I posted this Q in the "Home Theatre and Construction" forum http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=15861923#post15861923,
but actually it probably should have been posted here for some of the gurus opinions/feedback.

In the gazillion of posts/builds I've viewed here I've only seen a few people put rope lights behind their screen.

I'm thinking to add rope lights to my DIY screen frame and want to get WAF prior.
Any help/thoughts/comments for rope lights behind screen picts posted in this thread appreciated.

For those who have done rope lights behind the screen, can you list pros/cons?
I'm guessing here.

Pros:
Cool factor :D, give ambient light for non-moving events (big game sports/etc) w/o washing out the screen image

Cons:
Distraction if left on?
Reduce contrast?

My install would be easy, just attach the rope lights to the frame behind my screen.
I have 120v plug and cat5e on the screen wall behind the screen already, but no dimmer. I'd have to add some IR dimmer device so I could control it via my Harmony 890.
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_FqTNmgNQHz8/SUPBi74bwrI/AAAAAAAACr4/HhChyriwMpg/s400/IMG_0375.JPG

thx for help.

did some searches, here is rope lighting behind the screen.

I'd like some opinions on Pros/Cons:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=9280459#post9280459
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y231/auburnu008/3.jpg

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=645025
http://gallery.avsforum.com/data/506/medium/100_0158.jpg

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e254/LoStrings/HomeTheater009.jpg

I used backlighting (via a small flourescent fixture and a 6500k rated tube) behind my TV because it's brightness in a dark room was fatiguing/painful for long viewing.

Is your primary purpose to increase percieved contrast?

The "ambient lighting" theory will cause some washout if your lighting is that bright and bouncing off the ceiling and adjacent walls (my Direct view CRT doesn't suffer like a front projector would). I countered this by making deflectors out of black construction paper so that the backlighting was directed ONLY at the wall behind the screen and illuminating a small "corona" outside the viewing area. The set-up in the pic with "Shark Tale" looks like it would degrade the contrast more than the photo shows.

Methinks the only usage you might get from it is prior to starting up the projector or when it is not in use and you want the screen to be a "showpiece".

Plus, finding rope lighting that won't skew the colors is a pretty tall order!

Just my 2...

ANY ambient light in a front projection setup will reduce contrast. But, eye fatigue can often be a problem that needs addressing. That being said, rope lighting is not usually recommend for the purest image as the color temp of rope lighting leans towards the red and can affect the calibration (though you can adjust for it a bit if you plan to get your projector calibrated).

Thx guys, your input is much appreciated.

I'll put the rope light behind the screen on the backburner for now.

It will fall under the "showcase" stuff to do list, I do understand any ambient light will deter from contrast which is what I don't want for Movie viewing.

For big sports game or general PS3 games (my kids love Lego Star Wars) we do put the ceiling cans on low dim and it's acceptable w/o major contrast washout effect. Those seem to have higher nominal light level than most movies, so can tolerate some ambient light more.

My prior thinking was the rope would be on for initial room power up, turn on PJ, and then fade off via dim when Movie viewing is going on, and fade to dim when big sports game or general PS3 games were played. I still might do that, but as a later tbd upgrade.

In this thread shows I'm serious about screen stray light control as well.
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=15831128#post15831128
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_FqTNmgNQHz8/SZjM7t7vjPI/AAAAAAAAEDI/WVub7l_ZRXU/s640/IMG_1386.JPG

I think it's "GeorgeAB" who does the back/bias lighting. Might want to ask him for a datapoint. CinemaQuest, Inc. But as Jason said, any light will have an effect on your CR. I can think of situations when it might be usefull though.

Personally I do have my screen setup that way. I don't use it often or for critical viewing, but if I am just in their with my kids and such, it does provide enough light in the room for tasks/seeing people/etc...