What is screen gain and how does it affect my projection?
Lenses, Throw Ratios, & Projection Surfaces
Screen gain is a rating that compares how much light a screen reflects back to the audience relative to a plain matte white surface (which has a gain of 1.0). Most front projection surfaces used in events are rated at or just above 1.0 gain.
High-gain screens (above 1.0) reflect brighter images, but with a tradeoff: reduced viewing angles and a greater chance of hot spots, which are areas on the screen that appear noticeably brighter than the surrounding image. Low-gain screens (below 1.0) deliver less overall brightness but reduce hot spots and help multi-projector blends look uniform from wider viewing angles. The right choice depends on your projector brightness, audience seating arrangement, and whether you're blending multiple projectors.
Read more about projectors in our Comprehensive Guide to Projectors article.