Projecting onto a gray wall

ddafoe · « **on:** 21 Jul 2012, 02:18 am »

I just finished my new audio/video room and got an Epson 9700UB projector installed. The front wall and ceiling I painted gray.
Now that the projector is installed for fun I fired up a Blu-Ray even though I have not purchased a screen and I was amazed how well it looked being projected onto a gray wall. I'm sure a screen must be better, but it is incredible how watchable and enjoyable it is now.

So my question is how much better will the display be with say a $500 screen (which is the range I had thought I would spend), and what will the improvements be? Also, any suggestions for a screen to go with the 9700UB? My room is 12x17 and I was thinking of going 92 to 100 diagonal. The room is in the basement and is very dark.

Thanks!

rodge827 · « **Reply #1 on:** 21 Jul 2012, 02:17 pm »

Hi ddafoe,

I don't have any experience with the question you ask, but a close friend of mine does. When he got his new HD Projector he needed to replace his old 4:3 screen. He has a dedicate theater room, a detached oversized 2 car garage, that he turned into an awesome man cave. He gave Goo System Screen Paint a try and is very satisfied. It cost him around a $100.00 bucks and he saved a few hundred over the screen he was going to buy.
I searched "video screen paint" and came up with a number of site's about the topic.
Here are a couple that you might be interested in if you decide to go the paint route.

(The Projector Central link is screwed up. For some reason you can't get there fom here, so just go to projector central and search the Paint A Screen Artical.)

Good luck,

Chris

http://www.goosystemsglobal.com/

http://www.projectorcentral.com/paint_perfect_screen_$100.htm

gooberdude · « **Reply #2 on:** 21 Jul 2012, 11:07 pm »

I've got the Epson 8350, 2 of them. Initially my wall was just a standard off white color & a few months later bought an Elie screen for about $300 new. Could not be happier. There's really no way to make a wall perfect for picture, IMO.

Just my 2 cents, but if you were thinking about getting a screen, get one. The improved picture will blow you away. I have not tried any product like Goo.

zybar · « **Reply #3 on:** 22 Jul 2012, 02:06 am »

In my house I use a screen for one setup and a painted wall for the other and there is definitely a difference.

The screens (either a Stewart GrayHawk or SMX Acoustically transparent - both 110") produce a more vibrant, brighter, and uniform picture. Blacks and contrast are also better with the screens.

So if the screen is so much better, why do I use a painted wall? Because it was cheap and easy and it is for our bedroom setup. Given that we only watch it right before bed, we aren't that picky and it gets the job done.

If you want to get everything you can out of the new setup, spend the money and get a screen. BTW, if you want to really make that screen pop, try painting the area around your screen flat black. This will soak up stray light and reflections and make a noticeable difference.

George

Phil A · « **Reply #4 on:** 22 Jul 2012, 02:56 am »

I have a (100 inch) Stewart (Grayhawk) Screen in the main system (and a Carada in the secondary basement system). Before I got the Stewart, I did project on the gray wall. It looked fine. Is it better with the screen - yes but it looked fine on the wall too

ddafoe · « **Reply #5 on:** 24 Jul 2012, 09:54 pm »

I've heard the Stewart GrayHawk is a great screen but it is more than I would like to spend. I have been looking at the Carada screens. Do you have the Precision or Criterion Series and are you happy with the performance of the screen?
My room is very dark and the 9700UB is supposed to have pretty good dark levels so I was thinking of just going with the 1.0 gain as opposed to the 0.8 high contrast. Does this sound reasonable? Thanks!

dwk · « **Reply #6 on:** 24 Jul 2012, 10:14 pm »

I'd highly recommend looking at the 'Black Widow' paint formula discussed over on hometheatershack in the diy screens forum. I recently set up my PJ in the basement and like you was surprised at how good it looked on a standard white wall. Getting the BW screen up for a direct comparison was enlightening - a very noticeable improvement.
The BW paint uses an automotive aluminum to provide increased reflectance over a flat grey, but is carefully color-balanced to be truly neutral. Seems to work well - much better black levels, richer colors and improved perceived contrast. Not having compared it to a commercial screen (since one won't fit in my space) I can't say it's better, but if you can get the surface prep down it's well worth the ~$25 of so it'll cost you to get a quart of the paint to try.

Phil A · « **Reply #7 on:** 24 Jul 2012, 11:29 pm »

Quote from: ddafoe on 24 Jul 2012, 09:54 pm

I've heard the Stewart GrayHawk is a great screen but it is more than I would like to spend. I have been looking at the Carada screens. Do you have the Precision or Criterion Series and are you happy with the performance of the screen?
My room is very dark and the 9700UB is supposed to have pretty good dark levels so I was thinking of just going with the 1.0 gain as opposed to the 0.8 high contrast. Does this sound reasonable? Thanks!

Off the top of my head, I don't remember which Carada but believe it was the lower cost one. It is an 88 inch widescreen and from memory was a bit over $550 shipped a bit over 4 years ago. My basement is very well controlled on light (trees and overhead deck in back and I have curtains and blinds) and the gain is 1.0. Works really well. The source makes a big difference. I bought a Sony VPL AW15 a bit over 4 years ago. Was not super expensvie at the time (is my secondary system) and is 720p. I had the PS3 down there for most of the time up until last fall. I decided to move the PS3 to the bedroom system (55 inch LED) and I moved an Integra universal player for audio in there (for an SACD source) and moved my Oppo BDP-93 from the bedroom to the basement. Huge difference. The PS3 is a jack of all trades (I don't use it for games) and when I took out the Spears and Muncil disk and my Colorimeter to set-up the BDP-93, I immediately noticed the difference. Shortly thereafter a friend came over and we watch Avatar which he had only seen in the theater (I was there with him) but I had watched the disk many times. He has a 1080 projector didn't believe he was just looking at 720 (and the Sony's optics are not noted as state of the art). So my point is go with the Carada and use a good source.