Best screen for a DLP projector?

what will your main uses for this projector be?? Will you be doing 3D with it??? What are your room conditions where you projector will be set up in??? How much are you willing to put into a screen??

This is in no way advice or anything. But i have some kind of White PVC/Vinyl screen that i use, It was ok but washed out, painted it with some matte white paint tinted grey and its alot better (i have a benq w1060)

Im sure if your in the USA you can source some better stuff though.

Get the Epson 8350 (...or overseas equivelent) as it has virually NO input lag

Where exactly do you live? That will have a lot to do in regards to providing any suggestions as far as screen materials and paint choices.

I hate to be the bearer of either false hopes or gloomy predictions, so be advise that these are all "what if's" and "might be's".

Rainbow Effects are both subject to a Viewer's sensitivity to light strobing introduced by the color wheel. Faster speed wheels (5x) and those with more segements have less potential to produce RBE....but it's still there.

.....and, Content. How it's provided and at what Frame Sequence it comes over at....all can make SDE be consipcuolusly absent...or in your face. Seating Position can add a degree of enhancement.

Yes...you might be a hyper sensitive type to SDE....or just someone who see it on occasion, when the move their head quickly enough to catch up with the Frame rate for a fraction of a second.

Point being....theres no effective way to judge your true sensitivity to RBE unless you have the opportunity to view alot of varied content. Or....it hits you so hard at the beginning you throw up. That'll convince 'em every time.

No really...for some it just takes them a little bit of RBE and they get dizzy...nausious. Hmmmm...just like some people do when watching Shutter Glass 3D, or poor Passive 3D(...far less frequent)

Soooo...do I hate DLPs or sumpthin'. Not at all. Some of my best work was/is with DLPs. But certain limitations must be made apparent...leastwise as far as how I handle such, and if performance and cost outwheighs the risks.....and if one doesn't go bobbing his head like a dope all the time trying to "catch" a Rainbow, I don't hear much in the way of complaing these days with 1080p resolution, mega better contrast specifications, and higher speed Color Wheels, better Optics, insanely better Image Processing........well, it pretty much boils down to this;

If you chose a decent DLP with good features and specs, and can preview it adaquately, it should become apparent quickly enough to allow you to make a informed decision.

Otherwise.............

.............be done with all the indecision, get a Epson 6010 and fly away....fly away....fly away....fly away....fly away....fly away....fly away.............................

What size of a screen are you thinking / hoping / praying for.

Anything under 100" diagonal and there are several inexpensive choices you can apply rolled or sprayed coats onto. Topmost...and least expensive would be Thrifty White Hardboard @ Home Depot ($11.00 for 4' x 8' x 1/8") Lowes also cares a similar product.

Larger screens than that require solid sheet material (1st choice), or Black Out Cloth stretched across a frame.

For the larger screen the best possible choice would. be Sintra @ 120" x 60" cut to 107" x 60"

Sintra (also called Komatex) is a hard, smooth "expanded foam" PVC Sheeting material used extensively in the Sign Painting industry. There is also Gator Board, a similar product that is less dense, and covered on each side with a Laminated white paper.

The latter is more prone to denting but can be had for less expense. Both are available from Plastic Sheeting Supply firms. Relate where it is your live (closest City & State ) and it'll be easy enough to find a local Distributor and price it out for you.

Those materials are the ideally suited ones to use. But if not available, then there is always the old standby Black Out Cloth, but that route carries with it it's own particular caveats....frame building, stretching it taunt across that frame, priming and painting as well. To me, that choice is a "last resort" one.

Now neither of the aforementioned are grossly difficult, and all have their specific advantages....and issues. Of them all however, Sintra has the most advantages and least issues, with initial cost being it's only real primary issue.

I can advise...even irrevocably "state" what you should use, but in the end it's your choice based upon availability, work ethic, and of course, expense.

If you'd simply relate as to where you live, you could be provided enough information to be able to determine as to if Sintra was available, ad priced within your budget.

From my own experience, you could / should be able to get enough Sintra to do both screens for just under $200.00. But using Thrifty White Hardboard, the overall price could be as low as $130.00 for both screens.

The smaller one really needs to be done right, or that LED PJ isn't going to be nearly as capable of producing a vibrant image. Using Sintra, which itself has a slight sheen to it, you just might be able to use it "as is"....but that is definitely a "might be".....but for certain, you don't want to mess with Drywall, or consider any type of Wood paneling that is not ultra smooth and coated so as to not be absorbent.

The biggest screen is all about affordability "AND" performance, and I assure you that the Elite screen will not begin to deliver the same performance as a well made DIY screen costing the same....or less.

So it's up to you to determine who you want to listen to and whose advice you want to follow. My suggestion....read more, and focus on the posted results of those who have used painted Sintra and Thrifty White materials.

Once you determine if you want some specific advice, all the instructional help you need will be available to you off these boards.

Piedmont Plastics
7650 Caterpillar Ct. SW Ste B
Grand Rapids, MI 49548

Toll Free: 866-491-7898
Phone: 616-281-3654


Larid Plastics
3839 east paris ave se ste. 309
grand rapids, MI 49512
Manager:Mark Kaufman
Phone:800-873-8408
616-726-6350

Sabic Polymershapes
8233 Neptune Dr, Kalamazoo, MI 49009
30.0MI from Battle Creek
(269) 276-9825

Total Plastics Inc
2810 N Burdick St Ste A, Kalamazoo, MI 49004
25.0MI from Battle Creek
(269) 344-0009

Ask for Sintra or Komatex. (Gator Board as last resort)
6mm thick @ 48" x 96" & 120" x 60"
All locations will cut to order ....usually at N/C if not time sensitive


..............one or more of these locations is bound to have inventory.

Check prices and compare then all. I myself can usually get / arrange for people to get a "best price" from thier local Piedmont Plastics. I have no clout at any of the other Suppliers.

newguy12345,

Glancing at the Page source info it's pretty obvious that it's all the same company, just a poor example of web site management

Elite seems now be determined to sell direct to the public, but also seems to be suffering from early direct sales start-up growing pains.

But why should we care? We have DIY screen applications that can meet or exceed the performance of any Elite screen. And if someone absolutely needs a retractable screen, well then go ahead and get one and we will tell you what paint to use, and how to paint it.

BTW....... Tab Tensioned Screens make great artist's palettes on which to paint a masterpiece upon.

If you get one in the size your wanting, be prepared for the inevitable potential of having waves or the edges curling inward. Elite is not a bad source, but any large Retractable can get wavy.

If your considering it being a Fixed Screen, then there is less of a concern, but it's not eradicated altogether. Nothing is more safe and secure than using a solid, hard substrate.....period.