Optimal Screen Size

[sunith]

All:

In my dedicated HT,the screen wall size is 8'2" (Height) by 12' (Width).
Taking away the bottom 2 feet, I can project a max 138" image (16:9) from my projector to cover the wall.

Any thoughts on whats a decent screen size for this room size ?
My room is around 20' long and would have only 1 row of seats. My initial thought was 120' and then looking at my wall size, went more..... Am I overdoing the screen size ?

I am planning projection on a painted wall, so easy to reduce or increase the screen size.

 

[sdurani]

Screen size depends on: a) where you plan on sitting in the room, b) how big a screen you can tolerate before fatigue sets in, and c) whether your projector can light it up properly. No sense getting a 138" screen only to be stuck watching a dim picture with no shadow detail.

Good location to put your row of seating is around 2/3 room length: 12-13 feet from the front wall. A 138" diagonal 16:9 screen will give you a 43 degree viewing angle. That's roughly the same size image you would get if you sit about 2/3 back in a commercial movie theatre.