I was looking into whether or not I needed a projector screen to get an acceptable image out of a projector. At work, we project onto a white board, and it looks fine. During meetings, we can view a draft on the projector and edit the draft by marking on the white board. It is the world’s cheapest electronic white board. I enjoy the arrangement very much. I have seen other people project onto a matte white wall. Matte acrylic paint on a flat surface looks alright for a projected image, so most homes can get by without a projector screen.
It is a little trickier to project onto walls made of cinder block, wood paneling or brick. Paint type and color is important too. An image projected onto glossy acrylic paint results in a glare. I remember a geography class where my teacher projected a topographic map of the Himalayas onto our cinder block wall with glossy gray paint. I had trouble distinguishing the valleys from the seams between bricks, and squinting into that glare gave me a headache. In that case, it was much easier to deal with an image on a projector screen, like this.
Schools seem to go on the cheap, and it only cost about $60 fix the issues with clarity and glare on the wall by adding a small projector screen to the classroom.
For the price, the Classic Regal manual screen is pretty good. The Da-Lite Model B is so popular and so cheap, that I am used to online screen companies burying it in the search results so customers have to look past 15 or 20 more expensive screens before they find it.
Home decorator wall finishing, like colorful paints and wallpaper, is another projected image killer. I sat through an epidemiology conference at this hotel where our PowerPoint presentations were projected over imperial Fleur de Lis wallpaper. Imagine trying to read disease incidence rates in small print through this.
That will teach me to go to a lecture that was scheduled at the last minute. In that case, the projection screen was an essential part of the setup, and I believe I missed a few important points because I could not see the presentation.
So what if a projector screen comes in handy?
I read this article on ProjectorCentral.com about making a projector screen out of wood, velveteen fabric, and photographer’s seamless roll paper for less than $100. I have not tried this myself, but it looks like the project would take about three hours. According to the people who tested this DIY projector screen, color accuracy is the most difficult feature to get right. The best projector screen manufacturers can adjust the surfaces to maintain the white color of white light without over-reflecting other colors like blue or yellow. But to an untrained eye like mine for a casual home theater application, I am not sure I could tell the difference. Look at the photograph paper screen compared to the Stewart Grayhawk screen for over $1,000 more. Paper screen is on the left. Grayhawk screen is on the right. The testers boosted the blue gain and bias on the projector to correct a weakness in the paper when they tested the paper projector screen.
For the price, that quality is good enough for me. The team that tested this projector pointed out that contrast and color saturation is better on the more expensive screen. It is hard to capture a deep, rich black on the paper projector screen, as seen here.
That do it yourself projector screen is interesting. Still, I am not sure when to use it. I might build it at home one day. I think if I were in middle school again, my classmates would tear it down easily. I wonder if schools buy instead of DIY for the durability.
The people I know who own projector screens have both an image to project and an image to project. I mean, people who are willing to spring for a projector screen wish to present a certain sense of wealth and intelligence in addition to the content of their presentations. It is easier to believe sales are up if the quarterly report is projected on an elegant ceiling recessed electric screen, like this Da-Lite Professional Electrol.
The screen manufacturers are ready to help people spend lavishly on their image. Would you believe the MSRP on these guys?
The consulting firm where I used to work would book presentations in hotel meeting and convention facilities because we got a powerful projector and a huge, flawless projector screen for less than if we had purchased them and brought them with us to simpler meeting spaces. Most of the time, we would try to get our clients to pick up the tab, so we did not pay either way.
Another way to manage the cost of using a projector screen to improve presentation quality is to look into less expensive brands. Quite a few brands are rushing to market with less expensive screens. Brands like Classic Screens, Mustang, Elite, and Grandview are gaining some buzz.
I am waiting for the dust to settle to see who wins in quality and price.
Tags: da-lite, dalite, diy, do it yourself projector screen, draper, projection screen, projector screen, stewart grayhawk
