How to Pick the Best ALR Screen for your Media Room

“Ambient lighting” is a term used frequently in the AV industry. It is the light that is present in a room before additional lighting is added, including sunlight, ceiling lights, and fireplaces, as opposed to task lighting or complicated, multi-layered lighting design.

Though it is an essential part of our everyday lives, ambient lighting should not be a part of your home theater experience. Ambient light rejecting screens combat this glare-causing nuisance with unique technology that we’ll discuss today. Read on to find out why you should use one in your next media room installation in Lake Norman, NC!

SEE ALSO: Tips for Media Room Installations in Your Next Design or Build Project

Types of Media Room Installation Screens

There are three types of reflection screens used in your Lake Norman media room installation. Regular screens use diffuse reflectors or reflectors that reflect incoming light in all directions uniformly. Most flat-panel televisions use diffuse reflectors, which is why when you watch them on a sunny day, you’ll see on the screen. Matte white screens are the perfect diffusers since white screens are designed to reflect light evenly across the display. In a dark room, projected pictures do not compete with ambient light. However, it is challenging to create a completely dark room when completing a media room installation.

Ambient Light Rejection Screens -Specular and Retroflective

Ambient light rejection screens are a recent trend in media room designs that reflect the image to the audience while reflecting any extraneous light away. There are two types of ambient light rejection displays: specular and retroreflective.

Specular screens reflect light at an angle precisely opposite from where it came from, like a mirror. Positioning the projector can direct the ambient light away from the audience.  Specular screens are the preferred lighting technique for commercial applications, and it is used sometimes in residential applications as well. The material prevents full diffusion of the light in order to prevent washout, enhance the color, and improve image clarity. The downside to specular reflection is that because it relies so much on positioning, there is a narrower viewing cone; viewing from outside of this reduces the picture quality.

Retroreflective lighting reflects the light directly back to the light source. Specular screens are an excellent choice for media room installations in Lake Norman, NC, because they allow for larger screens without sacrificing picture quality, creating the perfect space for entertainment in your home. This type of lighting maximizes contrast and color temperature, ideal for both UHD and 4Kviewing experiences. Because the light is reflected directly back to the light source, it is important to consider projector placement; retroreflective lighting effects will not work if the ambient lighting is coming from the same direction as the projector.

Ambient light rejection screens are often the best choice for media room installations like yours. If you think this technology is right for you, The Integrated Home would love to partner with you on your next project. Give us a call at (704) 412-4040 or fill out our online form to learn more about media rooms and home theaters. We look forward to hearing from you!