We have written a very comprehensive guide about gray vs white projector screens, their advantages and disadvantages, and which one you should choose.
After comparing the black and white screens, we have come up with a detailed guide about gray vs white projector screens to clarify your quarries about what you should choose between gray and white projector screens?
We are going to compare the essential parameters and provide you with the pros and cons of each technology. Also, you will get a small section to identify whether you want a gray or white screen.
Without further wasting time, keep scrolling down;
So, Will you stick with the gray or white? Some pointers to Gray vs. White Projector Screen
Contrast:
Since Gray screens are solely built to compensate for the contrast levels of low contrast ratio projectors with 1500:1 or 2000:1, you will surely get better contrast levels on gray screens as compared to white screens.
Though white screens are not that bad, if you still have a low-contrast projector, a gray screen will definitely uplift the contrast to provide decent black levels and colors.
Related: What is projector Ratio?
Black Levels:
As gray has properties to pop up the contrast, you will surely get deeper blacks because the contrast level is an essential ingredient to enrich the blacks by mitigating the fad.
We have compared both screens with our Epson 5050ub; the gray screen performs much better than the white, but let me confirm that after using an expensive white screen, we get mind-blowing results with balanced contrast colors and black levels.
Ambient Light Performance:
Gray performs much better than white in the modest ambient because gray has properties of absorbing like black color to enrich the contrast, colors, and black levels.
White also performs pretty well, but you must have a projector with a top-notch contrast ratio, brightness, color wheel, and black levels to get mind-blowing results even in modest ambient.
Price:
As per our statistics, we have found that average quality gray and white screens are the same in cost, but when we move upward, we have found that white screens are much more expensive as compared to gray.
Advantages And Disadvantages Of Gray Screens
- Mind-blowing contrast even with low contrast ratio projectors.
- Decent black levels and colors.
- Impressive outdoor performance.
- Budget-friendly.
- Lack modern features
- Limited options and sizes.
Advantages And Disadvantages Of White Screens
- Best picture quality if you have a premium screen.
- Modern features
- Various options and sizes.
- Muted contrast and colors on cheap screens.
- Not perform well in outdoor conditions with low contrast ratio projectors.
Related: black vs. white projector screens
Which One You Should Choose
The following factors should be considered to make the buying decisions.
1. Budget
Gray screens are slightly cheaper than white screens because modern, expensive white screens perform mind-blowing in a dark environment; they have powerful reflective material with balanced grains.
On the other hand, gray screens are affordable and have simple materials. You don’t need to buy a gray screen with premium stuff to pop up the colors, black levels, etc. A simple gray screen would work more than your expectations.
2. Contrast ratio of the projector
if your projector doesn’t have a sufficient contrast ratio, you should go for a dark screen like gray. As the gray screen is solely made to pop up the contrast, you will get satisfactory results by replacing your white screen with gray.
3. The brightness of the projector
If you have a projector with very low lumens, you should go for a gray screen to pop up the brightness a bit more. As white screens have ultra-reflective properties, they will reflect a chunk of brightness, and as a result, we will get a bit of muted brightness and colors.
4. Operating environment
if you want to operate your projector on a modest ambient gray screen, it will be a good choice for you since darker color has properties to enhance the black levels, contrast, and colors; you will never notice faded or muted colors.
If you are going to use it in a dark cave, white will be a good choice; still, your room will not be properly dark unless your room is painted with a dark color. Since white reflects more light, you may not have a satisfactory dark environment.
5. Varieties
Since the white screen is the standard of the projector industry, they have been here for a long time. However, gray screens are newer in the game and need a bit of time to become mature.
You will surely get more varieties on white screens than on gray screens.
6. Modern Features
White screens are more dominant than gray screens in terms of modern features. As white screens have wave passages feature that can pass sound through the screens, in case you don’t have a screen with speakers, you can hide speakers behind your white screen to get mind-blowing sound.
Also, due to the abundance of white screens, you will not struggle to get the desired screen size.
The FAQS: Frequently Asked Questions
When would you use a GREY projector screen?
If your projector has low lumens and contrast ratio, you should go for a gray projector screen.
Will a projector work on a grey wall?
Yes, but you will get an average picture unless you have high-quality gray projector paint on your wall.
Does projector screen color matter?
Yes, of course, screen colors matter a lot to pop up the colors, contrast, and black levels; if you want to enjoy the real blacks and contrast, you should go for a dark-colored screen. Otherwise, you can go for a light-colored screen.
