Kilz2 screen is active...next step for me?

[E-A-G-L-E-S]

O.k., finally got my HC1500 today and set it up. Pretty darn nice! Pleasantly suprised at the handling of my ambient light.


Now to my one and only concern. the picture seems to be washed out along with the color not as 'jump' out at you as I'm looking for?(diy screen is just on a sanded wall with two coats of Kilz2 so far)

 

[Johnd]

Now to my one and only concern. the picture seems to be washed out along with the color not as 'jump' out at you as I'm looking for?(diy screen is just on a sanded wall with two coats of Kilz2 so far)

Is that the question? You're wondering why the color (and sharpness) is lacking on a primed and sanded wall?

 

[avaserfi]

Is that the question? You're wondering why the color (and sharpness) is lacking on a primed and sanded wall?

John has a great point. If you are expecting a quality picture from a projector you need a quality screen. Even if you are going the DIY route you should do it right and look into a pure white, solid surface that lends itself to high reflectivity. This will give you the color and sharpness you are seeking.

Edit: Looked into Kilz2 it looks okay, but I still don't think it will work as well as a 'real' screen.

 

[E-A-G-L-E-S]

JohnD...I'm a novice just learning along the way and the Kilz2 was a reccomendation to 'start' with as a good DIY white screen. It was also in the reccomended pattern to do a DIY 'gray screen' possibly next?

 

[avaserfi]

JohnD...I'm a novice just learning along the way and the Kilz2 was a reccomendation to 'start' with as a good DIY white screen. It was also in the reccomended pattern to do a DIY 'gray screen' possibly next?

If you want to go the DIY route a quick search on google came up with some possibilities. While I have not seen any of these in action they are some ideas that you might want to try or at least look into more.

Projector Central $100 Screen
A guy using blackout fabric to make a screen
Da-Lite Screen material

 

[E-A-G-L-E-S]

O.k., some things that I'm alreadya little concerned about.
1. Menu lettering is awefully not sharp, but sharpness control does 'nothing' for this.
2. Whites can look gray.
3. Colors are not quite rich enough.

Are these inexpensive projector issues or calibration issues? Or are they DIY screen issues?
I ran a THX optimizer this morning.

 

[Johnd]

O.k., some things that I'm alreadya little concerned about.
1. Menu lettering is awefully not sharp, but sharpness control does 'nothing' for this.
2. Whites can look gray.
3. Colors are not quite rich enough.

Are these inexpensive projector issues or calibration issues? Or are they DIY screen issues?
I ran a THX optimizer this morning.

On your painted and sanded wall these conditions exist?

Any of the solutions avaserfi recommended will better your current screen issues substantially. Try one of them...I think you'll be pleased with the results. Calibration will then become a factor. Cheers.

 

[E-A-G-L-E-S]

On your painted and sanded wall these conditions exist?

Yes, just sanded and two coats of Kilz2.

 

[E-A-G-L-E-S]

I have been told that a Winter Mountain/Mist or Sherwin Williams light grey or grey(all within N8 and N9) would work better for my Mitsu HC1500 because it is so bright ?

 

[Johnd]

I have been told that a Winter Mountain/Mist or Sherwin Williams light grey or grey(all within N8 and N9) would work better for my Mitsu HC1500 because it is so bright ?

Oh. You're back on the paint. I have absolutely no experience with wall paint as a screen for my projector...although I know it can be done with somewhat dismal results. I do not understand why you flatly reject the $50-$100 screen solution already proferred. If you do not care to take avaserfi's suggestion, heck, at $6.00 qt., try a few colors and sheens and see if that helps your pq. Let us know the results if you would be so kind after you've tried a few of the millions of permutations.

 

[E-A-G-L-E-S]

Thanks for the snideness, it's really helpful.
Depending on who you listen to there are far differeing opinions on the matter.
A gentleman was showing me pictures of Da-Lite comparisons with graphs and there are a few shades of "paint" that 'outperformed' the Da-Lite.
Also, showed the three links and the first two were shot down extremely quickly.
So, I'm not saying you guys are right or he is, but just getting conflicting information and reccomendations.

So I'm trying to weed through the heap and figure out what is best as I'm learning along the way.

 

[Adam]

Thanks for the snideness, it's really helpful.

Thanks, that made me chuckle.

