Screen Innovations Launches KAOS 360: A Heavy-Duty, Dual-Sided Outdoor Projection Screen
If you’ve ever tried to run an outdoor movie night and watched the picture ripple every time a breeze crossed the yard, you already understand the problem Screen Innovations just spent years solving. On August 5, 2026, the Austin-based screen manufacturer unveiled the KAOS 360 Rear-Pro Projection Screen, a motorized outdoor screen that does something no mainstream outdoor rear-projection system has managed before: it shows a clean, usable image on both sides at once, at sizes up to 24 feet wide, while standing up to serious wind.
This isn’t a projector announcement in the traditional sense — Screen Innovations doesn’t make projectors. But for anyone building a home theater, a poolside entertainment space, or a commercial outdoor venue, the screen is every bit as important as the projector throwing light at it. A great UST or laser projector paired with a screen that ripples in the wind is still a bad viewing experience. That’s exactly the gap KAOS 360 is built to close.
Below, we break down what the KAOS 360 actually is, how the technology works, who it’s for, how it stacks up against Screen Innovations’ own product line and the broader outdoor screen market, and what to expect when it makes its public debut at CEDIA Expo 2026 in Denver this September.
Product Overview
The KAOS 360 Rear-Pro Projection Screen combines two technologies Screen Innovations already sells separately and merges them into a single product line for the first time.
The first ingredient is SI’s 360-degree optic, a rear-projection screen material embedded with light-diffusing particles. Instead of bouncing light back toward a single seating zone the way most projection surfaces do, this material scatters light in every direction. That means people sitting on opposite sides of the screen — say, guests on a patio and swimmers in a pool on the other side of the yard — can watch the same image at the same brightness and color accuracy simultaneously. SI first introduced this optic on its Solo 3 screen, and it’s been a favorite among installers ever since, because a single projector and a single screen can now do the job that used to require two of each.
The second ingredient is KAOS, a rugged retention platform originally engineered under SI’s Shade Innovations brand for outdoor sun shades that needed to survive high wind. The system uses what the company calls the Onyx Retention System to keep the fabric under even tension across the frame, preventing the sagging and fluttering that ruins rear-projected images outdoors.
Put those two together, and you get a screen that’s designed specifically to solve the one problem that has kept dual-sided outdoor projection from becoming a bigger category: wind.
Why Rear Projection Outdoors Is So Hard
It’s worth pausing to explain why this matters, because front projection and rear projection behave very differently outside.
With front projection, the projector shines light onto the front of an opaque screen, and the audience watches from the same side the projector is on. A little movement in the fabric shifts the image slightly, but most viewers barely notice — the eye is forgiving of small distortions when light is being reflected back.
With rear projection, the projector sits behind the screen, and light passes through a translucent material to reach the audience on the other side. This is far less forgiving. Any bow, sag, or flutter in the material changes the distance between the projector lens and the screen surface at that exact point, which throws focus off in that section of the image. A screen that looks perfectly flat while sitting still can turn into a soft, warping mess the instant a gust of wind crosses the yard.
That fragility is exactly why dual-sided rear-projection screens have mostly stayed indoors or in wind-sheltered installations until now. KAOS 360 is Screen Innovations’ attempt to take that limitation off the table entirely.
Design and Build
The KAOS 360 is a motorized screen, meaning it can retract completely out of sight when not in use. Installers can mount it in a surface-mounted housing or recess it into a pocket cassette, with multiple finish options available to blend with surrounding architecture — a detail that matters a great deal for high-end residential and hospitality installs where the screen needs to disappear when the show is over.
Structurally, the screen is held taut by the Onyx Retention System, which Screen Innovations says delivers up to three times greater resistance to air movement compared to conventional outdoor projection screens. That’s the headline engineering claim, and it’s the one that unlocks everything else about this product, including its unusually large maximum size.
Display Technology: The 360-Degree Optic Explained
Let’s unpack the core technology in plain terms, since “360-degree optic” can sound more complicated than it is.
Most projection screens are designed to reflect or transmit light efficiently toward one general viewing direction. That’s fine for a living room, where everyone sits facing the same wall. But outdoors, where people spread out across a yard, a pool deck, or a patio, a traditional screen creates “dead zones” — areas where the image looks dim, washed out, or simply isn’t visible at all.
