110" DIY Spandex AT Screen - Page 11

I'm not sure if the main topic of this thread is dead, but based on where it's going, we should really be here:

http://www.avsforum.com/t/842769/the-official-seymourav-center-stage-screen-thread

I'll give as much feedback as I can and there are obviously others there that can chime in as well.

I'm going to order a 2'x2' sample, my first row is 9 1/2 feet back. I'm just curious if the expensive stuff is better than what I have and if it is to what level seeing as the fabric alone would be over 2x what I spent on my entire screen. I'm using white over silver moleskin with black velvet behind and it looks good to me but it's always good to compare it.

To get the best sense of how it's supposed to look, put a black backer on it and make sure the weave is at a 10-20 degree angle to prevent moire. When you get the sample, you'll probably be shocked at the weave, but it does overlap and the holes are actually quite small.

I have a question for you folks. I have a 98in screen now that I made using a piece of those boards you buy at HD for in the bathroom? Real thin and flat like glass (I highly recommend the stuff at like $10 and you are done!) but you are limited to 4ft vertical. However, after years, this is simply too small... I want to go as big as the room will allow and that will mean a 128in screen. With 63in vert and 112in hor. Do you guys believe that the spandex will suit my needs? My constraint is on the vertical... It's hard to find things over 60 in... but do you think the spandex will stretch far enough?

(I once built a screen over 10ft tall and I had to order a special fabric that came that large.)

The point of the spandex is to use a material that sound will pass through. This requires some visual compromises. Are you after an acoustically transparent screen?

Most of the fabric I've found comes in 60 inch widths. You could easily stretch that to make a 63 inch screen. But damn, you're gonna need a light cannon in order to light that thing up. You lose a lot of lumens with spandex. You mentioned "as big as the room will allow." You should definitely leave some space above and below the screen. Get too close to the ceiling and side walls and reflections will kill your contrast. Do you plan on hiding your speakers behind the screen? If you don't need the acoustical transparency, I'd definitely look elsewhere. Sign shops sell Sintra board that is easy to cut and work with (they will cut it for you, though), won't require all those lumens and will probably provide you with a sharper picture. The only issue may be getting the board into your space.

Thanks all.... No I do not need acoustically transparent. I just thought maybe spandex would solve my problem of needing the bigger than 60in part. But if I'm going to have light bleed though, then I guess I need something else. Also, my new theater is in my basement so it will be in total blackness... I figure between that and the 2,000 lumens, I may be alright. If not, I will just go back to the smaller screen. So I should maybe look for some white "light block" fabric?

Finally had an evening to use the new setup - white milliskin over silver molleskin (was running the silver molleksin over white molleskin). The milliskin is much thinner and almost translucent compared to the molleskin, to the point you could probably double it up and have no problems getting it in the screen-tight channels. I can actually see the weave of the molleskin underneath up close. it will be a week or two before I can actually measure and calibrate it, but initial impressions are much brighter and more color accurate image than I was getting with the silver screen calibrated (but still in need of some gamma tweaks to level the curve).

Some initial impressions:
Focus seems a little softer in single pixel focusing but not in general viewing. Could be due to the thinness of the fabric or due to lack of visible weave (the weave will add artificial sharpness).
Color of the screen has moved from a silver to a 'dingy white' with the projector off. Projector on, colors pop more and whites are whiter (as expected).
Brightness seems improved. It was fine before to look at, but the measurements showed it was on the low side of 'acceptable'.
In ambient viewing, blacks are more washed out - but overall the picture is better.

Pending the actual measurements, pretty sure I will be sticking with this setup for the foreseeable future. For reference this is a 120" screen and I am running an HW50 in high lamp and 'reference' mode about 16' back from the screen.

A couple of additional notes: They seem to ignore the shipping requests when ordering online. Per recommendations, I requested it be shipped on a roll - it was folded up in a box. In the past I had also received my '3 yards' in two pieces (1x 1 yard and 1x 2 yards). If you are concerned about how it will arrive, might be a good idea to call them.

So I have finally completed my screen and would l to thank everyone of you guys for educating me.

Just a few pics



Finish results



Lights Off




Lights On dual 75watt light fixture in the room

Grats! Nothing like watching movies and gaming on a monster screen!

the screen is 115 inches diagonaland I use white over light silver spandex

Amazing. Who'd a thunk it possible?

As time progresses, and more actually give that combination a try, you'll see more postings like the ones above.

Real world assessments always tell a more precise story than swatch measurements, especially when judging the satisfaction index during actual use.

thought I'd throw my new screen in the mix.

2.35:1, 134" wide White Milliskin over Light Gray Milliskin

I'll try to get some screen caps with my DSLR and upload them.

Yep I built the screen as big as I possibly could figuring I could always make it smaller but not bigger. I'm using screen-tite so materials can be swapped out as well.

Those are two 15" SI subs and yes I have Sunfire in-wall speakers behind the screen.

You can see my build thread here

Looove 2.35 screens. Your stage looks fantastic. Nice work! Take some movie shots, plz.

Yup.

Great looking screen; 134" is a monster. I think I may have gone a tad too big with 120" for my front row viewing, well at least for my wife anyway.

I am planning a 150" 2.40 screen in the coming months...after seeing that screen at 134" however I might have to remeasure. wow!

Go big or go home is what I always say.

What do you do when you can't "go big" in your home?!

You simply go as big as your Home will allow, and there you are.

ScAndal,

That is a very well done build!

I'll look forward to see your posts about performance. Screenshots too!

looks great

I was asking for the screen track at Home depot and Lowe's but they didn't have any. Can you please send a link to home depot/lowes online or give the SKU number that I can ask at local store? Or if you know any other places where this can be bought, please let me know.

Here's what you need:

http://www.lowes.com/pd_21532-958-BASE18_0__?productId=3024709&Ntt=screen+tight+strip&pl=1&currentURL=%3FNtt%3Dscreen%2Btight%2Bstrip&facetInfo=

Thanks Pixel.