Hello all. Question for you people: I will be purchasing a projector soon. My criteria is this: I like movies in their original format. I would prefer not to miss out on 2:35:1 movie width because I purchase a 16x9 dedicated screen. I like movies big! So how does this sound? Sanding a wall and using that expensive Screen Goo paint on almost the whole wall. This way I can (hopefully) watch 16x9 and 2:35:1 in their proper ratios. Anyone have any tips or advice or no nos on this brainstorm of mine? Thanks so much.

I have often wondered the same, will be very interested in the responses to this thread by those in the know.

You do realize this will still result in black bars being projected in the unused portions of the projected image? That is if the pj is 16:9 then 2.35:1 movies will still have black bars above and below the image to fill in the 16:9 frame. Same for 4:3 but the bars will be on the left and the right.

My room is under construction right now and I, too, am considering painting the whole wall. I plan on using the RS-Maxx Mud formula talked about on the DIY screen forum. I have a Canon SX-60 and the zoom will come in handy for times I want to go bigger when light controlled, and smaller for daytime and sports/multi-purpose use with ambient light from windows or with the lights on. Since the screen size won't be fixed I was hoping someone in the know would comment on any pitfalls with this idea.

Thanks,
Scott

Hello all. Question for you people: I will be purchasing a projector soon. My criteria is this: I like movies in their original format. I would prefer not to miss out on 2:35:1 movie width because I purchase a 16x9 dedicated screen. I like movies big! So how does this sound? Sanding a wall and using that expensive Screen Goo paint on almost the whole wall. This way I can (hopefully) watch 16x9 and 2:35:1 in their proper ratios. Anyone have any tips or advice or no nos on this brainstorm of mine? Thanks so much.


Screen Goo on a whole wall would be very expensive. You should see how big your PJ can go and still give you a quality bright picture and than paint accordingly. No sence wasting Goo on the rest of the wall. I used Goo for my 118" screen and really like it. I spent about $260 or so for all materials. The only thing I recommend is that you frame your screen with some sort of black felt border. A framed screen looks much much better and more "theater like" than just shooting an image on a wall. Just my $.02.

It will certainly work but as Jon suggested above don't do the whole wall save your $$.
I would just do the largest area you will be showing 2:35:1 in goo and then frame off that screen area. It will do everything you want and it will still look like "theater like" In my construction thread I've done this in my testing room and just adding the borders to the painted wall makes a huge difference IMO.
Good luck throw some photos up once you get working on it would be interesting to see how it turns out.
Cheers

To project 2:35.1 don't you also need an anamorphic lense? unless you are spending for the latest Runco or something that does 2:35.1?

To project 2:35.1 don't you also need an anamorphic lense? unless you are spending for the latest Runco or something that does 2:35.1?
No any projector can display 2.35:1 but there will be black bars above and below the image.

I haven't really researched the projector capabilities yet. I've read that some can do different ratio throws. I guess I assumed it could be switched to throw just a 16x9 image or a 2:35:1 image WITHOUT the bars. The Runco is most likely beyond my budget, but it seems to have the right idea...it keeps constant height and extends the 2:35:1 beyond the normal 16x9. I assumed there would be no bars, though for the 16x9 (on the sides). I don't know.
Is there any reason to border the image with masking beyone making it look pro? That might look silly, having a black outline on a wall when not being used. It's my living room it will be in, so I figured using an already blank wall (where my RPTV and Entertainment stuff is now) would be nicest. Yeh, I probably won't paint the whole wall ... just what I'll be using.

First rule of HT [and most other things for that matter] Never Assume. I was very lucky in that I made assumptions, that turned out to be wrong but fortunately the projector I bought was forgiving enough that I was still able to use it.

It all depends on what you want of course, but many people who use a wall do put up a border because it really helps the overall look, one thing you might do is go ahead and put up the border so you have a "screen" and then use a drape that covers that whole wall when not in use.

You're right: assuming can be costly. But the border issue for me is primarily for the different ratios. IF I can find a projector that throws 16x9 and 2:35:1 without bars for each one, then the border I put on the wall will be, well, in the way. I don't want to compromise, but if price is an issue, then I most likely will have to. I have read that a border contains the light... I don't know if that's true or not.

It depends on what the border is made of. it does not exactly contain the light, but it hides light over spray or whatever they call it, if it is something like Black velvet etc.

You will not find a projector that does 16:9 and 2:35:1 without black/grey bars on on or the other, also on 4:3. Not unless you want to get into something like a top end Runco or use an anamorphic lense with pass thru or something of that nature.
My projector does 4 different modes but with each you get some bars except the native 16:9 that it happens to be.

I assure you we all want to be able to view all aspect ratios as intended and without black bars, that is why many of us use extensive masking, or why multi thousand dollar masking systems are out there. Unless you have unlimited funds all of HT is a series of compromises.

