I have no first hand experience with front projection in my home. I have enjoyed reading many of the threads here and learned lots. One thing I haven't seen is a subjective evaluation of how much a black ceiling adds to the space over a white ceiling.

Specifically:
How much light from a fp spills onto a white ceiling? (subjectively, not footcandles please)
Would it be possible to eliminate spill on a white ceiling by lowering pj/screen? (or if not eliminate, lessen enough as to not be a distraction)

It is possible for me to paint the ceiling flat black, but it would be a hassle both in convincing my wife, and due to the ceiling being common to another space.

I'm looking into doing a coffer to seperate the space if it's really important that the ceiling be black. And I guess I'll just buy the wife off if necessary.:D

thanks
Rob

Keep in mind that a darker ceiling will have a positive impact on your viewing experience. It will definitely cut down on the glare. However, you dont have to got black. I went with Oswego Tea (a dark green/gray). When the lights are dimmed or off, it appears black. But in full light, its color (not black) and works well with the rest of my color scheme.

Also, my ceiling is dark while my side walls are lighter (a muted yellow). When the projector is on, I do not notice any glare showing up on my ceiling, however, my side walls light up alot. I can only imagine how much glare it would be if the walls (or ceiling) was white.

Telling your wife you are painting the ceiling black is one thing, tell her you are painting in Oswego Tea (for example) is another ;)

But since you are sharing the ceiling with another space, it may be difficult to paint it one color, unless you seperate that space. I put up a soffit all around and in the rear it houses my projector. This "defined" my space and I was able to paint the ceiling one color, but the rest of the space is white.

Tell us more details about this space you are planning on putting the projector.

I did a medium gray ceiling and just a small black marquee over the screen. It was a compromise but it works just fine.

I could be wrong but our personal experience is that color is not as important as the surface being non-reflective. Flat instead of seim-gloss and definitely not full glossy.

We found the biggest culprit of reflected and re-reflected light in our room was our white screen - it made a big difference with light control and light reflected around our room when we put the white screen back in its' box and installed a Da-lite gray - not only was reflected light significantly reduced the dreaded black bars due to scaling extra wide screen movies are practically invisible.

Anywho, we have a non-reflective off white drop ceiling in our room and brown paneld walls and we have no negative impact due to reflection and re-reflection of projector light so our personal experience is that black is not necessary - non-reflective treatment important.

I suspect it was less the "white" screen than it was the angular reflective nature of the new screen.

There is no such thing as a non-reflective white ceiling. The white can have a matte or gloss finish, both reflect light, just in different patterns.

Getting back to black, the lighter the ceiling the more light you allow to bounce back on the screen. So your black level and contrast are both affected.

Thanks for all the replies. I'm honored to have some of the heavyweights chiming in.

So, does most of the distracting glare come back off of the screen? I just figured that it came from the pj before it hit the screen.


Just to keep this from getting boring....
http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b9da38b3127ccec6b356a5fed700000040O00IauWzNq1bMge3nw8/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D720/ry%3D480/


Obligatory tape. Too high. Currently at 48x85, need to go bigger.
http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b9da38b3127ccec6b36e687f3600000040O00IauWzNq1bMge3nw8/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D720/ry%3D480/

I will be cutting the front speakers into the wall. Then installing fabricmate frames with lineacoustic or roxul, and then black gom.


Rough-in for the pj is back at 15'6, and measurments were obtained from infocus x10 specs. (2"pvc and duplex from power inlet/ups)
http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b9da38b3127ccec6b3e1f0be4100000040O00IauWzNq1bMge3nw8/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/


Equipment located back left. Built-in rack rails.
http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b9da38b3127ccec6b2bc095f7200000040O00IauWzNq1bMge3nw8/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

Tiny wet bar area (36" sink base where my 2 yr old son is) Had to build in the micro and Coke fridge to maximize usability of the space.
http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b9da38b3127ccec6b38108be8900000040O00IauWzNq1bMge3nw8/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

Entire area is irregular and about 700sqft with kitchenette and bath.

Comments welcome.

rob

Light reflecting off of the screen will illuminate any light colored ceiling or walls that are near.

This is why most people prefer a dark, flat ceiling and why you will also see some screens set back into a shadow box that is lined with black velvet.

These are all techniques to help absorb the reflected light and/or minimize the amount of reflection.

It's all depends on what you want. In a shared space room, there are usually more tradeoffs that need to be made.

best of luck.

mbec,

Nice space you have going there! Any chance you can share a floor-plan or sketch?

As for the ceiling; When i was at this point > I thought my wife would be completely opposed to a black ceiling. I was surprised when she went along with the idea. I have to say it really works well - wouldn't have it any other way!

I lucked out. My wife seen one of the theatre pics from on here with a black ceiling and she thought it looked cool. I said, "You're right, babe, that does look cool. We should do that!"

She was an easy sell. ;)