[simpits-tech] Projector screen

[Joseph Fagner]

Thanks for the info Jim.  This is just the stuff I'm going to need in a
couple of months when I start building my screen.  The plastic stuff sounds
like just what I need.

Jay

-----Original Message-----
From: simpits-tech-bounces at simpits.org
[mailto:simpits-tech-bounces at simpits.org] On Behalf Of Jim K.
Sent: Saturday, October 18, 2003 2:40 PM
To: Simpits
Subject: [simpits-tech] Projector screen

Guys,

For those of you working on projectors try going to this web site, 
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/

This is an excellent forum for all things video.   It has an outstanding 
section on CRT projectors and all sorts of info on screens.

I've got sample screen material from all the major manufacturers and did a 
LOT of testing and evaluating.   If you shop wisely you can actually get a 
large screen rather inexpensively.   I have a 115" Da-Lite High Power 
screen that cost a little over $200 since I bought a package that isn't 
real popular (a manual roll down, which I always leave rolled down).   It 
has a rather high gain so its nice and bright.   I have my screen against a 
wall which is then surrounded by black pleated fabric so it looks just like 
a movie theatre.  :-)))

If you use a screen that has a normal gain of about 1 there is virtually NO 
difference in video quality among any of the different screen choices.   A 
real popular choice for the DIYer is "black-out" cloth which you can find 
at any fabric store.   If you want a more rigid screen there is a really 
great material made by www.parklandplastics.com and can be purchased 
directly from them or at a home center.   There is lots of info on this 
stuff at the AVS forum.  This actually produces a GREAT picture and if you 
make a wood frame for it, it looks real nice too.   :-)   There was so much 
demand for this plastic material that Parkland made the sheets in special 
sizes just for the home theater DIYer.   These sheets go for about $20 at 
The Home Depot.

Also, if you plan on using a projector its a REALLY good idea to look at 
some sort of video scaler.   Basically a scaler increases the number of 
horizontal video scan lines that the projector produces.   Without a scaler 
and if you use a large picture size you can easily see the scan 
lines.   Most scalers are several $1,000 of dollars but for our 
application, where HD quality is not needed, you can find them for as 
little as $100.  You can of course go the computer route and do the scaling 
via software instead of with a dedicated hardware scaler.

Jim

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Thanks!