Do you know the real effect of a Black Backing layer?

October 8, 2025

Patrice Congard, CEO of Screen Excellence

When a screen is "solid", i.e. not Acoustically Transparent (A.T.), it reflects somehow all the projector light if it is not grey. Still, some manufacturers provide a black surface on the rear side of the screen. Why is that?
Simply put, the screen material might not be 100% opaque. This translates into a contrast loss if there is ANY light coming from behind.


A checkerboard pattern projected to measure the real contrast ratio of a projector/screen combination

Now, looking at an A.T. screen, adding an A.T. black layer behind is crucial as the screen surface has some degree of visual transparency. The black backing layer absorbs the light coming from the rear, preventing the contrast loss.
Painting the rear wall in black can, to some extend, serve the same purpose.
BUT,
In real life, an ANSI checkerboard contrast measurement reveals a huge difference: Measured in the same conditions (with a black rear wall) , the contrast  with and without Black Backing shows this: With black backing, it is nearly the double!
Our screens are provided with an A.T. Black Backing fabric as standard.  It makes a difference.