viewable Height in.: | 49 |
Surface Color: | White |
Product Status: | Leaves Warehouse within 4-6 Weeks |
Gain: | 1.1 |
Case Color: | White |
Product Line: | Cima BC |
Front/Rear Projection: | Front |
Projection Surface: | Neve |
Special Features: | Ambient Light Rejection, Tensioned, Ultra Short Throw |
Supported Resolution: | 4K |
Screen Type: | Electric, Ultra Short Throw |
Mount Type: | Floor |
Format: | HDTV [16:9] |
Brand: | Spectra Projection |
Viewable Diagonal in.: | 120 |
Viewable Width in.: | 104.6 |
Viewable Height in.: | 58.8 |
Surface Color: | Gray |
Product Status: | Leaves Warehouse within 2-3 Weeks |
Gain: | 0.7 |
Case Color: | Black |
Product Line: | Phoenix |
Front/Rear Projection: | Front |
Projection Surface: | Phoenix |
Special Features: | Ambient Light Rejection, Tensioned, Ultra Short Throw |
Supported Resolution: | 4K |
Screen Type: | Electric, Ultra Short Throw |
Mount Type: | Floor |
Format: | HDTV [16:9] |
Brand: | Vividstorm |
Viewable Diagonal in.: | 100 |
Viewable Width in.: | 87.2 |
Viewable Height in.: | 49.1 |
Surface Color: | Gray |
Product Status: | Leaves Warehouse within 2-3 Weeks |
Gain: | 0.6 |
Case Color: | Black, White |
Product Line: | S PRO |
Front/Rear Projection: | Front |
Projection Surface: | Vividstorm UST |
Special Features: | Tensioned |
Supported Resolution: | 4K |
Screen Type: | Electric |
Mount Type: | Wall and Ceiling |
Format: | HDTV [16:9] |
Brand: | EluneVision |
Viewable Diagonal in.: | 100 |
Viewable Width in.: | 87 |
Viewable Height in.: | 49 |
Surface Color: | White |
Product Status: | Leaves Warehouse within 2-3 Weeks |
Gain: | 1.0 |
Case Color: | Black |
Product Line: | Reference Studio 4K 100 |
Front/Rear Projection: | Front |
Projection Surface: | Reference Studio 4K 100 |
Special Features: | Tensioned |
Supported Resolution: | 4K, 8K, 16K |
Screen Type: | Electric |
Mount Type: | Wall and Ceiling |
Format: | HDTV [16:9] |
Brand: | Stewart Filmscreen |
Viewable Diagonal in.: | 100 |
Viewable Width in.: | 87 |
Viewable Height in.: | 49 |
Surface Color: | White |
Product Status: | Leaves Warehouse within 4-6 Weeks |
Gain: | 1.0 |
Case Color: | White |
Product Line: | Luxus |
Front/Rear Projection: | Front |
Projection Surface: | StudioTek 100 |
Special Features: | Ambient Light Rejection, Tensioned, Ultra Short Throw |
Supported Resolution: | 4K |
Screen Type: | Electric, Ultra Short Throw |
Mount Type: | Floor |
Format: | HDTV [16:9] |
Brand: | Spectra Projection |
Viewable Diagonal in.: | 110 |
Viewable Width in.: | 96 |
Viewable Height in.: | 54 |
Surface Color: | Gray |
Product Status: | Leaves Warehouse within 2-3 Weeks |
Gain: | 0.7 |
Case Color: | Black |
Product Line: | Phoenix |
Front/Rear Projection: | Front |
Projection Surface: | Phoenix |
Motorized projection screens use an electric motor to automatically raise and lower the screen. This makes them a convenient option for larger screens, screens hanging from the ceiling where the pull string is out of reach, or for users who just don't want to manually pull down the screen each time they want to use it.
Many self-opening electronic screens can be connected to the projector so that they automatically descend when the device is turned on and roll up when it’s turned off. This syncing is often controlled either by Bluetooth or a 12V trigger.
Different Mount Types Of Roll Up Screens
There are a few ways retractable screens are mounted so that it can be fully rolled down and ready to display your chosen media.
Wall And Ceiling Screens
Wall and ceiling projection screens are mounted, as the name implies, to the wall or ceiling. They are positioned below the ceiling or mounted on the wall and act like a rollable picture frame. These projection displays are the easiest to mount, and don’t require you to cut into the ceiling. You just need to drill into the wall or ceiling.
Recessed Screens
Recessed screens are mounted in the ceiling and are completely concealed when not in use. The housing of these hidden screens are flush with the ceiling. They are ideal for rooms with a low ceiling height or for a clean, streamlined appearance.
Floor Rising Screens
Floor rising projector screens are another type of retractable projector screen. The housing for the screen is placed on or mounted below the floor and the display surface rises up from the base when in use, providing a convenient and easy-to-use option for a wide range of environments, including homes, offices, schools, and more. Floor rising screens are easier to move around as needed than wall and ceiling screens that are mounted.
Portable And Tripod Screens
These screens are freestanding and can be easily moved from room to room. They feature a lightweight tripod stand, which provides stability and is easily transportable. They are a good choice for presentations or events held in temporary locations making them a convenient option for individuals or small businesses.
What Should You Look For In A Retractable Movie Screen?
If you want to get the most out of your projection set up and the best display for your needs, just like any other projection screen there are some key factors to consider depending on your specific requirements. These include screen size, viewing angle, gain, aspect ratio, supported resolution, screen material, ambient light rejection, warranty and of course the price.
However, specifically when buying a retractable projector screen, there are a number of aspects to be aware of to get the best picture possible.
Tensioning
Tensioning refers to the process of ensuring that the screen is stretched tight and wrinkle-free when it is pulled down. A well-tensioned screen will provide a clear and sharp image, while a poorly tensioned screen can result in a distorted or blurry image.
A tensioned projector screen has wires on the edges that pull the screen taught so the surface is perfectly flat and not rippled. Tab tensioned screens often cost more, but they guarantee a flat projection surface that won’t curl up over time. This type of screen offers high-quality images and if you are looking to use a 4K projector you’ll need a perfectly flat area to properly render the ultra high definition resolution.
You’ll typically only find tensioning on motorized screens, because you need to have the smooth motion of a motor to avoid screwing up the tensioning of the guidewires. Manual screens and lower quality eclectic screens only use a weighted bar at the bottom of the screen to keep stretched tightly.
Controlled Screen Return
A controlled return on a manual projector screen refers to the mechanism used to retract the screen into its casing. A controlled screen return means that the screen is able to retract smoothly and evenly, without any sagging or buckling, and with minimal noise.
If your screen doesn’t have a controlled return mechanism it will aggressively snap back when you try to roll it back up.
The slow auto-return is typically achieved through the use of a spring-loaded mechanism. The controlled screen return helps to maintain the integrity of the screen and protects it from damage when not in use. It also provides a neat and professional appearance, as the screen can be easily retracted out of sight when not needed.
Power Source
On a motorized movie screen, the power source is an important factor to help you decide which screen to buy. There are two main power sources for electric projection screens, battery and wired.
Wired screens either plug into an outlet, these are referred to as plug and play projector screens or you can get screens that are hardwired directly into a power source. Wired projector screens are typically the better choice for schools and businesses since you won’t need to worry about the screen unexpectedly running out of juice on an untrained teacher or employee.
Battery powered motorized screens use a rechargeable lithium battery. They typically only need to be charged about once a year with regular use. They’re often reserved for home use where you’ll remember yourself when to charge the battery.