The Chroma Vue performs better in the presence of subdued lighting than any other projection screen I have used. Its contrast in the presence of moderate levels of ambient light is simply amazing. While you can’t read a book by this amount of light (or at least you shouldn’t), you certainly can see everyone and everything going on around you. If you want(or need) a front-projection system you can enjoy in the dark or with some room lights, and if you have a suitably bright projector, Sony’s Chroma Vuescreen could be perfect for you.