SI’s 360-degree optic solves this by embedding light-diffusing particles directly into the projection material. These particles scatter incoming light evenly in every direction rather than funneling it toward a single sweet spot. The practical result, according to Screen Innovations, is a bright, uniform, hot-spot-free image visible from both sides of the screen across a 160-degree viewing cone on each face.
In simpler terms: nobody has to fight over the “good seats.” A guest standing at a sharp angle near the pool sees essentially the same brightness and color as someone sitting directly in front of the screen.
This also gives installers more freedom when placing the projector itself. Because the optic is engineered to be forgiving of viewing angle, Screen Innovations says installers can lean more heavily on lens shift and keystone correction — features found on most modern 4K laser projectors — to tuck the projector into a less obtrusive location without sacrificing image quality.
Size and Scale: Up to 24 Feet Wide
One of the more remarkable claims from Screen Innovations is that KAOS 360 supports screen sizes up to 24 feet wide — a scale the company says no motorized dual-sided outdoor rear-projection screen has reached before. For context, a 24-foot-wide screen puts this squarely in commercial and high-end residential territory: think large backyard estates, resort pool decks, rooftop bars, drive-in style venues, and hospitality installations rather than a typical suburban patio.
That said, because KAOS 360 is a custom-install product sold through dealers, sizing is expected to be configurable to the space, meaning smaller installations for standard backyards should also be possible even though the 24-foot ceiling is the headline number.
Compatibility, Connectivity, and Installation
Because the KAOS 360 is a screen and not a display device, it doesn’t have its own resolution, brightness, HDMI ports, or operating system the way a projector does. Instead, its “specifications” are about how well it plays with the projection and control ecosystem around it:
- Projector compatibility: Works with any rear-projection-capable laser or UST projector with sufficient lens shift and keystone range; SI recommends leaning on those features for flexible placement.
- Control integration: Fully integrated with the wider Screen Innovations ecosystem of screens, shades, and smart home control systems, so it can be automated alongside other outdoor AV and shading products.
- Mounting options: Surface-mounted housing or recessed pocket cassette, in multiple finishes.
- Motorization: Fully motorized retraction for a clean, screen-free look when not projecting.
Price and Availability
Screen Innovations has not yet published pricing for the KAOS 360. As a custom-install, dealer-sold product, pricing will likely be quoted per project based on screen size, mounting configuration, and finish — similar to how the company prices its existing KAOS shading products and Solo 3 dual-sided screens.
The KAOS 360 Rear-Pro Projection Screen will make its first public appearance at CEDIA Expo 2026, running September 1–4 at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver, at Booth #2818. Expect firmer pricing and ordering details to emerge around or shortly after that show.
How It Compares to Screen Innovations’ Existing Lineup
| Feature | Solo 3 (360 Optic) | Standard KAOS Shading | KAOS 360 Rear-Pro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dual-sided viewing | Yes | No (shading only) | Yes |
| Wind resistance | Standard | Up to 3x conventional | Up to 3x conventional |
| Max width | Smaller residential sizing | N/A (shade product) | Up to 24 feet |
| Outdoor rear-projection rated | Limited | N/A | Yes, purpose-built |
| Motorized retraction | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Primary use case | Indoor/sheltered dual-sided | Outdoor sun shading | Outdoor dual-sided rear projection |
The KAOS 360 essentially takes the best-loved feature of the Solo 3 — its 360-degree optic — and gives it the wind-fighting hardware the Solo 3 was never built for.
How It Compares to the Broader Outdoor Screen Market
Most outdoor projection screens on the market today are front-projection screens. They’re generally more affordable, easier to install, and perfectly serviceable for casual backyard movie nights with one viewing direction. What they don’t offer is dual-sided viewing or the specific wind-tensioning engineering SI is claiming with the Onyx Retention System.
Because KAOS 360 targets professional installers and larger-scale permanent installations, it’s not really competing on price with a budget pull-up screen. Its real competitive set is other high-end custom-install outdoor cinema solutions, where the value proposition is durability, image uniformity, and the ability to serve two audiences with one system.
