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Time for the Screen - Wilson Art, Sintra, ?

post #1 of 26
8/1/11 at 12:55pm
Thread Starter 
I've been slowly putting together a media room and I'm ready to pick a screen. I had originally set my mind on going with Wilson Art - but the issues about mounting it are worrisome for me. I'm not very good with right angles and my attempts at frame mock-ups have been ugly.

After reading about Sintra, that seems to be a solid choice. However, I'm not clear on where you can get it.

I'm also undecided on painting.

I own a chicago electric hvlp electric that i've use to spray water based stains with some success, so I see no reason why I couldn't use it for painting a screen.

I'll post some pics of the room later (can't find my camera at the moment), but it is approx. 10 1/4 ft wide x 21 1/2 ft long x 8ft high.

I'm debating between the Epson 8350, Mitsubishi HC4000. I'm targeting about 100 in. for the screen size.

The room is fairly well light controlled, but certainly not a black or very dark room.

I'm leaning toward the Sintra because of the "ready" state the product is in. Painting seems to just be something to make it better (it's already ready to use as is as I understand it).

Any thoughts on a solution for the screen?

Thanks,
~Whip

BTW - thanks to everyone who contributes to this forum. I've learned so much already that I would never have known without all the good information here.
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post #2 of 26
8/1/11 at 1:21pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by whipdancer View Post

I've been slowly putting together a media room and I'm ready to pick a screen. I had originally set my mind on going with Wilson Art - but the issues about mounting it are worrisome for me. I'm not very good with right angles and my attempts at frame mock-ups have been ugly.

After reading about Sintra, that seems to be a solid choice. However, I'm not clear on where you can get it.

Where do you live?

Quote:


I'm also undecided on painting.

I own a chicago electric hvlp electric that i've use to spray water based stains with some success, so I see no reason why I couldn't use it for painting a screen.

Make the RIGHT choice. Painting the Sintra allows you to get the performance you'll need.

Quote:


I'll post some pics of the room later (can't find my camera at the moment), but it is approx. 10 1/4 ft wide x 21 1/2 ft long x 8ft high.

I'm debating between the Epson 8350 , Mitsubishi HC4000.


Quote:


I'm targeting about 100 in. for the screen size.

The room is fairly well light controlled, but certainly not a black or very dark room.

I'm leaning toward the Sintra because of the "ready" state the product is in. Painting seems to just be something to make it better (it's already ready to use as is as I understand it).

It can be used as a white screen....but it's a world of difference when effectively painted.

Quote:


Any thoughts on a solution for the screen?

Thinkin's dun. So Get'ter dun. BTW.... "Whip it.....whip it good!"

Quote:


Thanks,
~Whip

BTW - thanks to everyone who contributes to this forum. I've learned so much already that I would never have known without all the good information here.

Always good to see some appreciation posted. Thank you too!
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post #3 of 26
8/1/11 at 1:22pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by whipdancer View Post

I've been slowly putting together a media room and I'm ready to pick a screen. I had originally set my mind on going with Wilson Art - but the issues about mounting it are worrisome for me. I'm not very good with right angles and my attempts at frame mock-ups have been ugly.

After reading about Sintra, that seems to be a solid choice. However, I'm not clear on where you can get it.

I'm also undecided on painting.

I own a chicago electric hvlp electric that i've use to spray water based stains with some success, so I see no reason why I couldn't use it for painting a screen.

I'll post some pics of the room later (can't find my camera at the moment), but it is approx. 10 1/4 ft wide x 21 1/2 ft long x 8ft high.

I'm debating between the Epson 8350, Mitsubishi HC4000. I'm targeting about 100 in. for the screen size.

The room is fairly well light controlled, but certainly not a black or very dark room.

I'm leaning toward the Sintra because of the "ready" state the product is in. Painting seems to just be something to make it better (it's already ready to use as is as I understand it).

Any thoughts on a solution for the screen?

Thanks,
~Whip

BTW - thanks to everyone who contributes to this forum. I've learned so much already that I would never have known without all the good information here.

