The EPV Screens DarkStar UST 3 Elevate combines a ceiling-light-rejecting screen material with a motorized, floor-rising enclosure to create an immersive image that disappears when not in use. When combined with a bright ultra-short-throw projector, the screen delivers a vibrant image in nearly any room.
The DarkStar family of screen materials is designed to work with an ultra-short-throw projector. Since the micro-ridge surface only reflects light projected upward at a very steep angle, it absorbs 85% of the overhead ambient light.
The DarkStar UST 3 Elevate is available in several sizes, including 126 inches, 138 inches, and 150 inches diagonal, all in a 16:9 aspect ratio. The 138-inch model used for this review is the sweet spot for many living rooms, offering an immersive image without overwhelming the space.
EPV Screens DarkStar UST 3 Elevate Specs
Projector Compatibility
Ultra-Short-Throw Only
Screen Type
Motorized Floor Rising
Diagonal Sizes (16:9)
126", 138", 140", 150", 152"
Material Type
Ceiling Light Rejecting
Light Rejection
85% of Overhead Lighting
Screen Gain
0.8
Control
IR, RF, 12v trigger
EPV Screens is a division of Elite Screens focused primarily on the custom installation market. Rather than building entry-level or mass-market products, this division designs screens for integration into thoughtfully planned home entertainment systems. Its catalog includes fixed-frame, motorized, acoustically transparent, and specialty projection surfaces that are compatible with a wide range of projector types.
The DarkStar UST 3 Elevate is a tab-tensioned, electric, floor-rising projection screen. When retracted, it sits unobtrusively on the floor against a wall or in front of furniture. When deployed, it rises smoothly to its preset height, providing a large, perfectly aligned projection surface for an ultra-short-throw projector placed just inches away.
This product is not meant to replace a fixed-frame screen in a dedicated dark room. Instead, it is designed for enthusiasts who want a big-screen experience in spaces that typically serve multiple purposes throughout the day. Living rooms with expansive windows, family rooms that double as entertaining spaces, and open-concept homes where wall mounting is either undesirable or impossible are all natural use cases.
When the opportunity arose to review the DarkStar UST 3 Elevate, I leaped at it, as I was looking for a screen solution for my personal space. My living room and dining area are effectively one open space, surrounded by windows, so there is a high amount of ambient light during the day. In addition, there is limited wall space to mount a fixed-frame projection screen. A fixed screen would have obstructed the view, so I need a solution that disappears when not in use. A wall- or ceiling-mounted retractable screen was a possibility, but mounting locations were limited. The ceiling in the area is also vaulted, so mounting a projector overhead would be extremely challenging.
Since the DarkStar UST 3 Elevate is a floor-rising system, it does not require wall or ceiling mounting, which immediately simplifies installation. When the screen is lowered, it is essentially invisible, allowing me to enjoy the view, natural light, and the space's aesthetics. When it rises, it creates a massive projection surface, transforming the room into a theater-like environment.
The DarkStar UST 3 Elevate is designed to work with an ultra-short-throw projector placed directly in front of the screen, eliminating the need to ceiling mount the projector. The combination of a floor-rising screen and an ultra-short-throw projector provided the cleanest, least intrusive way to enjoy an immersive image in a living room like mine that still needed to function as an everyday space.
DarkStar UST 3 CLR Screen Material
The heart of the DarkStar UST 3 Elevate is its projection surface. EPV’s DarkStar UST 3 material is a ceiling light-rejecting (CLR) screen designed specifically for ultra-short-throw projectors. The material uses a micro-ridge optical structure that absorbs up to 85 percent of overhead ambient light. This structure improves perceived black levels and contrast in rooms that are not fully light-controlled.
The screen has a gain rating of approximately 0.8, which means it reflects slightly less light than a matte white surface. By giving up a small amount of peak brightness, the screen achieves deeper blacks and higher perceived contrast, which is often more important in real-world viewing conditions.
The DarkStar UST 3 material maintains a wide viewing angle, allowing viewers seated off-axis to enjoy consistent brightness and color. During testing, brightness drop-off was minimal when moving between seating positions in adjacent areas of the room.
