Screen dimensions for proper aspect ratio?

[tfletch76]

Hey all, new to the forum and looking for some assistance on building out my first sim setup.

I'm building this in my garage and will be building a custom enclosure, but I'm not certain about the proper dimensions I should plan for? My ceilings are only 8' 6" and I can go as wide as 9'; but when projecting the image what actual size image could I be looking at? If I'm looking at an actual image that's 8' x 8' then what's the recommended width to allow for clips/bungees?

I'm planning to pick up some raw SQ material so I can fit whatever size I end up with, and save some money while I'm at it.

Also - would that affect my choice of projector?

Thanks for your input!

Side note - for once, being average height is a good thing given my low ceiling.

[JayJo13]

Basically you should figure out the maximum size of your screen and then make a decision on what ratio you want your image projected at. I personally like 16:9 but a lot of others like 4:3 and you need a lot of width to project a big enough image using 16:9. It also depends on the space you have. With your space 4:3 is probably the best option.

So if you have 9' of width:

With 16:9 your image would be 9' wide x 5' high.
With 4:3 your image would be 9' wide x 6' 9" high (you'd be maximizing the screen area here)

The three most common video projector aspect ratios are 4:3 (XGA & SXGA), 16:10 (WXGA & WUXGA) and 16:9 (standard HDTV, 1080p).

Most projectors will handle both 16:9 and 4:3 but look for one with a native ratio that matches what you go with. Make sure you look at short throw projectors and use this calculator when making your decision - https://www.projectorcentral.com/pro...ulator-pro.cfm

Also, a projector with Lumens greater than 3,000 is important.

Good luck!

[3on3putt]

Just to chime in, you won't be able to have an 8x8 image as you described in your post. That would require an aspect ratio of 1:1. A 1:1 aspect ratio exists for classroom-style projectors but I don't believe any of the home theater projectors needed for a golf sim have 1:1. With only 9 feet of width to work with, a 4:3 is your best bet.

In addition to the projector central site, this site also serves the same purpose.

https://www.projectorscreen.com/projector-screen-calculators

Research what things like "throw ratio" and "throw distance" mean and then play around with the tools to figure out what size of screen and image you'll be working with along with how far away the projector needs to be for that size image. That will tell you what type of projector you need. Projector stuff can be confusing as all hell, but there's a lot of people here who are skilled in this area (not myself lol) who are happy to help.

[tfletch76]

Thanks JayJo13 and 3on3putt for the input, exactly what I needed help on!