The biggest reason for obtaining projector is that its image can be well. This is exciting and intoxicating when you first experience watching a blockbuster film, or play a game, or play your local sports team in your living room to most parts of your wall. But if you are looking at a picture of that wall size on the literal wall, then you are not only visually (and the money you spent on an excellent projector) a dissatisfaction, you are affecting the performance of the projector. Potentially for a rigid degree.
Now, if you are using a pico projector or there is something designed for its portability, which cost only a few hundred dollars, then use a wall to see some quick temporary views or to be in the background. But if the whole idea was to change your TV with the projector, then it is important to understand why you should use a wall as your screen surface.
Why you should not use your bare wall
As you retreat and admire your wall – and maybe you make efforts in that new coat of paint – it is probably very decent. Even coverage, a good solid color, and no additional sign (until your child is closed with a crayon). However, see closer, and the texture quickly becomes clear from paint and drywall. With a paint job in my living room, I can also see the texture from a normal viewing distance. When you project on that texture, it in turn affects the texture and sharpness of the picture, degrades the image and reduces the alleged resolution.
On the other hand, a launch screen has a fairly smooth surface. Even older or less expensive screens that contain small amounts of texture are miles ahead of a painted wall. You can see the wall compared to a few inches on the left side of my screen (left image) and the stewart filmscreen is taken below the grahoc screen surface, both are taken from about one foot away.
- 1.
A closeup of painted drywall. - 2.
A closeup of stevart grahoc screen materials.
This is not just unwanted addition texture that is produced on a painted wall image. The projection screen is designed to be neutral and the color of the approximate image on them is not affected (I agree, some screens are better on it than others), as well as promote the brightness of an approximate image and improve the contrast. A painted wall will not do any of it (at least on purpose). It is even more important for an ultra-short throw (UST) projector that works best with an ALR (ambient light reject) screen, designed to reflect the light being illuminated from the viewer’s eyes in their seating position.
Conversely performance is the biggest concern for me, as the projector already has the opposite issues compared to other performance options (such as TV). By projecting on a painted wall, which reduces brightness or lifts black levels – or both – a projector who can receive 1000: 1. (As on one side, most of the opposite measurements published by the manufacturers are quite inflated and should not be taken accurately.)
Actually it comes down that it is: You have spent hard work earned on a projector, but by projecting on a wall, you are reducing the value of that purchase. So what can you do?
Best projection screen option
You do not need to spend thousands of dollars to get something better than your wall – although you can exactly. If you have spent up to $ 2,000 on a projector, I would recommend making at least $ 200-300 budget for a screen. And as the price of the projector increases, the screen increases the budget. If you are planning to leave $ 16K to equip your home theater room with JVC Dla-NZ8 or Sony Bravia Projector 8, then you would definitely like to consider Stewart Studyotech 130 (a bit of an industry standard for some time). But for the rest of us, what are some options?
- Screen paint: If you are a dead set against hanging a screen on your wall, there are different types of screen paints that you can use, but it is expected to spend a little of the equity of sweat to get it right. And if your wall is not already smooth, the texture will show through screen paint.
- Fixed-frame screen: This is what I have. The screen is attached to a frame that mounts to the wall, so it is similar to a moving wall.
- Returnable screen: This is what I am considering upgrading. Screen housing is a long tube that goes on the roof or on top of a free standing stand and can be drawn down when needed. There are also motorized versions that can be connected to a control system, so when you turn your projector, the screen descends to look automatically.
- Portable screen: These are usually withdrawable screenable screens, but can be kept away in the closet if not used. They also do not need to climb on the wall or ceiling, and if backyard movies are in your future (and with coming in summer, I hope they are), a portable screen is the best option to set out for some time from time to time.
Which option is the best that will depend on your current situation, but the most important thing you can do for your projector, take it from the wall and to a launch screen.
