View Full Version : Parkland question
dbldare
12-01-06, 03:38 PM
I know this is probably a dumb question, but......how many posts start like that... :)
I've been reading on the Parkland DIY screen for years now, in fact I have both a 4x8 and a 5x10 sheet but still haven't used either of them. Here's the dumb part. Which side should I project on to? I've read posts with both. I have a new Z5 and I'm finishing the theater (completely light controlled). I'm just about ready for the screen to be mounted. DirecTV SD/HD and SD/HD DVD will be the main use of the theater.
Thanks in advance,
Mike
project on the the matte side not the shiny side.
The shiny side may hotspot.
I didn't think they made 5 x10 sheets. Lucky you.
craftech
12-03-06, 11:45 PM
project on the the matte side not the shiny side.
The shiny side may hotspot.
No it does not hotspot. The shiny side looks much better with vivid colors. I am using a 3000 lumens projector and it does not hotspot. I also have a 5 x 8 Designer White screen.
After lengthy testing I have found the images to be identical under ALL conditions between the Parkland Plastics screen (on the shiny side) and the Designer White laminate screen.
Conclusion: Designer White is only necessary if you need a screen taller than 4 feet. Otherwise the Parkland Plastics vinyl sheet on the shiny side will save you a whole lot of money and give you the exact same image.
John
let me know if you want to sell the 5X10. I'm in the Springs and would be happy to take it off your hands.
I think most are going with the Matte side, but equipment and celing/rear shelf /table mounting conditions are different. so YMMV
Check it out yourself and see. The gain is probably steeper with the shiny side and off axis viewing may be affected.
dbldare
12-04-06, 11:58 AM
Thanks guys for all the replies! Yeah, I got lucky getting the 5x10 sheet. I ordered it just before my son was born, and haven't put much good use in the theater. I have a pull down screen that I have been using in the meantime, but I didn't have the time to finish the basement and mount a perm screen. I do now, so that's why the questions are coming up a few years later. I bought both the 4x8 and 5x10 sheets before Ploywall really knew what we were using them for. The 4x8 has been sitting flat in my basement on a backer board and the 5x10 has been rolled up in the box Poly sent it to me in. That will take some doing getting it nice and flat, but I think with some patience it can be done. I'm just going to try both sides and see which I feel is the better image since both sides are commonly used here in the forum.
Sorry adamfl, I think I'm going to use it. If I don't, you'll be the first to know.
Thanks again,
Mike
MississippiMan
12-04-06, 12:37 PM
No it does not hotspot. The shiny side looks much better with vivid colors. I am using a 3000 lumens projector and it does not hotspot. I also have a 5 x 8 Designer White screen.
After lengthy testing I have found the images to be identical under ALL conditions between the Parkland Plastics screen (on the shiny side) and the Designer White laminate screen.
Conclusion: Designer White is only necessary if you need a screen taller than 4 feet. Otherwise the Parkland Plastics vinyl sheet on the shiny side will save you a whole lot of money and give you the exact same image.
John
You need to post that little bit of info on the laminate thread and see what shakes out. :eek: I'm betting that the folks on that thread who have spent considerable time testing and evaluating the DW laminate, some against Parkland, will take considerable siisue with your determination.
Not that you cannot be right, mind you. Just bucking a trend that is gaining considerable steam through the agressive promotion of that particular DIY application, and is held up as superior not by heresay or conjecture, but by a poop load of testing.
checklst
12-04-06, 03:14 PM
Theydiscontinued the 60" wide sheets,one of the problem with this material is the surface on most of their sheet are not acceptable as a screen but turning them over reveled a smooth side,that was a little shiny,off the cuff observation was a little harder or (shiner) than eggshell paint.
The 60" in sheets had a vary vary fine matte grain, again off the cuff (looks) vary much like Matte surface laminate. I believe this might reflect vary similar to Matte Laminate. I still have a 4ft piece of the Poly-Tex matte so I could do a test but I don't think it would be worth the time or money for me.
Hear is a good photo of the vary fine Matte finish and bright white paint on dry wall, it's in all three (shots) in the same location, and it's almost impossible to any difference. You can just see the poly that is curled down on my stage(first and third shot) below the picture on the right side of the screen it extends about 3/4 up the painted screen screen . MY guess is white laminate matte finish will react vary similar but I guess those testing might have found a more profound differences than I did against paint. :)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v108/checklst/PICT01161.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v108/checklst/1026894e.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v108/checklst/PICT0100.jpg
craftech
12-05-06, 10:07 PM
You need to post that little bit of info on the laminate thread and see what shakes out. :eek: I'm betting that the folks on that thread who have spent considerable time testing and evaluating the DW laminate, some against Parkland, will take considerable siisue with your determination.
