Painting a wall for projector image

Autophase

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Hi,
I have looked on a few threads on this subject but they are either old threads (so I'm making the assumption that something discussed in there may have been superseded by now), or the treads don't seem to give me the answers I want. If anyone could point me to the right thread or just help me out with some recommendations I would be eternally grateful.
I have a reasonably well light controlled room, its not perfect, I can block out all external light but the internal reflected surfaces could be improved (this will be a future project)
I have used a Sony HW40ES for 5 years and always been more than happy with the results just projecting onto a white wall with a screen size of around 100" diagonal, however since upgrading to a Sony VW590ES I feel I could Improve the picture even further to maximise the potential of this higher resolution projector by using a special projector wall paint. I have a mate who is a professional decorator who is going to help me get a perfect finish with the paint (I'm already lucky as the existing wall is near perfect flat already, we've checked it over with a really bright light side on)
My issue is I just can't find a recommendation (which I'm confident in) for an off the shelf screen paint (I know there is black widow but I'm not sure I want to go to the trouble of doing the mixing my self), a lot of the articles I get on screen paint from googling all talk about the same few paints but they feel like copy-and-paste reviews and are just there to push affiliate links to Amazon, so I don't entirely trust them.
So in summary, what are the best currently available paints for a projection wall?

Many thinks in advance for your responses :)
 
For that level of projector you’re really doing yourself a disservice not getting a screen even if it’s a cheap one. The border alone will hugely improve the picture. I did what you are doing with the same projector for ages but it looks a lot better now I have a screen and I am only running a £200 budget one.

If you really want to do the wall and room is not treated I’d use a grey paint, dulux pebble I seem to remember is a good one and then I’d put a border around the projected image with some adhesive border tape.
 
For that level of projector you’re really doing yourself a disservice not getting a screen even if it’s a cheap one. The border alone will hugely improve the picture. I did what you are doing with the same projector for ages but it looks a lot better now I have a screen and I am only running a £200 budget one.

If you really want to do the wall and room is not treated I’d use a grey paint, dulux pebble I seem to remember is a good one and then I’d put a border around the projected image with some adhesive border tape.
Thanks for taking the time to reply.
If I decide to go down the screen route what brands would you recommend that I can either get on the used market or that wouldn't break the bank new on say 100 inch.
From my initial research I think I want to go for a gain below 1.0, a fixed screen is fine for my purpose so I dont need any fancy pulldown or motorised.
 
Not personally used this material.


I attached my 100" screen with power staples.

The border tape is excellent, the same as this stuff if you want to do the whole wall(s).


20210206_091025.jpg

20200707_173144.jpg
 
Ah perfect thank you, i think making my own screen is the way to go, i hadn't even considered making my own, i didnt know you could just buy the material.
That also solves another issue i had when looking at screens, that im projecting into a slight recess, so the screen is just shy of a standard 100" so it wouldnt fit so then i wouldnt be maximising the viewing diagonal if i went with something off the shelf. I can use the self adhesive black felt to line the sides of the recess too, to further reduce the ambient light bounce.
Recon I'll build the frame next week to the exact size of the recess, I'll keep you posted with pics. Thanks again for putting me on the right path.
 
In terms of screen paint and screen fabric....
Fabric will give you a smoother surface over paint.
I currently use a wall painted white and black Devore velvet on the ceiling and both adjacent walls.

I sit around 14 feet back from a 136” image and can’t tell the difference between my painted wall and a matt white projector screen. Maybe with a smaller image and sitting closer it would be different.

I tried several white projector screens and for me they added nothing to the picture quality so I stuck with the very smooth painted wall (lots of very fine sand paper and multiple paint coats).

I also tried a black bordered image - as at one point I was considering making a fixed screen too, and I actually found the black border around the screen to be a negative so ditched that idea. I think for it to work the entire wall behind the image needs to be black like the images above so you get the floating image scenario. I was later actually contemplating building a bat screen cupboard (with two black velvet on the inside doors that opened up along the walls and a black velvet canopy that stretched door to door for the ceiling inside it and a white screen on the back.

The specialised projector paints tend to be grey and try and combat reflections in poorly treated rooms, similar to an ambient light rejecting screen material.

Let’s face the facts that the very best option would be a dedicated room covered in Devore velvet with a matt white screen. This tells you that the ALR paints and fabrics are a comproimise - albeit some of them very good. So if you can, stick to black velvet and white paint (or fabric).
 
When i was in uni, i made a massive fixed projector screen with cheap wood from B and Q and some blackout material from dunelm. It worked very well and didnt cost much. If youre not going larger than 100" then theres a tonne of cheap projector screens about anyway.
 
I use a screen wall too. Projector paint I used was Greysteel II dulux. In short, its revolutionary. I love being able to shift aspect ratios etc. I'm lucky the wall is in good condition and pretty perfect (the other walls in the room aren't at all lol..

Its really good in terms of a way to save money towards different components.
 
definitely go the screen rather than paint...

projectors might come and go over the years but your screen will stay... it is literally the canvas image is portrayed on..where rubber hits the road :D where image comes to light :D

do it once and do it right :)
 
definitely go the screen rather than paint...

projectors might come and go over the years but your screen will stay... it is literally the canvas image is portrayed on..where rubber hits the road :D where image comes to light :D

do it once and do it right :)


This is 100% dependant on situation. You're only doing it once, doing it right, if you're happy to stick and be tied with the screen size you pick and the room you're in at the moment.

I've gone from a 92'' to 110'' to 150'' to 165'' screen in 24 months; alongside a room upgrade (and another pending). I'd advise anyone building a HT to see the big picture in terms of upgrades on an individual basis and try and forward plan at least 2-3 years.

I'd invest carefully in screens as the re-sale value on them is TERRIBLE. We've seen on the forum £2000+ projector screens ... draper ... ALR.. Onyx.. you name it.. sold for <£500. someone sold a draper tech vision which RRP is surely 3-6k for £500. Mental.

If you know there is a chance of upgrading room in the next couple of years, being tied to a small screen size is going to be really horrible.

If you are DIY inclined, I'd really look at the multi screen format screen paint jobs done by MrMissisippiman at AVSForums.


I have done both PJ paint AND owned a high end Draper ALR 3.0 electric screen (well 2 of them), do not write off paint based on comments such as above.

Heck to remove much in terms of bias, in my second room I STILL have a 110'' Draper 3.0 ALR borderless which is pretty high end in the screen world (and I'm likely keeping it for aslong as it works)... but the GS2 paint job in my main room really really holds up to it (surprisingly). So coming from someone who owns a screen AND a paint setup in the same house, both have their pros and cons.


High gain screens is likely a different story though and sadly I'm yet to drop ££ into that.
 
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so here it is, going from a white wall to a grey screen in a restricted recess.
 

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