Projector Screen: Border vs. No Border

A border can change the look of your projected images.

Choosing a projector screen requires great attention to detail. The presence or lack of a border, and the construction of the border, will change how the images you project onto your screen appear to your audience.

Border

A black border around your projector screen will brighten and enhance the appearance of colors and lines in a presentation. The border, if it is sufficiently black and made of some light-absorbing material such as velvet, will stop light from bleeding off or onto your screen during projection.

No Border

To take full advantage of your screen space, a projector screen with no border is a reasonable choice. If you are using your screen in a light-sealed room, for instance, the extra light absorption a border provides is not so necessary, and may limit the size of your projected image.

Border Materials

The border of your projection screen must be black, and made of some fabric or paint that will not reflect any light. Velvet fabric and specialty projection border paint are the best materials for a border. Metal around your screen will reflect light, even if it is black in color, and needs to be covered or painted to function properly.

References

• HDTV Projector Screen: Choosing a Portable Screen
• B&H Photo: Ultra Black Projection Screen Paint