Too much reflected light(!)

a_barratt

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I recently invested in a projector(Sony HW15) & a matt white screen. I'm very impressed with the results, apart from black levels when there is a mixture of dark and light on the screen at the same time.

I've figured-out my cream-coloured walls are reflecting back to the screen. Now, my better half won't let me paint the walls black (spoilsport), so I'm looking for another compromise.

Maybe a darker screen? Would a slightly darker shade of paint show any difference?

Thanks for your help!
 
A grey screen would certainly help but darkening the walls ceiling and floors along with making sure no external light gets into the room will make the biggest difference.

Sadly most people who use their living rooms for projectors also have to use them for living in as well so total blackout (batcave) is not practical.However there are a few tricks you can use such as a dark rug to throw down in front of the screen area and paint the screen wall and side walls at least a darker shade than they are now.:)
 
Thanks for your speedy response.

You've kinda confirmed my fears. I'll see what paint shade my mrs will let me get away with, and take it from there. :thumbsup:

A grey screen might be the only way to go at this stage... Won't it also make the projected image darker? :confused:
 
Yes but only slightly darker,white will still look white but blacks will be darker and the colours will look richer.:)
 
Okay, now for what maybe a very dumb question...

I've got a pull-down matt white screen... can I paint it grey - if so, what shade? (my projector is 1,000 lumens)

Like I said, I am a noob, please be gentle. ;)
 
I have heard of people that have painted their screen but don't know how successful it has been.

Obviously cracking would be the main issue as the screen has to be rolled and unrolled each time you use it.

As far as what colour to use, an N8 shade of grey is usually considered best and make sure you use a Matt.
 
I have heard of people that have painted their screen but don't know how successful it has been.

Obviously cracking would be the main issue as the screen has to be rolled and unrolled each time you use it.

As far as what colour to use, an N8 shade of grey is usually considered best and make sure you use a Matt.

Thanks for all your advice, I'll have a look for some flexible paint (it must exist) :)
 
How about painting the walls a shade of steel grey? Offset the darker walls with a bright sofa and rug so it doesn't look too dark and gloomy.

Then you can still use your white screen, but have less reflected light from the walls.

I'm going for a lighter steel grey shade on the two side walls, and dark shade of steel grey on the wall that the screen will sit on.

How are you getting on with the Sony? It's on my list of potential projectors. :thumbsup:
 
How about painting the walls a shade of steel grey? Offset the darker walls with a bright sofa and rug so it doesn't look too dark and gloomy.

Then you can still use your white screen, but have less reflected light from the walls.

I'm going for a lighter steel grey shade on the two side walls, and dark shade of steel grey on the wall that the screen will sit on.

How are you getting on with the Sony? It's on my list of potential projectors. :thumbsup:

I have to ask, are you married? I know it sounds sexist, but I don't know any woman that would allow "her" living room to be painted an unfashionable shade of grey for the sake of A/V fidelity. :D

In response to your other query, I'm very happy with the Sony. It produces a picture that's nothing short of stunning.
 
Haha. Funnily enough....no! Although the other half has approved the light grey walls offset with a red leather corner sofa. :thumbsup:

If you can't wangle such a deal then the black widow paint sounds like the best option, the thread mentioned is quite extensive and full of various options and mixes.

Glad the Sony is good, I'm debating whether it is worth spending the extra £700-800 over the Infocus IN80 or the Sanyo PLV-Z700.
 
Haha. Funnily enough....no! Although the other half has approved the light grey walls offset with a red leather corner sofa. :thumbsup:

If you can't wangle such a deal then the black widow paint sounds like the best option, the thread mentioned is quite extensive and full of various options and mixes.

Glad the Sony is good, I'm debating whether it is worth spending the extra £700-800 over the Infocus IN80 or the Sanyo PLV-Z700.

I tested the infocus in80, and it was noisier, if that's an issue. Plus, it didn't have a dark black level the sony has. The sony is more money, but you can see where the cash has gone.

