Best DIY screen in strong ambient light

[white_devil]

Hi all, I've been browsing the forums for a couple of days now trying to find the best screen option for my situation but I'm afraid the majority of information here is over my head as I'm an HT newb. I'll be receiving my InFocus IN72 tomorrow and am needing a screen. The trouble is that at times there may be massive ambient light. This is going to be in the living room and my girlfriend is adamant that I can't put up any curtains that will seriously hamper light comming in. She's relented to the point that I can get something darker than what we have now, but BOC curtains or something like that is out. So basically I'm wondering what, if anything, will allow me to use the projector in at minimum moderate ambient light. While I would like to get into some of the advanced mixes later, right now they seem way too complicated for me. I live in NM so assumed my Home Depot would have Doable but they don't so basically I'm asking for suggestions on a screen material and, if necessary, paint that won't be too difficult for a person with no 'craftsy' skills. Thanks :)

[Soransis]

Have you checked out the Laminate Material and Testing (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=708240) thread? There are some in there that have done the Fashion Grey (FG) Laminate. Grey tends to do much better than white in ambient light conditions. That is of course assuming you wanted a fixed frame screen. As for painting I would think some of the darker mixes would also do well with ambient light, but I haven't looked into any of the paiting options as I live in an apartment and can't paint the walls. I'm not sure how much money you want to spend on this screen, but the laminate is getting much praise as a DIY screen solution. A note with the FG Laminate is that you may need to put a poly topcoat on it because of hotspotting issues, but everything you would want to know can be found in the above thread on the first post, which also has many links to the pages where the information can be found. The Laminate Screen Showcase (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=749273) thread has a few pictures of grey in action (mech's screen mainly). And I'm sure he would be more than willing to answer any questions you may have, I know he sure helped me out when I had questions. Another note for laminate screens, try not to get the verticle grade as it doesn't stand up as well as the countertop grade will, but that inforamation can probably also be found in the laminate thread.

[bud16415]

The best ambient light screen IMO starts with the highest lumen projector you can find that still delivers a decent CR.

You haven’t told us what size screen you are thinking about and with the IN72 screen size will play a big roll in this. You are also posed with a dual problem because I’m sure at night you will want a large image and the screen will be called on to do a different task than its day job.

If you do plan on using it with any kind of hope of day use IMO you will have to somehow do some ambient light control. Screen location is one thing, direct sunlight falling on the screen and it will be all over. Keeping the sunlight away from it for the 8 feet closest to the screen is most important.

The basics of what you are asking are described in the links below in my signature. Read the one on screen paint and the one called a fun read. Also the photo log shows pictures of my screen under different ambient light settings.

[white_devil]

Sorry about that, trying to post my graphic but spam filter wouldn't let me.

The screen is only going to be 72" diag due to space limitations in our apartment. I'm in the process of going through all those links right now, so much info! The FG laminate seems to do ok in ambient light and is easy enough that I can probably manage it. As for building the frame for the screen, do you build the frame, wrap the velvet, then attach the laminate? I'd imagine the frame should look like
http://web.nmsu.edu/~m1a2t3t4/frame.jpg
If I wrap the outer portion of the frame with velvet, how do I go about attaching the laminate?

[white_devil]

Thanks for all the help guys, really appreciate it. I went to Home Depot tonight and they didn't have any samples of FG laminate, though they can order it, so I don't really know how grey it is. About how dark of a grey can I use? And am I correct in thinking that the darker the grey, the better the picture in ambient light?

[wbassett]

The main laminate thread has both color swatch information as well as actual shots of an FG screen with no image. There is also a lot of information on shades of gray in the Simple Gray thread...

[nate358]

Due to the small size of the screen I suspect you will not have the same hot spotting problems others have had.



Not true! You will see hotspots with the FG and IN72.... I tested it out with this very projector at a 75in screen and I saw it very plainly. If you get the FG... you'll be putting poly on it... just go ahead and add it to the price of your screen!

[Wet1]

In that case I suggest you get some 1/8" hardboard with the white coating on one side and paint it. You will need to get rollers and painting supplies anyway. I prefer the white hardboard because it stays flat when you paint the white side. Masonite may swell and curve on you.

Tiddler,
Can you give more details on what exactly this 1/8" hardboard is, where to buy it (HD/ Lowes?), manufacture/part #, and cost?

Thanks! :)

[LemurGuy]

i have pretty much the same setup as you Wet1, smallish apt, In72, poor ambient conditions during the day. What I decided to do was make a 2 sided screen.

my current screen is around 75" but the screen i am building will allow me to upgrade up to 104" when possible.

My plan of attack is to use 1" aluminum tubing for the frame with 2 extra Vetrical struts and one extra horizontal bone. I will be using aluminum screws to attatch the sheets of laminate (One is DW and the other is a gray that I have not yet decided on). For the border I'm forgoing Velvet and using 2" Gaffer's Tape around the borders since its exactly hw much border i can afford on my 5x8 sheet if i eventually want a 104" screen. For mounting i intend to screw a couple o rings into the top and use eye hooks to hang it.

This will give me the ability to remove the screen and flip it depengding if i want Grey for the day or White for the night.

Hope this helps some

(BTW the projected cost of my entire screen $250 whuch is a bit extravagant for a DIY project, but itll be light weight and serve a dual purpose)

[Soransis]

LemurGuy:

When I finally get around to making my HT I will have to get in touch with you and see how you did everything. I am very interested in the same setup as you want (dual sided screen) but wanted to arrange it slightly different. I think the money would be very much worth the effort, giving you essentially the best of both worlds.

[Wet1]

At my local Home Depot there is a section near the sheet lumber where there are 2'x2', 2'x4', and 4'x8' sheets of masonite, hardboard, and whiteboard.
Thanks Tiddler, I'll check that out. :)

[Wet1]

i have pretty much the same setup as you Wet1, smallish apt, In72, poor ambient conditions during the day.
Wrong guy. :p

[LemurGuy]

Wrong guy. :p


OOps ... I mean White Devil ... lol

[davidahn]

If all you can get is a 72" screen, why not get a Da-Lite High Power manual pulldown? It'd probably be about $200!

David

[LemurGuy]

becaus then we have to scrap it and buy a new one if we upgrade the room ... pls manual plldowns are ugly and who wants to pull their screen down!

[GarthVH]

I have an IN72 and a do-able board and have been pretty pleased with the performance with ambient light in two different locations, any curtains will fix the bulk of the light problems.

For bright days make sure and use the high power mode, and watch batman later at night.

My primary concern when I set it up was sports during the day, and because the colors are so bright is is generally not much of an issue.

Garth