Do I really need a "Projector Screen" for my Projector or is it hype?

Question

Do I really need a "Projector Screen" for my Projector or is it hype?

Answer 1

Not particularly.  The difference is a screen will maximize the quality of the picture. Better color, contrast clarity, etc.  If it is HD, you would be losing a lot of the "definition" so to speak.

Answer 2

If I wasn't going to use it very much, I would just use a light colored wall.  You can also use a white bed sheet, blanket or such, it's just hard to get them perfectly smooth.

Answer 3

A screen is not needed. You need Goo. You'll thank me later

http://goosystems.com/

Answer 4

If you're planning to use this projector for movies and you really do care about picture quality, then yes...a screen is needed.  If you're using it for multimedia presentations and gaming once in a while, it's not as big a factor.  The difference is that a screen is made from special material that greatly enhances the picture quality by maintaining proper color levels and brightness by being reflective (measured by gain).  There are different types of material for different types of projectors (LCD, DLP, etc) and the characteristics of the room it will be in like if lighting can or cannot be controlled.  

Most screens are also made to have a perfectly flat surface and assure that the image is the same for everyone viewing it.  Goo is not a bad substitute, but it's still not as good as a good quality screen.

Answer 5

If a standard movie house uses a "specialized" movie screen, why would that not be the same requriement for a home projection screen?  If you are on a budget, check out a superior movie paint offered at goosystems.com.  For some $150, you can have a 135" diagonal screen painted on your living room wall.

Good luck!

Answer 6

Usually projectors will display on walls, cielings, or floors. But screens do help with the quality fo the picture b/c they are flat.

Answer 7

You do not NEED a screen. Any flat white wall will serve as a screen; however, you can be assured of the best picture your projector can provide if you have an optimized projection surface.

Consider several factors (and note I use the word "screen" in the most general way to include any surface the image is displayed on):

- a coloured screen will change colours (colour accuracy will be compromised)

- lower contrast projectors can benefit from a neutral, light grey screen colour (which helps black level without changing colour balance).

- commercial screens employ various techniques to reflect the projected image so as to optimize brightness (gain), viewing angle, ambient light rejection, etc.

- As a general rule higher gain screens (more light is reflected directly back giving a brighter image) have a narrowed viewing angle before brightness drops off, and a higher likelihood of "hot spotting".

Commercial screens don't do anything you can't do yourself ... but duplicating results from good commercial screens would require extensive (and expensive) experimentation.

That said, I have made 2 screens myself and both worked very well. I won't claim they were equal to a top of the line Stewart screen, but at less than $100 each they were a fraction of the $2000+ a Stewart would have cost.

I made one by simply painting a screen on a flat wall in my first home theatre. I followed a recipe I found on the AVS Forum DIY Screen section (See link -- a great site for anyone interested in making their own screen). After moving I needed a new screen (since I obviously couldn't take the wall with me!) so for my second attempt I built a fixed screen using a wood frame and "Blackout Cloth" (white heavyweight curtain liner). See links for pictures.

You can also buy acoustically translucent screen material to build your own screens (See 5th link), or buy commercial screen paint (e.g. Goo System - 6th link) or make one from photographers paper (7th link -- and this one compares results to a Stewart screen!)

So, bottom line, you don't need a screen, but contrast, brightness and colour accuracy can all benefit from proper screen surface.

Answer 8

You do not NEED a projector screen but it will allow you to get the best picture from your projector. Screens are specifically designed to reflect light a certain way to optimise picture quality, walls and sheets will work but a screen would always be better. You could try the goo systems paint as mentioned above it is inexpensive compared to a real screen. They even make paint to make black and gray borders. You could paint over one of your living room or family room walls. You can always paint over it later if you move.

Answer 9

Review Projector Screen Store

http://astore.amazon.com/hdtv042-20?%5Fe...

Works great for slide shows. We can set up the screen outside and put on a DVD with the projector and the kids thought it was great to have a movie outside

^__^