How a Technical Screen Fabric Works

In the previous article, we outlined the key differences between a traditional Matte White fabric and a technical screen fabric. In this second article, let's take a closer look at how the Infinity technical screen fabric works.

How a Technical Screen Fabric Works

It is the presence of specular reflective optical elements (mentioned in the previous article) within the fabric that gives it this distinctive property. The more specular reflective elements are incorporated into the composition of the ALR projection fabric, the more effective its ambient light rejection will be.

But this explanation only accounts for part of the equation. Because, as this is science rather than magic, what you take away in one area, you add somewhere else. Simply put, the higher the specular reflection factor of a technical screen fabric, the narrower its viewing angle, and the more pronounced the appearance of a "hot spot" (a brighter zone at the centre of the image compared to the edges) will be.

The design of a technical screen fabric must therefore result from the most balanced composition possible. It must offer reflection that is diffuse enough to remain uniform across as wide a viewing angle as possible, while still delivering satisfactory specular action. This is what allows it to absorb ambient stray light.

In summary, a technical screen fabric is the product of a blend of materials with complementary optical properties (diffuse and specular) mixed as uniformly as possible. It is by no means made up of "stacked optical layers", as some commercial descriptions would have you believe.

Its specular reflection capability impacts both the viewing angle available to the viewer and the uniformity of the projected image. The ambient light rejection capabilities of a technical screen fabric are therefore also subject to certain limitations.