Projecting onto a wall.

[Dave Bartram]

Guys, new to PJ's think of getting an Optoma HD700x, just don't fancy having a screen up. I've just moved into a new build apartment and was wondering what the image would be like if projecting onto a plain wall? Being a new build the wall is pretty good, nice and smooth, painted magnolia. How would it look? I'd have no problems painting the wall to a better colour if I could get away without a screen too. If so is there a specific colour which would be better.

Any advice appreciated.

Dave

[Ken42]

I used to project onto a magnolia wall OK. White is moderately better. Try magnolia first.

[kbfern]

If you can't get the room really dark when watching a movie, a light grey can be better than white as it shows the colours and blacks a little more saturated.

[Pecker]

Other alternatives to putting up a fixed screen:

- Pull-down screen hung on the wall
- Pull-down screen hung from the ceiling
- Tripod screens
- Pull-up screens (like these: Pull-Up Cinema Screens - Projector Screens, Projection Screens, Projector Lamps, Projectors - Interactive Projection )

Just in case you'd not thought of all the options.



Steve W

[Marky1973]

I project onto the wall magnolia style with my Sony PJ - I put this thread up last year with a couple of screen shots - afriad the pictures aren't great, (low-res) but they give you a good idea of what you can get with very little effort.

Sony VPL-AW10 - Sort of Review

[Dave Bartram]

Thanks for the responses guys, much appreciated.

Not really keen on any of the screens, fixed or pull up/down hense going for the wall instead, prefer a pull down if I have to have a screen though.

How much light control do you really need? Does it need to be very dark? I have 2 windows, one is quite small and will have a thermal blackout blind installed, the second is Juliet doors I am going for lined curtains only. Sufficient??

Cheers guys.

[kbfern]

That will be Ok at night and acceptable in the day with curtains closed.

Obviously the darker the better,as light is your projectors worst enemy.

[anibap]

Dave,

You are in a situation that I lived with for 2 years. I have a magnolia wall and I used the Optoma H27, IN72 and HD65 with that. Honestly, the image looked great and I was very happy with it.
Then I took suggestion from this forum on installing a cheap Ikea Blind £19 from IKEA. It was only when I setup the blind I realised the difference in colours.
On doing a side by side, I noticed the colours on the wall was not right though I never realised that before. Our eyes can be tricked thinking everything is fine untill you change the reference.The blind resulted in much better picture.

I can suggest you two options
1. Paint the screen area with a grey colour as Kbfern suggested. or white if you have dark room.
2. Buy a cheap Ikea blind. It has two sides. use the sides based on your room environment

a. Whiter side - For best colour and brightness in a dark environment
b. Grey side - For better blacks if you have problem with light control

Remember the Ikea blind can only do a 90 inch diagonal image. For anything bigger, paint will be perfect.

You can vsist the HD65, IN80 and IN81 thread where I have posted many screenshots with the blind as the screen.
The Ikea blind can never match a good quality screen but it does a very good job for temp purpose or ppl who have issues installing a fixed screen like me.

hope this helps.

Ani

[jcq]

Dave - I've just spent the last couple of weeks painting my "screen" - chronicled here
http://www.avforums.com/forums/proje...ey-screen.html
I went for grey screen (paint called Black Widow) - but - it's the area surrounding the screen which is just as important - I'll let you read the advice I got from others - I tried to follow as best as I could

Have fun
jcq

[Dave Bartram]

Excellent info guys, much appreciated, all taken on board

[dalboy]

I project onto a matt white wall.

Looks excellent - I haven't tried blinds / drop down screen to compare with but I am more than happy with the picture quality at the moment.

Less hassle aligning to a screen and mounting a screen.

[Dave Bartram]

Thanks for all the info guys, ordered an Optoma HD700x today Will try it out on the magnolia wall then paint it if necessary.

Cheers

Dave