The Benefit of a Retractable Screen
Whether floor-rising or wall-mounted, a retractable screen is often a better solution than a fixed screen in many homes. Fixed-frame screens deliver excellent flatness and are often the best choice for dedicated theaters, but they require a permanent visual commitment. Like a large flat-panel TV, a fixed screen becomes the focal point of the room, whether content is being viewed or not.
Retractable screens address this issue by allowing the display surface to disappear when it is not needed. Wall- or ceiling-mounted retractable screens work well in rooms with suitable mounting locations, but they still require structural attachment and often leave a visible housing. Floor-rising screens take the concept further by eliminating the need for wall or ceiling mounting altogether. They are freestanding, can be placed directly on the floor, and can be repositioned if the room layout changes.
Combining a floor-rising screen with an ultra-short-throw projector offers an additional advantage. UST projectors are designed to sit below the screen, a few inches away, which simplifies installation.
The DarkStar UST 3 Elevate is housed in a low-profile aluminum enclosure finished in black. While the cabinet is long, especially in the larger sizes, its height and depth are modest, allowing it to sit discreetly against a wall or in front of or behind low furniture. The enclosure feels solid and well-constructed, with a weight that suggests durability without being unwieldy.
Internally, the screen uses a cross-rising spring scissor mechanism to lift the projection surface. This design provides stability as the screen rises and lowers, reducing the risk of lateral movement that could affect alignment with a UST projector. The screen is also tab-tensioned, with tension strings along the sides that help maintain a flat projection surface. Flatness is particularly important with ultra-short-throw projectors, where even small waves or ripples can become visible due to the steep projection angle.
Below the viewable screen area is a 12-inch black masking section. This masking is perforated, which allows speakers or a soundbar to be placed behind the screen without significantly impeding the sound. This allows a center channel or soundbar to be visually hidden while maintaining proper placement relative to the image.
Installation
Choosing the correct size is an important part of planning a DarkStar UST 3 Elevate installation. Larger sizes deliver a more immersive experience, but they also require sufficient wall width and appropriate projector brightness. The 126-inch and 138-inch models are likely to be the most practical for typical living rooms, while the 150-inch version is best suited to larger spaces with a more powerful UST projector.
Installing the DarkStar UST 3 Elevate is straightforward. The screen arrived on a very long pallet, and the unpacked screen case was around 11ft long. Although the unit itself is not particularly heavy, its length requires at least two people to move it safely into position.
One advantage of a floor-rising design is that no wall- or ceiling-mounting is required. Once the screen is in place, setup involves connecting power and positioning the projector. The vertical rise is programmable, allowing the screen to stop at the precise height needed for proper alignment with a specific UST projector. Once set, the screen reliably returns to that position every time it is deployed.
I should note that reducing a screen’s default rise position may cause waves/wrinkles on the projection. The full rise is recommended to allow the screen to rely on the tab-tension system to maintain the projection surface flat and taut on all sides.
The DarkStar UST 3 Elevate is designed exclusively for tabletop, floor, or bottom-mounted ultra short throw projectors. It is not suitable for ceiling-mounted UST projectors or standard-throw models, as the CLR material is optimized for a specific projection angle. Attempting to use it outside of these parameters will result in a significantly darker image.
While UST projectors simplify placement, you will still need to ensure the projector is placed at the proper distance from the screen. Since they are sensitive to placement, a few minutes of adjustment are necessary to ensure that the image fills the screen evenly and without distortion. With the Hisense L9Q, after I extended the bottom black masking as high as possible, I still needed to lift the screen approximately 4 inches off the floor. I could have tipped the projector down and used digital keystone correction, but that would slightly reduce the on-screen resolution. Once alignment is complete, daily operation is simple and repeatable.
The DarkStar UST 3 Elevate comes with an IR and RF remote, along with a wall-mountable control box
EPV includes multiple control options with the DarkStar UST 3 Elevate. The screen can be operated via an infrared remote, a radio-frequency remote, or a wall-mounted control box connected with an RJ-50 cable. The RF remote is particularly useful in living room environments because it does not require line-of-sight operation.
The screen also supports both wired 12-volt trigger control. With trigger integration, the screen can automatically deploy when the projector powers on and retract when it powers off. This level of automation enhances the overall experience, making the system feel cohesive and intentional rather than a collection of separate components. For custom installations, these control options provide flexibility. Integrators can choose the method that best suits the room layout and control system, whether that means a simple remote-based setup or deeper integration with automation platforms.
