Rear projection used to be the holy grail of projection. The idea is that by putting the projector behind the screen, in its own room or space where ambient light hitting the back of the screen can be contained and controlled, you can achieve the best image. This also helps to make the image more resilient to ambient light that may be hitting the front of the screen.One of my main issues with rear projection is that by using rear projection screen material, you reflect a lot of the brightness back toward the projector. This results in a significant loss of brightness, which means you'll have to spend more money for a projector that can provide even higher brightness than the image brightness you need. Another concern is the space required behind the screen for the projector to throw the correct size image.Of course, front projection comes with its own set of problems. First, you traditionally have to hang the projector from the ceiling somewhere out in the room, which can be unsightly. And, of course, ambient light can wash out the image on your screen. One workaround for the first issue—an obtrusive installation—can be solved with the selection of a long zoom lens that allows you to put the projector at the back of the room. However, these lenses are quite expensive, which only adds to the cost.So which approach is the right one for your space? The answer, not surprisingly is: it depends. There really isn't one solution that is right for every space and budget. However, there are some ways you can quickly determine which option might be best suited for your application.