I bought a piece of Sintra from a plastics supply company. I had to do some research to find them. My piece had some nicks and scratches on both sides but some drywall mud and some sanding took care of them. I will be painting it this week with MMLLv2.
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post #4 of 26
8/1/11 at 9:16pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by MississippiMan View Post

Where do you live?

Sorry, I didn't realize I had left that out of my profile - I'm in Houston, TX.

Quote:
Originally Posted by MississippiMan View Post

Make the RIGHT choice. Painting the Sintra allows you to get the performance you'll need.

That's my understanding - and why I volunteered about using a sprayer.

Quote:
Originally Posted by MississippiMan View Post

It can be used as a white screen....but it's a world of difference when effectively painted.

That's what I was hoping would be the case.

~Whip
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post #5 of 26
8/1/11 at 9:39pm
Your best price would come from having a sheet shipped to you from El Paso.
Piedmont Plastics

Sintra - $93.00 for 5' x 10' x 6"" cut to order. Shipping is $80.00

I'd have to place the order for you to get those terms, but you pay for it directly.

If you can scale back to 98" you can save at least an additional $30.00 by getting a 4' x 8' x 6mm sheet and having it cut to 4' x 85".
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post #6 of 26
8/1/11 at 9:58pm
Thread Starter 
Wow, that was a quick reply. And I'm all for it. Can you PM me the details (assuming it would not be appropriate to post them here)?

Here are some images of the room in question. Please ignore the "stuff". We are getting rid of the stand up dish/curio cabinet, fixing the grandfather clock (it was my grandfather's clock), and the buffet will become our dry bar:

The ceiling is the same color as the lower half of the walls. The two colors are from the Behr Ultra Premium Plus line, in Matte finish. Just to give you an idea - the room was completely red previously (we bought the house in January). This is the red:
. We are in the process of repainting the entry way, as well (a neutral color that matches the existing wall paper).

We will be adding black out curtain to the windows and the back wall (by the foyer). I'm considering adding a blackout curtain over the pocket door to the kitchen as well, but that may not be necessary.


From the back of the room facing the projection wall. Shows the windows on the right side of the room (2 large windows).


From the back of the room facing the projection wall. Shows the door to the kitchen on left side of the room (pocket door to kitchen). You can also see the wires coming out of the wall in the far corner by the projector wall, and in the nearer corner, where the equipment will go.


From the projection wall facing back. Show the back of the room as it opens up to the foyer/front-door entry area.
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post #7 of 26
8/1/11 at 10:21pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by MississippiMan View Post

Your best price would come from having a sheet shipped to you from El Paso.
Piedmont Plastics

Sintra - $93.00 for 5' x 10' x 6"" cut to order. Shipping is $80.00

I'd have to place the order for you to get those terms, but you pay for it directly.

If you can scale back to 98" you can save at least an additional $30.00 by getting a 4' x 8' x 6mm sheet and having it cut to 4' x 85".

I'm not particularly worried about $30 - but thanks for pointing that out.

That does bring up a question for me. I'm under the impression that I should go with as big a picture as I can (something about "no one's ever complained about the movie being too big"). I'm limited to 123" width on my projection wall. I need 13" on either side for my L&R mains. That leaves me 97" of width to play with. Should I try to use ALL of that for screen? And just do top and bottom borders?

~Whip
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post #8 of 26
8/1/11 at 10:55pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by whipdancer View Post

I'm not particularly worried about $30 - but thanks for pointing that out.

That does bring up a question for me. I'm under the impression that I should go with as big a picture as I can (something about "no one's ever complained about the movie being too big"). I'm limited to 123" on my projection wall. I need 13" on either side for my L&R mains. That leaves me 97" of width to play with. Should I try to use ALL of that for screen? And just do top and bottom borders?

~Whip

122" diagonal = 105" actual width.
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post #9 of 26
8/2/11 at 6:22am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by MississippiMan View Post

122" diagonal = 105" actual width.


Sorry, 123" of total width, not diagonal.
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post #10 of 26
8/2/11 at 8:28am
Quote:
Originally Posted by whipdancer View Post

Sorry, 123" of total width, not diagonal.

