Projector screen paint - make/paint your own screen

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bullybeef

11 posts

Geek

#232189 3-Apr-2018 22:38

Hi Folks

Looked at a couple of AV threads from other sites mainly US based and wondered if anyone has played with making there own high quality screen. There seems to be a few sellers of paints but checking them against AV forums some can be complete hoaxs for example this one

https://www.crystal-edge-technology-screens.com/

if you go by what these dudes are saying

http://www.avsforum.com/forum/110-diy-screen-section/2500930-crystal-edge-technology.html

http://www.simpit.co.nz/ have some amazing stuff and loved the screen Thomas(really nice guy and am considering his product price for a 120inch is $1500 free shipping nz) is selling but was thinking as we are building a house has anyone had a crack at mixing paints and come up with a formula or paints that can be brought and mixed in NZ. With a goal of possible much larger screen

So questions

1 anyone had a go at making/painting a screen

2 what is the down sides/learnings from this?

3 what makes a $2000 screen better than say a well rendered wall with the right mix of reflective black paint. - assuming labour/time is not a barrier as am keen to have a crack :)

4 Any links to genuine paint sellers with reviews or people who have used a product?

5 should all stars align what would be the largest possible picture in 4k this projector would be able to make in a darken media room Optoma UHD65 4K Home Theatre Projector

Aredwood

3885 posts

Uber Geek

#1987926 4-Apr-2018 00:02

Im interested as well. I can't see any difference myself in a wall that is painted matt white Vs a proper screen.

Just make sure that the wall is gib stopped to a level 5 finish. Google Gib Site Guide for more info on that.

geekiegeek

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#1987937 4-Apr-2018 05:42

I had a sheet of MDF painted with a custom paint with a matte black border and while it work pretty well, there was definitely a step up in quality when I upgraded to a screen.

Mine was grey to start with - Thomas Tallis 747 - got it made up at Bunnings. But you can see in this thread that it was better when I repainted to white. https://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=34&topicid=120908

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bullybeef

11 posts

Geek

#1989704 6-Apr-2018 19:53

Hey thanks guys, for the paint replies

Have found there is a projector calculator

Masterpiece

247 posts

Master Geek

#1989773 6-Apr-2018 21:20

I did quite a bit of work on this subject a ways back, whilst doing so I found calibration improved aspects far more than chasing the vast majority of special mixes you will find on AVS forums. I spent much time making my own mixes and writing reports on that forum.

Here is the thing, more often than not, paint in most forms has a character that isn't overly suited to reflection, rather works more as dispersion. Also a lot of the AVSforum mix work has been focused upon attempts of ambient light absorption, alas most of it fails due to being NOT spectral sensitive.

Anywho, cut to the chase. If you want to go cheap and use paint just use Resene white or Dulux white, and contrary to thinking use the matt end of the range.
The caveat of using paint is attention to surface treatment and application.
Without being long winded with painting and prep work, any defects in the surfaces will stand out like the proverbial dog appendages.

Paint caveat, is that it is roughly 0.8 ~0.9 reflective, most cheap screens are 1~ 1.2 reflective.
Paint (white base paint composed of TiO2) is actually more spectral linear than most screens, of the cheap affordable end anyway.
But the cheap screen has 20% advantage in reflective power. Hard to recover lost light.

If you calibrate either, both the cheap paint solution and the cheap screen you won't notice the surface that much.

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SepticSceptic

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#1991953 9-Apr-2018 12:53

One of the biggest improvemnts I made when I was messging around with painted screens ( and possible will apply to cloth, etc screens) to to make sure you have a significant black border all arounf the screen.

I had a 120" diagonal painted screen ( Talis 747 as per @geekiegeek), but I did try differing blends, colours, and also added some pearlescent powder to some, but the biggest improvement for overall viewing was adding black drapes top bottom and sides. It made viewing so much less straining on the eyes - I think it's the way that the eye focuses on the screen, and the contrast between the border and the screen helps the mind centre on the screen, and not be distracted by a white wall, etc, adjacent to the projected image.

My thoughts are no longer my own and is probably representative of our media-controlled government

wellygary

4763 posts

Uber Geek

#1991994 9-Apr-2018 13:35

SepticSceptic:

I think it's the way that the eye focuses on the screen, and the contrast between the border and the screen helps the mind centre on the screen, and not be distracted by a white wall, etc, adjacent to the projected image.

Its the same principle behind all the "ruffled" curtains in movie theatres, (other than the sound reflection dampening) you make the screen look distinct from the borders, so as to let the mind "filter out" everything except for the shiny screen...