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DIY Screen Upgade Time

1K views 5 replies 2 participants last post by  takeuptime 
#1 ·
I currently have a 120" screen seen below I made using BOC and 1x4 pine. I was previously moving the screen between the living room and a spare bed room. I made the screen mainly for use in the living room which provided a longer throw distance for my projector. I had planned on using the set up sparingly in a the smaller spare bedroom. Luckily, I have been able to slowly take over the spare bedroom, painting it various shades gray, putting up blackout blinds, purchasing a surprisingly comfortable Ikea couch, setting up 5.0 surround sound and modding the couch to include two Aura bass shakers. I don't see myself needing the 120" screen anymore and am looking for something that fits better in the 12' x 12' spare bedroom (hence the ~100" in the title).


My projector is a LG PB60G. It's about the size of a DVD cover and puts out 500 lumens. In terms of brightness, TV is plenty bright at ~100" in the spare bedroom. Movies and gaming are also generally bright enough with the darkest scenes being somewhat lacking in visibility compared to a TV or higher lumen projector.


I'm trying to upgrade my set-up in two ways. I want to try to achieve a little more brightness than I have with the
 
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#2 ·
Instead of the Pro-White, consider the Flexi-White from Carl's


It is a 1.1 to 1.2 gain material and much easier to frame due to it's "stretch-ability"


Just make certain that any material your order comes in a "Roll".....not folded.



BTW, if you want more gain...and you do need it....then the upgrade to the Flexi-White will provide you with a significant increase over the BOC....much more than simply reducing the screen size and sticking with the original 0.85 gain BOC.
 
#3 ·
Thanks MM. I have a couple questions for you while I still have you on the hook.


Are you able to quantify the improved brightness resulting from increasing the gain of a screen. Let's say my BOC is currently 0.85 gain as you mentioned and the new FlexiWhite screen will be 1.1 gain. Can I assume the image on my new screen will be 30% brighter due to the 30% increase in gain?


How does the stretch and tension on a frame of the FlexiWhite compare to BOC? In general, assuming my frame is currently sturdy enough for BOC, will I need to add additional support for the FlexiWhite? I currently have a rectangle frame with two additional vertical supports. Can i get away with one?


From researching the FlexiWhite and ProWhite materials on Carl's website, the only practical difference I could find was the firmer nature of the ProWhite vs. the stretchability of the FlexiWhite. My thought with the ProWhite, assuming it offers the same gain as the FlexiWhite, was the firmness of the material would allow me to substantially simplify my frame. I thought I might be able to get away with screwing a 1x4 to my screen wall representing each the top and bottom of the screen. Then using something like industrial Velcro, I could attach the top and bottom of the screen to those 1x4's. As the ProWhite does not require tension, the Velcro and 1x4's would act as a simple "frame" to keep the screen straight using just a little bit of tension.
 
#4 ·

Quote:
Originally Posted by takeuptime  /t/1528551/diy-screen-upgade-time#post_24639194


Thanks MM. I have a couple questions for you while I still have you on the hook.


Are you able to quantify the improved brightness resulting from increasing the gain of a screen. Let's say my BOC is currently 0.85 gain as you mentioned and the new FlexiWhite screen will be 1.1 gain. Can I assume the image on my new screen will be 30% brighter due to the 30% increase in gain?

Yes ....within a +/- of 10% of the stated value, and dependent upon other varied conditions and circumstances. It will be a very noticeable difference.
Quote:
How does the stretch and tension on a frame of the FlexiWhite compare to BOC? In general, assuming my frame is currently sturdy enough for BOC, will I need to add additional support for the FlexiWhite? I currently have a rectangle frame with two additional vertical supports. Can i get away with one?

The Flexi-White requires less than 1/2 the tension of either BOC or ProWhite
Quote:
From researching the FlexiWhite and ProWhite materials on Carl's website, the only practical difference I could find was the firmer nature of the ProWhite vs. the stretchability of the FlexiWhite. My thought with the ProWhite, assuming it offers the same gain as the FlexiWhite, was the firmness of the material would allow me to substantially simplify my frame. I thought I might be able to get away with screwing a 1x4 to my screen wall representing each the top and bottom of the screen. Then using something like industrial Velcro, I could attach the top and bottom of the screen to those 1x4's. As the ProWhite does not require tension, the Velcro and 1x4's would act as a simple "frame" to keep the screen straight using just a little bit of tension.

The ProWhite "DOES" require tension, or it will sag and / or bow in-out. It also has a more noticeable texture. If it has or develops a crease or pull line when mounted, it is extremely hard to correct.


I over-viewed every material Carl has to offer...in person at his Warehouse, with Carl at my side, and it was patently obvious to me (...as well as him...) that the FlexiWhite was the best material for constructing a DIY Screen he has...and doubly so because it can accept a sprayed coating with excellent results.


Sure, cost differences dictate that he sells a LOT of BOC, and the other materials he offers get chosen by people under one pretext or another. But I quickly constructed 2 - full sized 100" separate - full sized 100" FW screens that day, right on his tables, and painted one with SF v2 -3.0, then compared the screen with the raw FlexiWhite with the SF Coated example, and as expected, the difference was jaw dropping. Virtually no loss in brightness but a substantial increase in Black levels and ambient light view-ability.


After experiencing the gross difference between building a BOC screen and one with FlexiWhite, ever since I have not hesitated to recommend FW to anyone. I do state that by itself, all it amounts to is being a easy to use, 1.1 gain white material devoid of texture. It won't / can't do squat to help improve Blacks or the dynamics of a projected image. That must be wholly dependent upon the PJ's performance, and not mitigated by adverse room conditions.


But hey....I was there looking for a viable substitute for BOC, something easier to work with and lighter. I found it, and the difference in price was to me inconsequential.


Since then I have used it to make screens up to and over 200" diagonal that I could easily pick up. (see below) Well,easily enough to make a difference.


Don't even consider the prospect of hoisting a 200" BOC screen built on a sturdy enough frame, by yourself.








 
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