Henry Baker Hall
rear projection screen
What size of screen should we use? This is a common question asked by people looking at installing a screen in their office and for people hosting a presentation at an outside venue. The size of the audience and the projection format are the main considerations in determining an appropriate screen size. The type of content to be shown on the screen also comes into play. The goal when determining a screen size is to make sure that the screen is large enough that the information can be understood by those seated at the back without the people at the front feeling overwhelmed.
1. 48” From Floor
One rule of thumb is that the bottom of the screen should be 48” off the ground to enable everyone to easily see the bottom of the screen. A large room with many rows of seating and a flat floor or obstructions close to the screen will require it to be higher off the floor.
The pictured Henry Baker Hall (Regina Council Chambers) illustrates a room where obstructions are set up close to the screens. As the councillors seats are at the front of the room, the bottom of the screen needs to be higher than 48” so that the gallery can view the screen without obstruction.
Your maximum screen height is now determined (height from floor to ceiling minus 48”). If a room has a 12’ ceiling your maximum screen height would be 8’.
2. First Row Distance
The first row of seats should be twice the screen height away from the screen. 16’ is the closest a row of seats should be to an 8’ screen.
3. Last Row Distance
The suggested maximum distance for the last row of seats to be from the screen should reflect the type of information that the audience will be viewing.
For a standard entertainment style video (4:3 screen format) your last row should be no more than 6 times the height of the screen. For this instance, a 9’ high by 12’ wide
(4:3 screen ratio) screen, the last row of seats should be no more than 54’ from the screen.
Training room charts and graphs should use a 4 times ratio to calculate the maximum distance of the last row of seats. A training room with a 9’ screen should have the last row of seats no more than 36’ back.
High Definition (HD) formats should use a calculation of 3 times the screen height. A wide-screen format of 16:9 could be a 16’ wide by 9’ high screen, meaning the last row of chairs should be a maximum of 27’ back from the screen.
4. Height and Format Determine Width
Once you have determined the proper height of the screen, apply the screen format that you are using to determine your final appropriate screen size.
A final reminder that these are rules of thumb and not absolutes. Call your Inland AV location and discuss your specific situation to determine your ideal screen size.
The information for this article was made available by Draper and Da-Lite, manufactures of quality projection screens.
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