Performance
The DarkStar UST 3 Elevate produced a vibrant picture during the day and at night
In real-world use, the DarkStar UST 3 Elevate delivers an excellent image during the day and at night. Paired with a high-brightness UST projector such as the Hisense L9Q, the screen produces a vibrant image even in the middle of the day. Overhead light is effectively rejected, allowing blacks to appear darker and colors to retain their saturation compared to a matte white surface.
The Dark Star UST 3 material does a good job of rejecting overhead light, with blacks appearing darker and colors displayed in their full saturation compared to a matte white surface. Since the DarkStar UST 3 material has a gain of 0.8, the matte white material produced a slightly brighter image. With 5000 lumens from the Hisense L9Q, the image still looked vibrant. I am more than happy to give up a little bit of brightness to achieve darker black levels, which gives me higher perceived contrast.
Under ambient light, the DarkStar UST 3 Screen material delivered better black levels and higher contrast than matte white material
Uniformity across the screen was excellent, and the tab-tensioning system kept the surface flat during extended viewing sessions. Since the DarkStar UST 3 material has a very wide viewing angle, I did not notice any drop-off in brightness or color shift when sitting in both my living and dining rooms.
The biggest benefit of the DarkStar UST 3 Elevate system is how it fits into daily life. When retracted, the screen effectively disappears, allowing the room to function normally. Windows, views, and décor remain unobstructed, and the presence of a large projection system is easy to forget.
Deployment and retraction are smooth and reasonably quiet. This ease of use encourages more spontaneous viewing, whether that means watching a sporting event during the day or enjoying a movie at night.
The DarkStar UST 3 Elevate is designed exclusively for tabletop, bottom-mounted UST projectors. It is not suitable for ceiling-mounted UST projectors or standard-throw models, as the CLR material is optimized for a specific projection angle. Attempting to use it outside of these parameters will result in a significantly darker image.
Summary
After using the EPV Screens DarkStar UST 3 Elevate in my own person space, it is clear this screen system was designed for the exact type of environment I am working with. My goal was to have a large, immersive image that could be enjoyed during the day or at night, while still allowing the room to look like a normal living space when the system was not in use.
The floor-rising design allows the screen to disappear completely when I am done watching content, which is essential in a room dominated by windows. I can enjoy the view and natural light during the day, then raise the screen when it is time to watch a movie, sports, or television. That transition is quick, repeatable, and does not require rearranging the room or committing to a screen that permanently compromises the room’s aesthetics.
In a bright room, black levels and contrast are often the first things to suffer. The DarkStar UST 3 screen material rejects most overhead ambient light. When this screen material is combined with a UST projector, it produces a vibrant, high-contrast image even in the middle of the day. While the image is not as bright as on a matte-white screen, I am more than willing to give up a small amount of peak brightness in exchange for deeper blacks and improved contrast, especially when using a modern high-lumen UST projector.
When all these elements are combined, the DarkStar UST 3 Elevate fits my needs better than a fixed-frame screen ever could. It delivers a genuinely large, immersive image when I want it, performs well in real-world lighting conditions, and then gets out of the way when I am finished. For many home entertainment enthusiasts, the appeal of projection is obvious. A projector can deliver an image far larger and more immersive than even the biggest flat-panel TV, creating a cinematic experience that simply feels different from everyday television viewing.
The challenge, especially in modern homes, is that most living spaces are not dedicated theaters. Large windows, artwork, fireplaces, and open floor plans often make it impractical or undesirable to mount a large fixed-screen or flat-panel TV. This is where a retractable screen, paired with a UST projector, becomes an attractive option
The EPV Screens DarkStar UST 3 Elevate is a compelling solution for home entertainment enthusiasts who want a large, immersive image without permanently dedicating their living space to projection. By combining a high-performance CLR screen material with a thoughtfully engineered floor-rising design, EPV has created a product that balances performance, flexibility, and aesthetics.
For those using modern ultra-short-throw projectors in multipurpose rooms, the DarkStar UST 3 Elevate offers a genuinely cinematic experience day or night, while allowing the screen to disappear when it is no longer needed. It is a product clearly designed with real homes and real usage patterns in mind, and it stands out as a premium screen option for those interested in ultra-short-throw projection system.
