i use the the Tupplur window blind from ikea , it is laminated on one side with a plastic , works great . I heard its almost equal to a real projection screen , cost me 35 euros , in germany its 30. I have the one thats 200*195 cm (about 6*6 ft). You have to be quick though , it probably wont be long in the stores , i think they are gonna replace it with something different.
I used 'black-out cloth' from Jo-Ann. It is a canvas type material. Much better than a white wall paint or a shower curtain. it's about $6 a yard.
right now I am using a product called 'polywall' from parkland plastics. the result is a bit better than blackout cloth. it is ~$14 for 4'x8' in homedepot, or lowes. you can phone order from the manufacturer for a 5'x8'. because it is a special size, cost much more at $29 +$20(+) shipping. but it still much cheaper comparing to the same quality comercial screens.
right now I am using a product called 'polywall' from parkland plastics. the result is a bit better than blackout cloth. it is ~$14 for 4'x8' in homedepot, or lowes. you can phone order from the manufacturer for a 5'x8'. because it is a special size, cost much more at $29 +$20(+) shipping. but it still much cheaper comparing to the same quality comercial screens.
As to the window shade from home depot. I have this and it does a fine job. It is the heavy duty light blocking version at $39.00 The issues I have are these.
All I could get locally is the 72". I would much prefer the wider. Actually alot wider to accomodate moving the projector further back to a more convenient location. I have the wall space, but not the screen width.
Next issue is that though it is retractable, those mechanisms are cheap at best and it never wants to roll up all the way. I have to fight with it every time.
Finally, even at this width, the tube it rolls up on is not sturdy enough to keep it from having a droop in the middle, so it is never completely flat or smooth.
I've tried the textured shower curtains - not pleased, too much of the pictures passes right through. I can go outside and see the reverse of the image through the window. Wasted image.
Bedsheet - not pleased - image much better on the more reflective roll down shade.
What I want to know is what is the best fabric material I can get for this purpose that has enough "give" that it can be pulled back like a curtain when not in use. My plan, since my home is a period home and this high tech stuff needs to be easily hidden, is rather than a pulldown screen, to have something than can be pulled from one side. I intend to mount an inner and outer curtain rod the length of the wall with decorative curtains on the outer rod. The inner rod will carry the screen material and when it is pulled to one side, will be hidden behind the decorative curtain. I will install a vertical rod on each end of the room that will be hidden by the decorative curtains, with one end of the screen permantly affixed to one rod. When I pull the screen across the wall for use, I will have clips on it to anchor it to the rod at the other end. Thus it will hang from the upper rod while receiving tension from the vertical rods on each end which will keep it taught while in use and solve the droop problem. Does anyone have any opinions as to the best fabric for use in this manner?
Lori
All I could get locally is the 72". I would much prefer the wider. Actually alot wider to accomodate moving the projector further back to a more convenient location. I have the wall space, but not the screen width.
Next issue is that though it is retractable, those mechanisms are cheap at best and it never wants to roll up all the way. I have to fight with it every time.
Finally, even at this width, the tube it rolls up on is not sturdy enough to keep it from having a droop in the middle, so it is never completely flat or smooth.
I've tried the textured shower curtains - not pleased, too much of the pictures passes right through. I can go outside and see the reverse of the image through the window. Wasted image.
Bedsheet - not pleased - image much better on the more reflective roll down shade.
What I want to know is what is the best fabric material I can get for this purpose that has enough "give" that it can be pulled back like a curtain when not in use. My plan, since my home is a period home and this high tech stuff needs to be easily hidden, is rather than a pulldown screen, to have something than can be pulled from one side. I intend to mount an inner and outer curtain rod the length of the wall with decorative curtains on the outer rod. The inner rod will carry the screen material and when it is pulled to one side, will be hidden behind the decorative curtain. I will install a vertical rod on each end of the room that will be hidden by the decorative curtains, with one end of the screen permantly affixed to one rod. When I pull the screen across the wall for use, I will have clips on it to anchor it to the rod at the other end. Thus it will hang from the upper rod while receiving tension from the vertical rods on each end which will keep it taught while in use and solve the droop problem. Does anyone have any opinions as to the best fabric for use in this manner?