Not that you cannot be right, mind you. Just bucking a trend that is gaining considerable steam through the agressive promotion of that particular DIY application, and is held up as superior not by heresay or conjecture, but by a poop load of testing.
Already did MM. Someone called me a "Parkland Fan" when I posted this in that thread so I explained how I tested and evaluated the two screen materials. Actually there are 15 of us who collectively came to that conclusion.
The big "difference" comes when comparing the matte side to the DW. In that case the DW looks better. If you use the so-called "wrong side" (shiny side) of the Parkland the DW and the Parkland are absolutely identical. A 4x8 sheet of DW does have an advantage in that it is rigid and opaque enough not to require a backing like the Parkland needs. That reduces the overall weight.
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=8671783#post8671783
John
Mike...I too bought a 4x8, and 5x9 sheet of parkland when I started my home theater. I opted to use the 5x9 as big is better to me...lol. I am projecting onto the matte side and am amazed at the outcome of the picture. I never expected to have a picture this nice from a home made screen. I used a 5x9 sheet of 3/4" cabinet white malimine for a backerboard with 3" aluim angle running across the top and bottom from behind to keep it dead flat. the whole screen is hung between the oak towers from my old setup and worked out great......except its not feasible to try to move it at all. The cabinet malimine was great as it gave a really smooth surface to glue the parkland to, and a wood rolling pin worked great to smooth out the air bubbles. I'd love to find another sheet of the 5x10 to have as a spare as parkland no longer makes it and I'll die if anything should ever scratch the surface of it....lol. I origionally purchased a infocus 7205 for my theater, but then bought a 7210 when I ran into it at a price I couldn't pass up. Either of these projectors are bright enough that I chose the matte side as it seemed to glare on the smooth back side.
I just love the Infocus line of projectors as I've never seen a pic as nice as these seem to produce. I still have the 7205 and it only has approx. 160 hrs on it if you know any one looking for a great 720P projector. Its just like new, I've never even taken the remote out of the bag....lookin to get $2400 for it.
Took a couple of pics but not sure how they will turn out but here they are.......mabgab
I also did find the PP and DW surfaces to be pretty much identical. Little more gain in the DW. 4x 8 the PP is cheaper. For 5x8 or 5 x10 or 5 x12. The DW laminate is much cheaper than a screen.
Just a quick note:
Just got my 5 x 8 sheet of Designer White. Brought it to a friends location where he already has a calibrated Mitsubishi HC3000 up and running projecting on a Draper M1300 screen. I also brought the piece of Parkland Plastics I have been using. The Draper is listed as 1.0 gain. He was told by a Draper rep that it actually is a bit more than that, despite their materials saying otherwise.
http://www.draperinc.com/images/200.../GainCharts.pdf
Bottom line when we put the DW by the screen, it was tough telling where the screen surface was and the laminate surface began. The color accuracy was perfect, which surprised my AV savy friend who had spent hours tweaking the projector and is very picky.
The DW was a little brighter (slightly more gain) but you had to look hard to see it. When we made the laminate lie flat, and looked away and then back at the screen, it was very hard to tell there was two difference surfaces.
The Parkland Plastic sheet also did very well. I could perceive some very slight coolness, but it was just a smidgen off. The gain of the Parkland Plastics sheet looked identical to the M1300 screen.
I am mounting the 5x8 sheet today.
In any event, that a) the smooth side of a Parkland Polywall may be used with a higher lumen pj and not hot spot, and b) it performs comparably with a DW laiminate, is good news to me.
Of course if anyone's going to tell me a pj rated at 1100 lumens will hot spot on the smooth side of a Parkland or that a DW laminate looks "noticeably" better, then I'd like to hear from you before I head off to HD.
Thanks
Absolutely no hotspotting on the Designer White, even when we cranked up the contrast. It had a slightly higher gain than the other materials but the color was spot on.
My videophile friend with the expensive screen was quite shocked. We watched a lot of material and for the most part we couldn't tell where the various edges of the materials were, they were that close.
The texture on the DW was invisible. It seemed to be optically perfect to the Draper M1300 screen. The only place I could see that the gain was slightly higher was right at the seam, otherwise the natural variation in the picture being shown overwhelmed the gain difference.
Like I said if you looked away from the screen and then looked back, it was very hard to see that there was three different materials being projected upon.
No ambient light. Ceiling mounted HC3000. Medium color temp, iris closed, contrast and brightness nicely adjusted to appropriate levels.