Can this black widow paint be applied to roll-down screens?
 
I'm not sure, that's what I was debating as well. Instead, I think I'm going to make a semi-fixed screen that I can take down and store away when not in use, and can paint without fear of cracking.

My worry is that the paint will crack or peel when rolled up and down over an extended period of time.
 
I'm not sure, that's what I was debating as well. Instead, I think I'm going to make a semi-fixed screen that I can take down and store away when not in use, and can paint without fear of cracking.

My worry is that the paint will crack or peel when rolled up and down over an extended period of time.

I'm just wondering if you can buy grey pull-down projector screens off-the-shelf, that might be a more eligant solution.
 
You can, although from reading around they appear to be hard to come by. The other option is to look at blackout blinds that could be custom made to your size and finished in the required colour. In the screens forum there was a mention of a company who specialised in cinema blackout blinds that can be used as screens.
 
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Handy info, thanks. Kinda wish I hadn't installed a 106" matt white screen, now :(
 
You might want to check out this thread for alternatives:

http://www.avforums.com/forums/projectors/907414-maximising-image-contrast.html

Steve W

That thread Pecker refers you to should come with a warning... Be prepared to spend at least 3 hours reading the thread, clicking links to peoples projects then being persuaded that life is not worth living if you use anything but Devore velvet from Whaleys in Bradford.

I've finished my project and am now developing a 'room needs to be darker' bug.. Not good. The Mrs thinks the blacks are fine and granted they are in fairly loud and bright movies like Mamma Mia etc. Even Iron Man was excellent on my screen. I watched RockNRolla on mine last night and was a little disturbed by the fairly average to poor black levels. Dont get me wrong they are ok but after a while you can become pinickity to the point that it becomes an obsession going through scenes and analysing black levels...It does in fact ditract from the movie experience for me to be honest.

I think i may get a 10-15% improvement by darkening my whole theatre. Its just a question of whether one can then live with a batcave for a room. I'm hoping to demo a calibrated HD350 in a batcave to then make up my mind whether its worth the extra work.

If its a living room then i'd suggest something like a deep red on your walls.. I had a Panny AX100 and didn't get much reflection at all. I did however get bored of the colour after 3 years and found that the room was quite cold and depressing in the evenings and in winter generally. A brighter lounge is far warmer and inviting. My advice (pardon the word vomit) is to work out how often you'll be pulling down your screen, if its very often then go dark on the walls. If its once a fortnight or less then just 'live with it'. Hope that helps..
 
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I quite agree jagdeep you have to consider is it better to have the room near perfect for 3-4 hrs a week and lousy the rest of the time and the answer sadly is no.

Unless you have a dedicated room most folks are going to have to put up with a less than perfect solution.

You might get away with 1 dark wall and the rest much lighter but that is about it.A temp tent solution is probably doable like as seen on this forum and that is what I am considering even though my room is also my office I have to sit in there 3-4 hrs a day so all dark walls is a no no..

It will probably take 20 mins to set up each time but that is worth it to keep the room comfortable.
 
A tent is unworkable in my room. Its 6.5metres by 5m
 
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I have to ask, are you married? I know it sounds sexist, but I don't know any woman that would allow "her" living room to be painted an unfashionable shade of grey for the sake of A/V fidelity. :D

In response to your other query, I'm very happy with the Sony. It produces a picture that's nothing short of stunning.

My mate had this issue with his wife and his walls. In the end they went for chocolate brown which was more wife friendly than black but still a big improvement over white.
 
You don't tent the whole room you tit:D only a few feet out from the screen.

http://www.avforums.com/forums/members-home-cinema-gallery/514454-kelvins1965s-setup-4.html

see post 155


Thanks for that. I've come to the conclusion that I could probably get away with velcro-ing some strips of black velvet to the walls & ceiling when watching a film, and the mrs should be happy, as it's not permanent.

I've also convinced her to paper one of the walls brown, and that might help enough as a compromise, anyhoo.

Thanks for all your comments and info.
 

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