Who Should Consider the KAOS 360
- Custom home theater installers building permanent outdoor entertainment spaces for high-end residential clients.
- Resort, hospitality, and pool-deck operators who want a single screen visible from multiple gathering areas.
- Large backyard or estate owners who already work with an AV integrator and want a “disappearing” outdoor cinema setup.
- Anyone who has previously dealt with wind-related focus problems on an outdoor rear-projection screen.
Who Should Skip It
- Casual backyard movie night hosts — a simple front-projection pull-up or inflatable screen will do the job for far less.
- Renters or anyone without a permanent installation plan, since KAOS 360 is a dealer-installed, motorized, built-in product.
- Buyers who need pricing certainty right now, since MSRP hasn’t been released.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Genuinely novel engineering: dual-sided viewing plus serious wind resistance in one product
- Scales up to 24 feet wide, opening commercial and large-estate use cases
- Motorized retraction keeps the screen invisible when not in use
- Integrates with SI’s broader smart shading and screen ecosystem
- Gives installers more freedom with projector placement via lens shift/keystone tolerance
Cons:
- No published pricing yet — likely a premium, dealer-quoted product
- Not a DIY or consumer-installable solution
- Overkill for casual, occasional outdoor movie nights
- Full specifications (exact wind ratings, gain, warranty) still pending official release
Market Impact
Outdoor home theater has been one of the fastest-growing segments in the projection industry over the past two years, driven largely by ultra-short-throw and long-throw laser projectors pushing well past 3,000–6,000 ANSI lumens. Screens, however, have lagged behind as the weak link in outdoor setups, particularly for installations serving multiple viewing areas at once. By solving the wind-flutter problem, Screen Innovations is opening the door for integrators to pitch bigger, more ambitious outdoor AV packages. Expect competing screen manufacturers to respond with their own wind-rated or dual-sided outdoor products over the next product cycle.
Future Availability Prediction
Given the CEDIA Expo 2026 demo date of September 1–4, we’d expect Screen Innovations to open dealer ordering shortly after the show, likely with pricing sheets distributed to its installer network through Q4 2026. We’ll update this article once official pricing lands.
FAQ
What is the Screen Innovations KAOS 360?
It’s a motorized, dual-sided outdoor rear-projection screen that combines SI’s 360-degree light-diffusing optic with its wind-resistant KAOS Onyx Retention System, allowing a single screen to display a bright, uniform image on both faces simultaneously.
How big can the KAOS 360 screen get?
Screen Innovations says it supports screen sizes up to 24 feet wide — territory no motorized outdoor rear-projection system has reached before.
How much does the KAOS 360 cost?
Pricing has not yet been announced. As a custom-install, dealer-sold product, it will likely be quoted per project based on size and configuration.
When can I see the KAOS 360 in person?
It will be demonstrated at CEDIA Expo 2026, September 1–4, at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver, Booth #2818.
Does the KAOS 360 work with any projector?
It’s designed to work with rear-projection-capable laser and UST projectors, and its forgiving viewing-angle performance gives installers more flexibility with lens shift and keystone correction.
Is the KAOS 360 a DIY product?
No. It’s sold through professional AV dealers and installers as a custom-install solution.
What’s the difference between KAOS 360 and Screen Innovations’ Solo 3?
The Solo 3 introduced SI’s 360-degree dual-sided optic but wasn’t purpose-built for high-wind outdoor rear projection. KAOS 360 pairs that same optic with the Onyx Retention System specifically to survive outdoor wind conditions at much larger sizes.
Conclusion
The KAOS 360 might not be a flashy new projector with headline-grabbing lumens or a triple-laser engine, but for anyone serious about outdoor home theater, it addresses a problem that’s quietly limited the category for years: wind. By marrying its proven 360-degree dual-sided optic with a retention system built to survive serious air movement, Screen Innovations has created a screen that can finally scale to estate and commercial sizes without falling apart in the first stiff breeze. If you’re planning a large outdoor AV installation and have been holding off because of exactly this issue, the KAOS 360’s CEDIA Expo debut this September is worth watching closely — we’ll update this article the moment official pricing arrives.
