Ultra Short Throw Screen
Unless you plan on setting up your ultra short throw (UST) projector in a dark, pitch black home theater room with minimal to no ambient light, I recommend that you choose an Ambient Light Rejecting or Ceiling Light Rejecting projection screen designed specifically to be paired with UST projectors. Not every projection screen marketed or advertised as ALR or CLR® is meant to pair with an ultra short throw projector.
Because an ultra short throw projector is located extremely close to the projection surface and its image is projected from below (or above if you hang the UST projector “upside-down” from the ceiling using an optional ceiling mount bracket — be sure to rotate your fixed-frame UST screen 180°) at a more vertical angle compared to other types of projectors, it is crucial that UST screen surfaces be as taut, flat, and smooth as possible to ensure that you experience the best possible picture.
The most common types of ultra short throw projector screens currently available are 1. wall-mount, fixed-frame, 2. wall or ceiling mount electric motorized drop-down, and 3. stand-alone electric motorized floor-rising. Fixed-frame UST screens offer the widest selection of sizes and brands, but must be properly assembled and permanently mounted on the wall like a large wall-mounted television. Electric motorized screens offer the advantage of appearing and disappearing from view on command when you power your projector on or off, but must also be plugged into an AC outlet for power.
The frame bezel of a fixed-frame projector screen typically adds about an inch to overall width and height measurements. With electric motorized drop-down and floor-rising screens, you also have to account for the screen’s housing and black border(s) when thinking about overall height, width, screen and projector location, and installation.
Unlike the electric motorized UST screens which only offer a lenticular black grid screen surface, fixed-frame screens also offer you the choice of a fresnel screen, although they are available in fewer diagonal screen sizes.
Lower-gain lenticular screens are specifically “Ceiling Light Rejecting” because they feature a horizontal saw-tooth micro structure with both a light absorbing layer which absorbs a high percentage of ambient light from above the screen, and a light reflecting layer which reflects the projected image back to your seating area. High-gain fresnel screens are “Ambient Light Rejecting” since they feature a semicircular screen surface which rejects excess ambient light from above AND both sides of the screen.
The brightest ultra short throw projectors generally produce their most colorful, highest-contrast picture when paired with lower-gain lenticular screens. Less bright UST projectors can benefit from being paired with a fresnel screen, especially for daytime viewing in rooms with excessive amounts of ambient light.
Page last updated 10/19/2025.