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Looking for DIY screen material in grey

post #1 of 48
6/20/08 at 1:40am
Thread Starter 
Hi guys Im currently using white BOC with my Hc1500. My DIY screen size is 106 inches. I'm looking to go with some grey cloth to give me a little bit better black level performance. Problem is, I cant find any grey BOC......I'm NOT willing to paint. I considered this at first but I believe this will be to much trouble considering the way my screen is constructed.....Can anyone think of any other options that I have??? It would be SO much easier if I could get my hands on some grey BOC, but I've been calling around and nobody has it. (or heard of it). Thanks in advance for your time...Riff

Oh and I'm a student on a budget here....so I'm not looking to spend an arm and a leg..
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post #2 of 48
6/20/08 at 2:13am
The first thing you need to do is get a sample of neutral gray. The easiest way I know of to do that is to go to Home Depot and get the color card for Glidden (CIL in Canada) "Universal Gray" and "Snowfield". Take the color cards with you to fabric stores that carry upholstery fabrics. The samples of neutral gray should help you determine if the gray materials you are looking at are getting close to neutral.

There are various types of synthetic fabrics that are similar to BOC. For example I found a material called Sportlight that worked quite well. Look at both sides of the materials. The Sportlight had a fine woven texture on one side and a nice matte vinyl finish on the back.

I vaguely recall some people using satin or silk materials. I think they were stretching it over BOC. Unfortunately it is difficult to identify the materials so even if someone else had found a great material they probably could not tell you exactly what or where to get it. I think that is one of the main reasons fabrics don't get much coverage here.
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post #3 of 48
6/20/08 at 3:15pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by tiddler View Post

The first thing you need to do is get a sample of neutral gray. The easiest way I know of to do that is to go to Home Depot and get the color card for Glidden (CIL in Canada) "Universal Gray" and "Snowfield". Take the color cards with you to fabric stores that carry upholstery fabrics. The samples of neutral gray should help you determine if the gray materials you are looking at are getting close to neutral.

There are various types of synthetic fabrics that are similar to BOC. For example I found a material called Sportlight that worked quite well. Look at both sides of the materials. The Sportlight had a fine woven texture on one side and a nice matte vinyl finish on the back.

I vaguely recall some people using satin or silk materials. I think they were stretching it over BOC. Unfortunately it is difficult to identify the materials so even if someone else had found a great material they probably could not tell you exactly what or where to get it. I think that is one of the main reasons fabrics don't get much coverage here.

Im just concerned that the other cloth material will not be as good as BOC (im using now) and would defeat the purpose of me getting something new. I will surely check on Sportlight to see how it performs. I'll track it down, buy a yard and test it. Do you remember if Sportlight vinyl side came in grey???
and it would defeat the purpose
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post #4 of 48
6/23/08 at 11:08am
I just replaced my Dalite HCMW on a DIY frame with screen material off ebay. The material isn't a rubberized canvas it was true screen material with a nice black backing and the texture was similar to the Dalite HCMW I replaced it with. I also have a HC1500, but wanted to replace the HCMW(very light grey) with a white screen.

The new material is excellent and comes in grey or white if you write the seller. The material is vinyl and just like the Dalite HCMW it doesn't stretch so you'have to be good at stapling.

I'm not looking to post for the seller, but if you pm me I'll send you a link. BTW I paid $65 for enough material to make a 110" diagonal screen.
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post #5 of 48
6/24/08 at 8:31pm
I'm currently using blackout cloth, but I read on one of the forums about someone who had great results using Casa Platinum Satin fabric from Joann's fabric. I ordered 3 yards of it and it should come tomorrow. I'll test it out and see if it makes a big difference. I've got a panasonic ax100, so I'm not sure how it will work out. The projector has plenty of lumens to spare, and I'm hoping the fabric helps with the contrast a bit. If it works, it will be $30 (including shipping) well spent! I'll post after I try it.
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post #6 of 48
6/26/08 at 2:03pm
The fabric came yesterday, and I played around with it a bit last night and today at lunch. I am happy with the results - the blacks seem much truer, and yet the picture does not appear unnaturlaly dark. I just hung it up loosely, so I can only imagine that the framed results will be even better.
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post #7 of 48
6/26/08 at 2:11pm
Would you consider laminate?

