[ZimDownUnder]

Hi all,


I'm still very much at entry level in this HT hobby. I have an old Proxima DP2800 LCD VGA res. projector which is only 110 lumens, and I beleive has a contrast ratio of only 100. I'm projecting onto a DIY screen which I made for under 20 bucks. I used a HTPC to play back DVDs and show digital picture slideshows.


I find that the colours are a bit washed out, and the blacks are not really black. I realise that this is mostly because I am using an old, very low spec projector, but its all I can afford right now, and I'm still having fun with it!


Here's the question - I've noticed most screens have a black border around them. Is this to help with the perception of contrast? To make the darks appear darker? I guess that the requirement for this is that it should absorb as much light as possible so as to appear as black as possible? Would black felt, velvet or some kind of black fabric with a pile be adviseable, or can you just pain ti black? And when watching a widescreen movie on a 4:3 screen, should you mask off the areas where there is no image (top and bottom?)


Thanks in advance

 

[DMan]

Yes, the really nice screens use a black velvet type material as the screen border. This fabric helps absorb the light scattered light around the image increasing the apparent contrast and perceieved black level.


I would highly suggest using black velvet around your screen border, and also use black velvet to mask off the letterbox borders when viewing widescreen movies. I think you will be most pleased by the results! http://www.avsforum.com/ubb/smile.gif




------------------
DMan
The Academy Home Theater