Compromise... I always tell my girlfriend (whenever I purchase a product and I end up returning it because it doesn't work for what I want) "Why can't they just make what I want?!" Yes, i don't havev unlimited funds. Scouring the sight has matched your opinion on the anamorphic lenses. I should just put the Runco out of my head...heh...probably more money than I make in a year. Do you have experience with the ana lens? Is it a pain in the butt or do they actually work well? If they do, then that's a good bet for the wall perhaps.

I don't have any experience with the Anamorphic lenses, "YET". From what I have seen on here and other sites though, It works quite well. Still expensive though, looks like about $1500 for one for my projector so I think we will be using the best image we can get from the projector itself for each aspect. I have an Optoma H77.

I am using a series of masking with velcro tayloring it to each movie we watch. If you have not already done so read the 2:35:1 Chat section on here, lots of info there.

I have read the section and the only 2 solutions I find are what you suggested, I believe: expensive Runco or the lens. And YES I priced a lens for it and woo! Awfully expensive for a piece o' glass that distorts an image. Even more expensive if you don't feel like moving the lens each time. I like the pass-through feature. That seems to be my avenue. The upside is...if I use projector with lens...then I won't have to mask off portions of the screen. I should get the full 16x9 and 2;35;1 image. I suppose if I get bored, I could put drapes up and swing 'em back and forth. My girlfriend now eyes me warily when she hears me in our library on the computer... she knows I'm lusting after proper aspect ratios and huge pictures. She doesn't really care one whit what it looks like, unfortunately. She feels that a movie is the same whether it's pan and scan or widescreen. Despite my many attempts to show her and explain to her the great slap in the face she is giving to many directors, she still refuses to give a damn. Luckily for me, she ALSO doesn't give a damn if I turn our living room into a theater living room. I guess I shouldn't complain. Ha! Ignorance is bliss. Thanks for the advice, by the way. I appreciate it. I think I will look up your projector. What is your opinion on it? Glad you bought it or not glad?

In case you're wondering why I'm so bango for the wall method, well, the first reason is the aspect ratios and another important reason is this: CATS. Lots of cats. We have 4 cats, and several of them are adept at scaling things. They use their claws to do this. I can see it now: me investing in an expensive screen, and then one of the cats deciding that it's the newest fun toy for it's amusement. I am not a violent man, but I wonder what I would do if I saw a cat climb my screen and then slash the whole way down to the bottom. Probably something bad. :D

Cats! Ah the joys of a dedicated theater with a DOOR. I have three very distructive cats, mostly between hair balls and less then stellar toilet functions. they are all persians One a Himi is Gandolf the Grey, I have a Chocolate brown one called Rhadagast the Brown and then there is my Black one the worst of the bunch, Sauron the Dark Lord.

Anyway NONE of them are allowed in the theater.
As for the projector, it came out in 2004 and when it did it was just under 9K list, I read the thread about them here, though an older thread and I managed to find one New not refurbished, but they were discountinued at the end of last year.

It is a great projector for what I paid for it. Optoma makes good projectors, many here seem to be using their newer models. Not sure what the current model that would be the comparable model in the line would be.

Unfortunately, all the other rooms are taken. Sigh. The living room is the only choice left...besides, the only thing we do in the living room anyways is watch tv, so... My cats names are not as impresive as the wizards you named. My girlfriend inhereited one named (do not be frightened) Cookie. I have a stray momma cat that had 7 kittens, thus earning her the name of Babylon (that silly whore). Her son is Loki and the other son we have was named by my girl again: Destiny. Though now it's Divine Destiny, since she thought it was a girl until it was neutered (thus the John Waters reference). The vey kindly told her it was a boy and how could she miss his.. you know. Yes, your model is only archived on their web site. Research time... My only other drawback is 1080p. I will be purchasing a PS3 when it releases, so Blue Ray movies will go hand in hand with that system. I fear that 1080p will cost even MORE!

For what it's worth a budy of mine uses the wall method with an infocus 4805 and it looks amazing. In fact after seeing this $650 projector perform on a flat white wall I could not bring myself to invest in an expensive screen. I am starting my theater soon and I will be using Sherwin Williams SW7071 in a Matte. This will give me a neutral grey wall which will help with black levels in ambient light. Go for it, you wont be sorry.

I made a frame using Blackout cloth and i permanentley mounted it to the wall. I wasn't overwhelmed by the results, but it was decent. I later painted it a very light silver/grey using a formula i found in the DIY screen section and was blown away by the improvement. I framed the BO cloth and painted the border black and it really looks sharp.

Thanks for the replies! IT's encouraging me heh heh. I finally got my PS3, so 1080p is tempting.