I'll attest to what Tiddler said about the AE200u
Virtually all the examples I personally have seen involving 90" or smaller screens and the AE100-200u series have ALL been on dark gray screens, albeit ones designed to maximize White levels. Some were also on 110"ers up to 124"ers. The latter ones were Light Fusion (mirror) screens w/Silver Fire "Dark Gray".
Due to the Panny's short throw / long throw lens its easy to avail oneself of the shortest throw possible.
.....and brook no mistake, WHICHEVER PJ/Screen combo you choose, having the shortest throw you possible can while still maintaining the size screen you desire will always be best.
And also, as Todd so effectively pointed out, the Panny's brightness potential can be mitigated to one's distinct advantage by correct calibration / use of Cinema Modes, and not detract one wit from image dynamism if the screen size is as small as the OP's.
I did make note that the OP was told to go "Bigger", and who would argue that I'm not an advocate of doing so whenever possible / practical?. But I also made note that the OP wanted to paint his original Doable that he has been using. Now among the "Doable" crowd, that's almost heresy. So beyond the fact he already has a screen (...and 'sized' Trim I'd bet...), I'd say, "Let him paint the thingee....!"
Otherwise he might just discover that even with the AX200u set to "Low Lamp" Cinema mode, and calibrated correctly, his ambient light performance, and his perceived Contrast will be better than he can imagine when watching "TV" . That might lead him to forgo any painting at all.
We don't want that!!!*
......but then again, that would allow him to keep the Doable, and start from scratch using the Wall....and thereby achieve a most spectacular 120" image
For a valid example of 122" of "Big" on a very light Gray with non-direct ambient light, look to the image below. It shows a "TV" show being shot onto a 107" x 60" surface by a Panny 1000u (1600 lumens) that has been "VE" calibrated (...but not set to a Cinema mode...) It is showing 1080i content. It's "Throw" is from 21' !!!! And there is still enough light coming off the screen that the "Flat Black Painted" ceiling directly above the screen is lit up, and the dark "flat red' tiles at the bottom still offer up a degree of "shine" .
Gosh guys......it's plain to see, there is almost limitless possibilities / potential available to Thresher with his degree of Luminosity available. But I feel his best route to take is to paint his screen with a corresponding Gray that
will not effectively attenuate his Whites to a degree that he'll have to compensate by anything other than a ever so gentle Contrast / Gamma tweak.
Thresher, you'll lose more than you gain if you go to any darker a Gray than what is needed to help deepen your perceived Contrast by only a small degree. Let your Calibration / Image settings do the rest. The end result will be noticeably better Contrast in a "Dark Room" setting, and that will work to your favor all you need in ambient light conditions. You just do not want to degrade your "Dark Room" experience in the quest for Ambient Light performance. Have it both ways......it's more fulfilling.
*...but try the Panny out on the Raw Doable first, and take some reference shots for comparison after you paint. That would not only tell you what you did or did not gain from the exercise, it will also provide many on AVS's DIY Screens some valuable comparative data.