Amazing stuff. My comments from the laminate thread.
In any event, that a) the smooth side of a Parkland Polywall may be used with a higher lumen pj and not hot spot, and b) it performs comparably with a DW laiminate, is good news to me.
Of course if anyone's going to tell me a pj rated at 1100 lumens will hot spot on the smooth side of a Parkland or that a DW laminate looks "noticeably" better, then I'd like to hear from you before I head off to HD.
Thanks I think you would be satisfied with either side of the PP. I choose to use the textured side because it was unmarred. The smooth side looked like it would be a touch higher gain, but should not hotspot on you either. You are more likely to hot spot is the FP is on a table than if it is ceiling mounted or mounted on a high back shelf.
Good luck, and thanks for the PM.
I like the DW now only becaues I can get it in larger sizes.
I've been using the PP with the smooth side. It clearly gives more "pop" than the textured side in my setup. My projector is on a stand, and there are 1 or 2 hotspots you can see, depending on where you are sitting, and only if you are viewing a bright, white picture. I've tried several pieces of the PP and the smooth side always has the strange half swirls on it, clearly from the manufacturing process.
I've been using the PP with the smooth side. It clearly gives more "pop" than the textured side in my setup. My projector is on a stand, and there are 1 or 2 hotspots you can see, depending on where you are sitting, and only if you are viewing a bright, white picture. I've tried several pieces of the PP and the smooth side always has the strange half swirls on it, clearly from the manufacturing process.
What projector are you using? Thanks
Jurekman
12-13-06, 12:26 AM
My experience with Parkland has been a mixed bag. To me, the textured side looked a little dull and lifeless compared to the smooth side, and the the "texture" would sometimes be visible during bright scenes. However, the smooth side did hotspot somewhat.
Not sure this is anything new to the more experienced folks: On a fluke, I decided to take a ScotchBrite scouring pad to the smooth side in an attempt to dull the surface somewhat. The result was a noticeable improvement. The smooth side retained the "cleaner" look, but the hotspots were gone. I was concerned the pad would leave visible scratches, but all it did was eliminate the shine - just what I was after.
Welcome to AVS, Jurekman.
What projector are you using? Thanks
craftech
12-13-06, 09:56 AM
Already did MM. Someone called me a "Parkland Fan" when I posted this in that thread so I explained how I tested and evaluated the two screen materials. Actually there are 15 of us who collectively came to that conclusion.
The big "difference" comes when comparing the matte side to the DW. In that case the DW looks better. If you use the so-called "wrong side" (shiny side) of the Parkland the DW and the Parkland are absolutely identical. A 4x8 sheet of DW does have an advantage in that it is rigid and opaque enough not to require a backing like the Parkland needs. That reduces the overall weight.
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=8671783#post8671783
John
And by the way, my post is on no way meant to be a dig at anyone. The "Parkland Fan" comment above was given simply to illustrate that I really don't have a preference and perhaps I am carelessly wording my posts and coming across differently than I intend to.
It is simply meant to be helpful to anyone considering Parkland (shiny side) vs Wilsonart Designer White. I love them both and am merely advocating that cost and size is probably a good deciding factor (based upon the observations of our movie viewing group at home) for anyone looking for advice that may want to save a whole bunch of money. I guess I kind of assume most of you are cheapskates like me.
I use the large (5' x 8' DW screen) on my deck and in my living room except at Christmas time when my Christmas display prevents such a large screen from hanging (it's NOT against the wall). When the display is up (right now) I use the smaller Parkland screen (an 80" 4:3 screen). Both look great, but when it comes to viewing the squished down 2.35:1 (cinemascope) movies, the larger screen is better strictly because of the size. The DW laminate screen cost me around $135 by the time I was done with it and the Parkland Plastics Vinyl screen only cost me $30. And again, there is a marked difference between the matte side of the Parkland and the Designer White (DW looks better), but not (according to my movie watching group) between the shiny side of the Parkland and the Designer White laminate.
Sorry if anyone took offense to my post, I didn't mean it that way.
John
craftech
12-13-06, 10:06 AM
My experience with Parkland has been a mixed bag. To me, the textured side looked a little dull and lifeless compared to the smooth side, and the the "texture" would sometimes be visible during bright scenes. However, the smooth side did hotspot somewhat.
Not sure this is anything new to the more experienced folks: On a fluke, I decided to take a ScotchBrite scouring pad to the smooth side in an attempt to dull the surface somewhat. The result was a noticeable improvement. The smooth side retained the "cleaner" look, but the hotspots were gone. I was concerned the pad would leave visible scratches, but all it did was eliminate the shine - just what I was after.