I recently did my screen and decided to go with WilsonArt Fashion Grey Laminate (I was planning to paint it with Black Widow anyways), but I went ahead and mounted it anyways.

After I got all the materials for BW gathered up, I painted a test sheet (About 2x2') and when I placed it against the existing Fashion Gray screen and watched a whole lot of different content... I could hardly tell the difference.

My point is, BW is considered pretty awesome for a gray screen, and Fashion Gray laminate came pretty damn close to it... so much that I didn't bother painting the whole screen with BW.
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post #8 of 48
6/26/08 at 7:21pm
I plan on building my new screen over the weekend. My current screen is 110 inches using boc, and I plan on going to about 116" using the platinum Satin. The cost of the fabric was just under $30, the lumber should run me about $25, and I want to pick up some black velvet to really finish it off well. I figure I'll have a great screen for under $100 and about 2 hours worth of work.
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post #9 of 48
6/27/08 at 7:38am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Oragustus View Post

I plan on building my new screen over the weekend. My current screen is 110 inches using boc, and I plan on going to about 116" using the platinum Satin. The cost of the fabric was just under $30, the lumber should run me about $25, and I want to pick up some black velvet to really finish it off well. I figure I'll have a great screen for under $100 and about 2 hours worth of work.

Very interesting! I am looking into making a screen using the cloth you are using or perhaps BOC. The picture looks really good. Are you comparing the Platinum satin with BOC in the picture?

Do you think it is more susceptible to get dirty than BOC?

How long the delivery took? The website says that it is a special cut and might take 2 to 3 weeks to deliver. Thanks!
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post #10 of 48
6/27/08 at 10:42am
I actually think this will be more resistant to dirt, as it's not white. I have an 8 year old and a 10 year old, and they've mangaged to keep off the screen. I have no worries about that. The delivery took about 1 week total. I was impressed because they do say it can take a few weeks. In the picture the satin is on the left and the boc is on the right. I've attached two pictures from Cars on bluray to this post. Notice the deeper blacks and richer reds on the left. The car almost looks orange on the right. Huge difference in the black bars on the top and bottom of the screen too! I can't wait to take this project on this weekend!
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post #11 of 48
7/1/08 at 2:50pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Oragustus View Post

Huge difference in the black bars on the top and bottom of the screen too! I can't wait to take this project on this weekend!

Looks really good! I'll order it today.
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post #12 of 48
7/2/08 at 5:01am
I'm really happy with it. I wrapped the frame in the cheaper black velvet from Joann's (I think it was around $8 a yard) and that really completed the frame. I'll post a few new pictures later today.
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post #13 of 48
7/2/08 at 10:40am
Here are a few pictures of the new screen in action. I really couldn't be happier with it.
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post #14 of 48
7/2/08 at 10:45am
if you can get it in your location ,sintra pvc in light gray has a satin sheen for a 1.5 gain screen. I used the white with a paint mix and it came out pretty good.
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post #15 of 48
7/10/08 at 2:24pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Oragustus View Post

Here are a few pictures of the new screen in action. I really couldn't be happier with it.

I got mine Platinum Satin. Will take and post test picture today.
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post #16 of 48
7/10/08 at 3:30pm
I also just got my platinum satin in today I have yet to try any screen material and this is my first PJ so I am new to the game. I was projecting on a faux finish wall paint in grey/dark grey and it was awful due to the different colors. This looks much better still I am not sure if it is bright enough for me. I will try to take some pics today and post them up.

It is just temporarily hanging on my wall loosely untill i make a frame.

p.s. being new and all what is BOC?
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post #17 of 48
7/10/08 at 4:08pm
These images are projected from a Sharp DT-510 on Dynamic and High Brightness modes. The screen is the Casa Platinum Satin fabric not framed but just tacked to the wall.









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post #18 of 48
7/11/08 at 5:38am
BOC is short for black out cloth. It is designed to be put behind curtains to keep all light out of a room. One side is fabric, the other is vinyl. This is the most common diy screen material.