Pythagoras won't let you go wider than 106". Your limiting factor will be screen heigth using the 5X10' Sintra if you're doing a 16/9 ratio. If you used the full 60" width you'ld end up with a 106+ wide screen and 122" diagonal. More than likely you'll want to cover the edge so you're talking a bit smaller. I used the 60" Sintra, covered 1 1/4" of the edge with some of the border and ended with 57.25x101.75 for 117" diagonal.
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post #11 of 26
8/2/11 at 8:30am
Quote:
Originally Posted by billybobg View Post

Pythagoras won't let you go wider than 106". Your limiting factor will be screen heigth using the 5X10' Sintra if you're doing a 16/9 ratio. If you used the full 60" width you'ld end up with a 106+ wide screen and 122" diagonal. More than likely you'll want to cover the edge so you're talking a bit smaller. I used the 60" Sintra, covered 1 1/4" of the edge with some of the border and ended with 57.25x101.75 for 117" diagonal.

Pythagoras was a jerk.
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post #12 of 26
8/3/11 at 6:44am
Thread Starter 
So I've settled on 94" x 58.5" for a 108" screen. I think that's as big as I can go.

I am stoked. The biggest TV (video image of any kind) I've ever owned is 43". The hard part now is to take my time and finish things up right. I've narrowed down my A/V-R selection (going down a step or two) and my projector selection (going up a step). Building my HTPC now. Room is wired. Must not rush the painting of the screen.

~Whip
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post #13 of 26
8/3/11 at 8:07am
Quote:
Originally Posted by whipdancer View Post

So I've settled on 94" x 58.5" for a 108" screen. I think that's as big as I can go.

~Whip


Uhhh....a 108" 16:9 screen is 53" x 94"

Where are you getting those crazy figures?

Some kinda typo, hopefully.
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post #14 of 26
8/3/11 at 8:35am
Quote:
Originally Posted by stepyourgameup View Post

Pythagoras was a jerk.

But a smart one

whipdancer,

You know that math we all hated in jr. high. It turns out there is a use for it
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post #15 of 26
8/3/11 at 9:18pm
Thread Starter 
I mis-read my notes.

108*0.495=53.46

So it should be 94x53.5
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post #16 of 26
8/4/11 at 5:45am
Quote:
Originally Posted by whipdancer View Post

I mis-read my notes.

108*0.495=53.46

So it should be 94x53.5

It never pays to deal in fractions when determining a Screen's dimensions.

When using a screen calculator, often there is a 1" variance between steps. Playing it safe means choosing the smaller figure because you can always use the Black Boarder to mask off .5" difference in width, but you cannot "grow" an image into a too wide or too tall area that is not correctly formatted in size. Trying to that results in the entire edge of the image falling into the masked area.

If doing your project myself, I'd settle in on 94" x 53". Accommodating some overlap onto the sides is a LOT more easier to manage than falling short on the top & bottom edges, and that is what you risk doing if you go any measurement with the .5 - 1 inch variable between 94" x 53" and 95" x 53"
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post #17 of 26
8/4/11 at 7:48am
Could always do in wall front/center speakers with an AT screen. Would allow you to use more area for the screen.
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post #18 of 26
8/4/11 at 8:19am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by MississippiMan View Post
It never pays to deal in fractions when determining a Screen's dimensions.

When using a screen calculator, often there is a 1" variance between steps. Playing it safe means choosing the smaller figure because you can always use the Black Boarder to mask off .5" difference in width, but you cannot "grow" an image into a too wide or too tall area that is not correctly formatted in size. Trying to that results in the entire edge of the image falling into the masked area.

