UST ALR Screen Guide: How Lenticular Screens Work

A practical explanation of UST ALR/CLR screens, directional surfaces, gain, viewing angle and why screen orientation matters.

How UST ALR screens work

Ultra-short-throw projectors send light upward from close to the wall. A UST-specific ALR/CLR surface is engineered to reflect that projector light toward the viewer while reducing light arriving from less useful directions, especially above.

ALR vs CLR terminology

ALR means ambient light rejecting. CLR is commonly used for ceiling light rejecting. In UST shopping, the terms often overlap in marketing. The more important question is whether the material is specifically designed for a UST light path.

What screen gain means

Gain describes reflected brightness relative to a reference surface under standardized conditions. Lower gain is common in contrast-oriented UST ALR materials. Do not use gain alone to predict black level, contrast, viewing uniformity or room performance.

Viewing angle

A wide published viewing angle can be useful for broad seating, but published angle specifications do not replace room testing.

Where floor-rising enters the decision

Once you decide on UST-specific ALR/CLR material, the next major decision is physical format: fixed frame, wall/ceiling retractable or floor rising.