Screen size depends on your projector throw distance and your seating distance. A common rule is to sit at 1.5x to 2.5x the screen width for an immersive but comfortable view. Use our Screen Finder — answer a few quick questions and we'll match you to the right screen size and fabric automatically. Prefer to talk it through? Contact our team and we'll work it out from your room dimensions and projector specs.

ALR (Ambient Light Rejection) screens are engineered to reflect projector light back to viewers while absorbing off-axis ambient light from windows and room lighting. If your room has significant ambient light during viewing and you don't want blackout curtains, an ALR screen is a game-changer. If you already have a dark viewing room, a standard white gain screen will give excellent results at a lower price point. Browse our full range of screens to compare options.

Fixed-frame screens offer the flattest, most taut surface for the best possible image quality — ideal for dedicated home cinemas where the screen is always on display. Browse Fixed Frame Screens.

Electric (motorised) screens retract into a housing when not in use, making them perfect for multi-purpose rooms like living rooms or boardrooms. Browse Electric Screens. TrueThrow offers both types across all fabric options.

For bright rooms or mixed-use spaces, our Grey ALR or Fresnel ALR fabrics deliver contrast even in ambient light. For dedicated dark cinema rooms, our White Matte fabric gives neutral colour accuracy across a wide viewing angle. For ultra-short-throw laser projectors, our UST Screens with Fresnel ALR fabric are specifically optimised. Not sure? Use our Screen Finder or ask our team — we'll recommend the perfect fabric for your projector and room.

Yes - all TrueThrow screens are designed for straightforward DIY installation and ship with full instructions, mounting hardware, and a spirit level guide. Fixed-frame screens typically take 30-60 minutes for two people. Electric screens require a power outlet nearby and may need a professional if ceiling mounting is involved. We also offer a nationwide professional installation service if preferred.

All TrueThrow screens are covered by our comprehensive 2-year manufacturer's warranty against defects in materials and workmanship. This covers the screen fabric, frame, and motorised mechanism. If anything goes wrong, our support team will arrange repair or replacement - no quibbles. See our full warranty policy for details, or contact us to make a claim.

It comes down to how close the projector sits to the screen, and the angle the light travels at.

Ultra Short Throw (UST): Sits just inches from the screen, usually on a low stand or media console. Light enters the screen from a steep, low angle.

Short Throw (ST): Sits a few feet back. Can be table/floor-mounted (steep angle, similar to UST) or ceiling-mounted (shallower angle, similar to Long Throw).

Long Throw (LT): Sits well back from the screen - ceiling-mounted or at the rear of the room. Light enters from a shallow, elevated angle.

Ambient-light-rejecting screens work by physically directing light using microscopic ridges or lenses. That structure is built to accept light from one specific angle and reject it from others. Put the wrong throw-type screen with your projector, and the image can turn dim, uneven, or blotchy - even though the exact same type of screen works great with the projector it was designed for.

A screen surface engineered to reflect light coming from the projector while absorbing or scattering light from other directions (room lights, windows). This keeps contrast and black levels intact in rooms that are not fully dark.

CLR (Ceiling Light Rejecting) is a specific type of ALR built for Ultra Short Throw projectors - it accepts light from below (where a UST sits) while aggressively blocking light from above, since overhead room lighting is the biggest problem in a UST setup.

If your room is fully dark when you watch (blackout curtains, no ambient light), Matte White gives the most accurate colour and widest viewing angle for less money. If you are watching with any lights on or during the day, an ALR/CLR material matched to your throw type will noticeably outperform it. Use our Screen Finder to get a personalised recommendation based on your room and projector setup.

BSP, CBSP, UST-tuned Fresnel, and UST/CLR lenticular materials. These are all engineered specifically for light entering at a steep, close angle from below. Browse our UST Compatible Screens to find the right match for your projector, or use the Screen Finder for a guided recommendation.

Both use the same PET Crystal lenticular structure. BSP has higher gain and a brighter image - a good fit for rooms with moderate ambient light. CBSP is darker, with deeper blacks and better contrast - better suited to bright or daytime rooms, usually at a slightly higher price.

Lenticular/CLR uses parallel ridges and gives a wide, consistent viewing angle with good contrast. Fresnel uses concentric rings that focus light more directly at the viewer, producing a brighter, higher-contrast image - but with a narrower sweet spot and more risk of hot-spotting if you are off-centre.

No. Long Throw materials are tuned for light entering from a high, distant angle. On a UST setup the image will be dim and uneven - this is one of the most common and avoidable screen-buying mistakes. Always match your screen to your projector's throw type. Browse UST-compatible screens to see the correct options.

Hot-spotting happens when the screen microstructure over-focuses light at one point rather than spreading it evenly. It is more common with Fresnel materials and with mismatched gain-to-room-size pairings. Lenticular/CLR materials are generally more hot-spot resistant.

It depends on how it is mounted, not just the Short Throw label.

Table or floor-mounted: light enters at a steep angle like UST - use UST-tuned materials. Browse UST Screens.

Ceiling-mounted: light enters at a shallow angle like Long Throw - use Long-Throw-tuned materials. Browse all screens.

Not sure about your mounting? Use our Screen Finder - it factors in both throw type and mounting position.

Check your projector placement before choosing a screen - the mounting position matters more than the Short Throw spec itself. If you are planning both a temporary table setup and a future ceiling mount, a dual-rated material is worth the extra cost.

A small number of manufacturer-specific materials are engineered and tested for both (for example, some CLR2-branded fabrics). This is the exception, not a general category - always confirm dual compatibility with the specific product spec sheet rather than assuming. Browse our range or ask our team if you need help selecting the right screen for your setup.

Gray Crystal, Black Crystal, Long-Throw-tuned Fresnel, and standard Matte Gray ALR materials. These are built for light entering from a higher, more distant angle than UST. Browse our full screen range and filter by projector type, or use the Screen Finder for a personalised match.

Gray Crystal has higher gain, a brighter image, and stronger 3D pop. Black Crystal has more light resistance and holds up better for daytime or brightly lit viewing - the same brighter-vs-higher-contrast tradeoff you see between BSP and CBSP on the UST side, just tuned for Long Throw geometry.

No - same reasoning as above, in reverse. It shares the Fresnel name with the UST version, but the ring geometry is focused for a completely different throw angle.

Yes. Fresnel screens are built assuming the projector sits at a specific point relative to the screen. Mount it upside down or from the wrong position and you will see a sharp drop in brightness and evenness, even though it is the correct throw-type material.

Yes - it is the one truly universal material. It doesn't rely on directional microstructure, so it performs the same regardless of throw type or mounting position. The tradeoff is no ambient light rejection, so it's best reserved for rooms that stay dark while watching. Browse our full range to compare Matte White with ALR options side by side.

These are flat, diffusive materials - not true ALR/CLR - so they are also throw-angle-agnostic and work with any projector type. They offer a modest contrast improvement over Matte White but noticeably less ambient light rejection than a true ALR/CLR/Fresnel material.

If you have full lighting control (blackout curtains, no ambient light while watching), Matte White will give you better colour accuracy and a wider viewing angle for a lower price. ALR/CLR only pays off once ambient light is actually part of the equation.

Matching by material name instead of by throw geometry - assuming Fresnel or Crystal means the same product regardless of projector type. The name describes the optical principle, not the specific tuning; always match by throw type (and, for Short Throw, mounting position) first.

It comes down to three things: your projector throw type (and mounting, if Short Throw), how much ambient light your room has, and how wide your seating area is. Use our Screen Finder to answer a few quick questions and get matched to the right material automatically. Or talk to our engineers directly - free advice, no obligation.