High efficiency viewing screen

The viewing screen of clain 1, in combination with at least one of a projection and a direct-view system.

A low-scatter polarization-preserving multilayer viewing screen for increasing the divergence of information coded light, comprising:

• a substrate D for increasing the divergence of information-coded-light, while preserving its polarization sense A, as it passes therethrough with a discrimination of at least 2:1 within a viewing zone;
• an absorbing polarizer on one or both sides of said D and aligned to pass polarization state A;
• a polarization-state phase-shift layer for modifying the polarization state of forward-scatter and/or back-scatter that total internally reflects within said viewing screen into the state opposite of A, said phase-shift layer being located at any position between the polarizer and an outermost surface of the viewing screen through which said information-coded light passes.