What's the easiest way to build a theater screen for your projector?

Question

What's the easiest way to build a theater screen for your projector?

Answer 1

The easiest is to simply project on a white wall.

But I've done two different actual screens and each approach had advantages and disadvantages.

Which is easier depends on your woodworking/painting skills ... but neither were difficult.

The first was painted screen (I used the "Silverscreen" fomula described on the DIY Screen section of AVS forum, but you could use the commercial 2-part Goo system). It took three coats of paint with wet sanding between coats, and the surface of the wall before painting had to be smoothed first. Total elapsed time about 4 days, but total work time, about 3 hrs. The big advantage is I could make any size, over paint and then mask to match the projected image (vs trying to line up a screen and projector). The big disadvantage was the lack of portability (I had to leave it when I sold the house), but it was also messier to do (drywall compound, pait spatter). Total cost about $100.

http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m6/fo...

The second screen was made by stretching blackout cloth (curtain liner) over a 1x2 frame and adding a 1x4 black cloth wrapped mask. It took more work (total about 8 hrs), but looks more like a commercial screen. The advantage is portability, but the disadvantage is having to mount it to align with the projector (I don't have lens shift on my projector). Total cost about $100.

http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m6/fo...

http://bp2.blogger.com/_5jdpeLj-QcI/RqjB...

http://bp2.blogger.com/_5jdpeLj-QcI/RqpI...

Here is what HDTV ("Bones") looked like on the painted screen.

http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m6/fo...

Answer 2

Check out this paint by Goo Systems Inc. (Painting is a lot easier and cheaper than building a custome screen for your room).

They manufacture high tech paint that has the same reflective properties as a high gain screen. it actually won the 2006 Live design of the year award, Home and Garden, CEDIA, InfoComm all recogonized this product. The paint comes in many different colors and when you shine a light on it becomes highly reflective. Very cool. We actually tested it in a lab for a customer and the results were quite amazing and impressive.

Or check out the Draper and Da-lite screens.

Answer 3

Certain screens are designed to selectively reflect the narrow wavelengths of projector light while absorbing other wavelengths in the optical spectrum. This works by preferentially absorbing ambient light of colors not used by the projector, while preferentially reflecting the colors of red, green and blue light the projector uses.. A contrast-enhancing screen has been introduced by Dai Nippon Printing (DNP) and Screen Innovations which is based on thin layers of black louvers rather than wavelength-selective reflection properties. Its unlikely you can make one cost effectivly

Answer 4

Go with mike1084's response.  It's right on and very affordable.  A wall painted screen gives you the biggest viewing area that no setup screen can provide.  There's even a local dealer in Burbank that sells the goo products directly.  Check out goosystems.com for a list of dealers.

Good luck!

Answer 5

Check the link below on how to make one for $100.