Regarding the brightnesss, I noticed that a lot of light goes through the fabric and gets "stuck" behind the screen. I am adding a layer of vinyl sheeting directly behind the fabric tonight. This should help "bounce" some extra brightness back to the vieweing area. I'll post a few pictures after I have a chance to do it.
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post #19 of 48
7/11/08 at 11:07am
It's interesting how various brands of BOC can be so very different. The BOC I got from Jo-Ann's Fabric ( http://www.joann.com/joann/catalog.j...RODID=prd31268 ) is very opaque and I can detect no light penetration. It is also quite neutral in color (Munsell N9). Even though it is called "white" BOC it is very close to Goo Digital Gray Lite in shade.

Another brand of BOC I got from Jo-Ann's (sorry, forgot the name) looks more like a regular bed sheet... not good for screens or as a true black-out fabric.
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post #20 of 48
7/11/08 at 12:57pm
oragustus yes please send some pics when done... what kind of vinyl sheeting are you adding do you have a link?
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post #21 of 48
7/11/08 at 7:25pm
I'll post some pictures tomorrow (or very late tonight), but I'm very happy with the results. I bought the generic black vinyl from Joann's (I think it was about $15/yard) and stapled it to the frame directly behind the satin. It really has made a big difference - especially with a dark movie like Batman Begins.
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post #22 of 48
7/11/08 at 11:05pm
so it was just some generic black vinyl at joanns? I cant wait for pics I am definately considering doing the same thing I was hoping something a little cheaper than 15 per yeard but I might bite on it anyway
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post #23 of 48
7/12/08 at 11:36am
Here are a few pics. The picture from cars is a huge improvement over the same screen without the vinyl (I attached both before and after pictures.) I'm really very happy with it.
Attachment 115161

Attachment 115162

Attachment 115163

Attachment 115164
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post #24 of 48
7/12/08 at 11:59am
so you think it was well worth it to get the black vinyl. Was it that noticeable that it is worth the 45 bucks or whatever it is for the vinyl? Also do you know of any other materials that may do this but be a little cheaper?

It is wierd however because I look at the two screens of cars and the one at the bottom labeled cars without vinyl looks much more crisp and sharp to me and not washed out at all where as the cars new screen looks kind of washed out and a little lighter no way near as crisp.
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post #25 of 48
7/12/08 at 1:55pm
That's simply because I tried to get the exact frame but missed it. Using the ps3 it's hard to get the exact same frame each time. i'm sure there's a way, but I haven't spent the time to figure it out.
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post #26 of 48
7/12/08 at 3:13pm
Yea it is hard to get the same frame using my xbox hddvd player as well...

What do you think about using this behind my screen
http://www.joann.com/joann/catalog.j...&source=search
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post #27 of 48
7/12/08 at 7:59pm
i picked up some of that blackout cloth and will take pics with the screen by itself the blackout behind the screen and then the blackout by itself and give comparisons for everyone.

I will also try both sides of the blackout cloth to see if there is any difference.... The platinum satin i will however leave on the shiny side as the other side is a flat grey and i cant imagine it would reflect light nearly as well
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post #28 of 48
7/13/08 at 12:54pm
So i tried the blackout cloth by itself and the blackout cloth behind the platinum satin fabric... I will take pictures of it later today.

What I did notice is that the platinum screen is much better on the darks but unfortunately isnt as bright as the white not even close... Now the BOC is extremely bright but the blacks are very dull and look awful. I wish there was something in between the two.
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post #29 of 48
7/13/08 at 10:51pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by xbladr View Post

So i tried the blackout cloth by itself and the blackout cloth behind the platinum satin fabric... I will take pictures of it later today.

What I did notice is that the platinum screen is much better on the darks but unfortunately isnt as bright as the white not even close... Now the BOC is extremely bright but the blacks are very dull and look awful. I wish there was something in between the two.

I have notice the same thing. The platinum Satin shows smooth black but lacks the white.
However, if you project on the smooth side of the cloth, you will notice good blacks and will also notice bright whites compared to the the image projecting on the rough side of the Platinum satin.

Oragustus: Were you projecting on the smooth side(the back side) or the textured side of the platinum satin?
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post #30 of 48
7/13/08 at 11:13pm
pseng which do you mean the side with like a silver metallic finish or more of the flat/matte grey side
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