exhibitor q&a
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audiovisual screen placement

Q.
Whenever we use a projector to show a presentation during our events, I never know how big the screen needs to be and how high it should be placed. Are there any rules of thumb?A.
To ensure that everyone can see the screen, the bottom of it should be located at least 5 feet off the floor, as this will allow seated attendees to see the entire screen over everyone else's heads. In addition, to determine the screen height (i.e., how tall the screen itself should be), take the length of the room and divide by eight. For example, if your room is 40 feet long, the height of your screen should be 5 feet. And if you position it at least 5 feet off the floor, the top of your screen should be 10 feet from it. So before you book a conference room, ensure that its ceiling height will accommodate your AV needs.And finally, the distance between the screen and the projector should be 1.5 times the width of the screen. So if you have an 8-foot screen, your projector needs to be positioned at least 12 feet back from the screen so that your entire image fits within the screen and doesn't "hang off" the screen edge. E
— Lisa Gentilin, Ph.D., CMP, president, Fancy Shindigs Inc., Castro Valley, CA
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