Lori
I use cheapo home depot shade
I have found the cheapo, 19 dollar greyish regular vinyl shade I bought at home depot is best i think its 70"
tried glass imbedded 40" and it's not enough gain looking at an angle
tried white wall, pretty good results, almost better than shade because no wrinkles or bends
tried blackout cloth from Joann, and actually it fell off while i was watching a movie, and I didn't notice, until the next day(not any better then my white wall) also had wrinkles in it after it fell, and throught it away(built a frame for it but damn wrinkles ****ed me off and i chucked into garbage can
bought a shade from IVS, and it was very heavy, so I decided to go back to original home depot cheapie
truthfully, if you have a white wall with semi gloss finish, this is best next to 300 delite motorized jobby
now also is should explain my comp room is tiny, and I'm projecting a 55-60" image with a halagon dukane OH(ask impact 24 panel), not sure about these fancy metal halide bulbs
I have found the cheapo, 19 dollar greyish regular vinyl shade I bought at home depot is best i think its 70"
tried glass imbedded 40" and it's not enough gain looking at an angle
tried white wall, pretty good results, almost better than shade because no wrinkles or bends
tried blackout cloth from Joann, and actually it fell off while i was watching a movie, and I didn't notice, until the next day(not any better then my white wall) also had wrinkles in it after it fell, and throught it away(built a frame for it but damn wrinkles ****ed me off and i chucked into garbage can
bought a shade from IVS, and it was very heavy, so I decided to go back to original home depot cheapie
truthfully, if you have a white wall with semi gloss finish, this is best next to 300 delite motorized jobby
now also is should explain my comp room is tiny, and I'm projecting a 55-60" image with a halagon dukane OH(ask impact 24 panel), not sure about these fancy metal halide bulbs
Well my white sheet works ok, i don't use it when there are any lights so it looks pretty bright.......But i have often wanted to paint the back with siver paint in hopes of making it brighter. I've tryed taping tin-foil to the back but i did not make it much brighter. Do yo'all think siver paint would help???...Bob
My Screen
My screen currently is 2 of the Levolor Vinyl shade (alabaster color) that I picked up at a local yard sale for $2. I have a Dalite screen (it is a smaller one at like 40x40 portable) and when put side by side the cheap shade looked better. I am using 2 side by side so I have a line in the middle but with the 2 I have a screen that is roughly 128" w x 70" long and it looks great. Made the frame out of 3/4 " pvc pipe.
My screen currently is 2 of the Levolor Vinyl shade (alabaster color) that I picked up at a local yard sale for $2. I have a Dalite screen (it is a smaller one at like 40x40 portable) and when put side by side the cheap shade looked better. I am using 2 side by side so I have a line in the middle but with the 2 I have a screen that is roughly 128" w x 70" long and it looks great. Made the frame out of 3/4 " pvc pipe.
This was already mentioned in a prior topic but if noone has seen this I thought I might share it here's the link http://www.hometheaterforum.com/htforum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=140880 I think it's neat and clean looking and the gain in picture is incredible
all of the links i have found on this subject 
:
http://www.hometheaterforum.com/htforum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=140880
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=267756
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?threadid=262466
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?threadid=240074&highlight=rustoleum
:http://www.hometheaterforum.com/htforum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=140880
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=267756
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?threadid=262466
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?threadid=240074&highlight=rustoleum
Hello friends and fellow DIY'ers. I stumbled on this site when tracking the hits on my own website. I believe that you have a link to my own DIY screen here somewhere. I used Tremco Tremclad High Heat Enamel Aluminium spray paint on formica that was all found at Home Depot with great results. The link is below, I hope.
Has anyone tried the new Rustoleum premium metallics? They have a platinum color that looks like it would work well...very small flakes and a rather transparent white base to it. I had never seen it until this morning when I mentioned to the paint guy at home depot that I was building a custom screen. He mentioned that he had several people mention using in the few weeks that they have carried it. Just wondering if anyone had any experience with it?
what I did
I just thought I'd give my input on diy screens.
I didn't do my own projecter, but I did do my own screen for my $91 poloroid oldie projector off ebay.
First I used a thin semi-shiny cloth material. This worked ok, but a lot of light bounced back off the wall and through the material. This resulted in the picture whiting out, to some degree. Then, I added a dark green non-shiny heavy fabric behind the original material, and things got much better as far as white sensitivity. Finally, I bought a cheap 180 count matte white bedsheet, and a cheap dark green blanket, and my wife helped me sew them together. We made a pocket at the top and bottom to slide 3/4 electrical conduit through for rigidity. It is suspended by 2 small wire loops from the ceiling. I would also like to note, that at least for me, the color seemed even better with the matte white material, versus the semi-shiny material. Now I can roll up my screen, and take it with me, or put it away. My viewing area is 6' by 4.5'. I like it much. I hope this is useful for someone.
I just thought I'd give my input on diy screens.
I didn't do my own projecter, but I did do my own screen for my $91 poloroid oldie projector off ebay.
First I used a thin semi-shiny cloth material. This worked ok, but a lot of light bounced back off the wall and through the material. This resulted in the picture whiting out, to some degree. Then, I added a dark green non-shiny heavy fabric behind the original material, and things got much better as far as white sensitivity. Finally, I bought a cheap 180 count matte white bedsheet, and a cheap dark green blanket, and my wife helped me sew them together. We made a pocket at the top and bottom to slide 3/4 electrical conduit through for rigidity. It is suspended by 2 small wire loops from the ceiling. I would also like to note, that at least for me, the color seemed even better with the matte white material, versus the semi-shiny material. Now I can roll up my screen, and take it with me, or put it away. My viewing area is 6' by 4.5'. I like it much. I hope this is useful for someone.
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