If doing your project myself, I'd settle in on 94" x 53". Accommodating some overlap onto the sides is a LOT more easier to manage than falling short on the top & bottom edges, and that is what you risk doing if you go any measurement with the .5 - 1 inch variable between 94" x 53" and 95" x 53"
I assumed as much regarding fractions - although, I figured going 94x54 would be the better choice as it gives me a little extra room vertically and keeps my width (which is really my limiting factor). However, you have far more experience than I do (or will) - so I'll keep following your advice and go with 94x53.
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post #19 of 26
8/4/11 at 12:28pm
I just got my 4'x8' sintra yesterday and plopped it on a table against my wall to just see the projected image on it (Mits HC4000). Looks very good. I think I could see the texture a little. Is my only painting option to spray or can I use brush or roller. I don't really want to mask everything in my bedroom but if I have to.....
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post #20 of 26
8/4/11 at 1:54pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by tyee View Post

I just got my 4'x8' sintra yesterday and plopped it on a table against my wall to just see the projected image on it (Mits HC4000). Looks very good. I think I could see the texture a little. Is my only painting option to spray or can I use brush or roller. I don't really want to mask everything in my bedroom but if I have to.....

The ability to roll is judged by the type Mix you chose. No matter what else, with any application you want to get as smooth a finish as possible.

When you spray Sintra, it smooths out to almost perfection. But in the spraying, the metallic content is put up so the the surface does not consist of too high a ratio of reflective particles lying parallel to the the PJ Lens.

Rolling "always" arranges a much greater percentage of such reflective particles in such an adverse manner. Now you could use a High nap Roller to create "lift", but of course you then have texture....and you most assuredly do NOT want texture.

RS-MaxxMudd LL v2.1 is the highest performance paint mix that still allows for rolling. It has reasonable Ambient light performance. Everything else that is of a Darker Gray and that has significant metallic content requires spraying.
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post #21 of 26
8/4/11 at 2:36pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by MississippiMan View Post

The ability to roll is judged by the type Mix you chose. No matter what else, with any application you want to get as smooth a finish as possible.

When you spray Sintra, it smooths out to almost perfection. But in the spraying, the metallic content is put up so the the surface does not consist of too high a ratio of reflective particles lying parallel to the the PJ Lens.

Rolling "always" arranges a much greater percentage of such reflective particles in such an adverse manner. Now you could use a High nap Roller to create "lift", but of course you then have texture....and you most assuredly do NOT want texture.

RS-MaxxMudd LL v2.1 is the highest performance paint mix that still allows for rolling. It has reasonable Ambient light performance. Everything else that is of a Darker Gray and that has significant metallic content requires spraying.

Can't Sintra be sanded? I had to do some sanding when I applied drywall mud to my board and it seemed to smooth the surface out.
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post #22 of 26
8/4/11 at 2:47pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by stepyourgameup View Post

Can't Sintra be sanded? I had to do some sanding when I applied drywall mud to my board and it seemed to smooth the surface out.

A light touch with a Fine Grit Sanding sponge could not hurt...unless you failed to get the entire surface equalized as far as the smoother texture. Variances in texture....even subtle ones, might well stand out when the High Contrast paint is applied.

However, the improvement would not be significant enough t warrant taking such a risk if the existing Sintra looked to be pristine. After several correctly sprayed on coats on top a blemish-free surface are applied, the surface is essentially almost Glass Smooth.

Leastwise mine are...

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post #23 of 26
8/16/11 at 2:27pm
Thread Starter 
The freight company just called - the Sintra should be delivered tomorrow.
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post #24 of 26
8/17/11 at 6:20am
Quote:
Originally Posted by whipdancer View Post

The freight company just called - the Sintra should be delivered tomorrow.

yeah......

But it had to ship from Memphis instead because El Paso only had 2 sheets that were horribly damaged being that they were the "End" pieces at the Top & Bottom of a Pallet load. That did up the cost of freight by about $30.00 over what was expected coming from El Paso, TX.

In fact that was the last 5' x 10' piece from a 5 sheet shipment I brought in, but as such, now I gotta scramble and order in some sheets I found over in Atlanta. Glad to help out in a pinch though. .
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post #25 of 26
8/17/11 at 12:26pm
Thread Starter 
I DO thank you for the help and I'm looking forward to completing the room!
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post #26 of 26
9/1/11 at 7:55am
Quote:
Originally Posted by whipdancer View Post

I DO thank you for the help and I'm looking forward to completing the room!

Any update?
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