I haven't noticed the hotspoting, but in thinking about it I am using the projector on a table projected at an angle with some keystoning. I just slightly overshoot the screen and the keystoning is not noticeable, but that MAY explain why I don't see any hotspoting at all. I am not shooting dead on.
In contrast to that, when I use my larger Designer White laminate screen I have the projector ceiling mounted and I AM shooting dead on to the screen with no keystoning. There is no hotspoting (as others have noted).
John
Craftech,
Thanks for sharing your insights on the Parkland and WilsonArt Designer White, WADW. That's really saying something that you're using a 3000 lumen projector shooting straight on and have no hotspotting with the WADW. Now we have an acronym that can be found with AVS's search function.
1Time,
I used a 4X8 sheet of Parkland for about 5 monthes. Projector is a Mitsu HC3000. There were 2 things that drove me nuts about it. First the poor ambient light performance. Any little bit of light spillage onto the screen degrades the image. Secondly, it hotspotted. I never projected onto the textured side, just the smooth side. If you watch alot of hockey, you're not gonna like this stuff.
On the other hand, this stuff is cheap! It was less than $20. It was easy to transport. Definetly an easy, cheap temporary screen in my opinion. Plus, if your plans are for a screen of 48" or less in width, you have a decent substrate to paint.
Have to admit 1Time, I recall you being here on the forum before me but I don't recall your situation. Don't you have a screen yet? :eek: Or are you just tinkering? :cool: I would've thought you'd have read about this stuff by now.
mech
I haven't noticed the hotspoting, but in thinking about it I am using the projector on a table projected at an angle with some keystoning. I just slightly overshoot the screen and the keystoning is not noticeable, but that MAY explain why I don't see any hotspoting at all. I am not shooting dead on.
In contrast to that, when I use my larger Designer White laminate screen I have the projector ceiling mounted and I AM shooting dead on to the screen with no keystoning. There is no hotspoting (as others have noted).
John WADW with celing mount HC3000 also. No hotspotting. I notice it has slightly better ambient light performance than the PP matte side I was using.
The WADW is friggin amazing. You need light control, but it is good stuff.
Jurekman
12-13-06, 03:00 PM
Welcome to AVS, Jurekman.
What projector are you using? Thanks
I'm using a ceiling mounted Sony Pearl with a 14' throw. Not exactly a light cannon, but I still had hotspotting on the smooth side before the ScotchBrite treatment. For what it's worth, I just got a Carada Brilliant White screen to try out. I was pretty happy with the Parkland but wanted something with a little more gain. I also read a lot of praise in other threads regarding the Pearl/Carada combo.
Still, I was always impressed by how good a $15 plastic sheet could look. Although the Carada screen is an improvement for my particular setup, it is not a big difference.
What projector are you using? ThanksI have the Benq7700 720P DLP Projector.
Have to admit 1Time, I recall you being here on the forum before me but I don't recall your situation. Don't you have a screen yet? :eek: Or are you just tinkering? :cool: I would've thought you'd have read about this stuff by now.
mech
Well, my situation keeps changing. In the past 2 years I've redone my HT room twice and moved it once, changed projectors (Pany 500U > Optoma H31 > Optoma H57 > new Pany 900U), and tried a few DIY screens including a Parkland. And although I have tinkered quite a bit, I'm considering a new screen for my 900U, which of course may require more tinkering... lol. However, I'm hoping my 900U will help me settle down and watch more movies etc. than tinker with my toys.
Well, my situation keeps changing. In the past 2 years I've redone my HT room twice and moved it once, changed projectors (Pany 500U > Optoma H31 > Optoma H57 > new Pany 900U), and tried a few DIY screens including a Parkland. And although I have tinkered quite a bit, I'm considering a new screen for my 900U, which of course may require more tinkering... lol. However, I'm hoping my 900U will help me settle down and watch more movies etc. than tinker with my toys.
Sounds a bit familiar.... :p
mech
gtrek49
12-31-06, 09:30 PM
hey folks new to avs..got a optoma ez719 pp 4x8 not sure to use the shiny or matted side also need an av switch for video input i think...help me out
gtrek49
01-03-07, 02:08 PM
kosty i got a sheet of pp 4x8 do you have to order the 5x 10 sheet or do they sell it in the store i am east coast
kosty i got a sheet of pp 4x8 do you have to order the 5x 10 sheet or do they sell it in the store i am east coast
They do not make 5X10 polywall anymore. And the original polywall changed as well. Can't recall if they stopped making it or just changed it altogether.
mech
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