I'd love to help you out, but I don't know squat about projectors, screens, or paint. I like the idea of having the "screen" be an integral part of the wall, though, so I'm interested in knowing how this all works out for you. Good luck!

 

[BMXTRIX]

I'm going to ask this because it matters...

When you are doing all of your testing and evaluation are you in theater black conditions, or are you under ambient light conditions. It is a overlooked issue that many newbies don't get: You don't project black, the room creates it. If your room isn't dark, then the screen sure as heck will never produce 'black' and you will end up with a washed out image.

I would strongly recommend that you may want to consider a real setup disc like DVE or Avia and run through that setup after dark.

You also want to be sure of what type of cabling you are hooking everything up with. DVD <> HDTV and you will have better overall results by seeing what HDTV looks like on the display using component or HDMI as your connection. Remember, composite video and s-video are not capable of delivering any of the resolutions higher than 480i.

So, if you are just running with generic composite and cable as your connection, in a somehwhat lit room, then you likely won't be very impressed with the results you get.

'Washed out' is almost always the universal description of dim lamps or bright rooms. Take a look at what happens to a cheap projector when the lights start coming on...

http://www.avintegrated.com/lighting.html

 

[E-A-G-L-E-S]

That all makes sense, thanks. I am using HDMI. There is a little ambient so I will wait until I get my Avia(should be here monday) and calibrate after dark.
Then I will make some judgements.

 

[Johnd]

Thanks for the snideness, it's really helpful.
Depending on who you listen to there are far differeing opinions on the matter.
A gentleman was showing me pictures of Da-Lite comparisons with graphs and there are a few shades of "paint" that 'outperformed' the Da-Lite.
Also, showed the three links and the first two were shot down extremely quickly.
So, I'm not saying you guys are right or he is, but just getting conflicting information and reccomendations.

So I'm trying to weed through the heap and figure out what is best as I'm learning along the way.

Snide? You don't know snide.

My post as the others were helpful. I wrote try a FEW types of paint to see if there is any appreciable benefit. I wanted to bring to your attention to the fact that there are literally millions of permutations of sheen and color. One screen is not perfect for every application, neither will one color befit all applications. That is why I wrote "try a few." If you are so easily offended, grow a thicker skin. You misread what I wrote, and then insult me as I'm trying to help...I remain undaunted.

There are many variables with projectors and screens. You have failed to mentioned:
1) the amount of ambient light in the room (except in your last post...and then you write "a little");
2) the color of your walls, ceilings and floor;
3) the distance from lens to screen; and
4) the height of the lens and screen.
You have purchase avia...good.

As far as conflicting info...most novices will never properly install a projector, let alone calibrate it. This is not simply plugging in some patch cords and turning on a knob. If you spend a few dozen hours reading and researching, and then a few more hours tinkering...you may be able to obtain some pretty good results. However, I still believe you would be better off with a halfway decent screen (you have a 1k projector...why not spend a little to receive that image?) that is appropriate for your particular setting and then doing a proper setup and calibration. Cheers.

 

[E-A-G-L-E-S]

I mistook your tone. Thank you for the further help.
1. Actually ~99% dimmable other than a skylight that introduces indirect sunlight. At night-pitch black.
2.off white/cream....cannot change.
3. 161" - 13'5"
4.lens-12"
bottom of screen-28"
middle of screen-54"
Screen is edged temporarily with 2" 3M duct tape.

I was hoping this would at the least allow me to see what commercial screen color I'd want and also allow me to see if I needed to jump a level in projector performance before buying a screen, which would limit my buying options.

 

[jinjuku]

I hate to point out the obvious but there are some paint manufacturers that produce paints that are expressly made for projection applications. Behr Silver Screen and Screen Goo.

There is a reason that they are considered a specialty paint. So now you know that you need a specialty paint. Furthermore there are two basic camps of screen color: Grays and Whites.

Grays: attempt to compensate muddy black levels and therefore giving you a good contrast for colors to pop.

Whites: to make your colors pop and therefore make muddy blacks look blacker by comparison.

Screen Goo has a wizard that you can plug your projector and ambient light conditions into and it will come up with a recommendation.

 

[E-A-G-L-E-S]

Isn't the Behr 'Silver Screen' mix very similar to the TrueValue Winter mist/Winter mountain and Shermin Williams Light gray and Gray screen mixes?
I was planning on trying(only $8 and 30 minutes) the TV Winter Mist which is extremely similar in color to N9...

 

[jinjuku]

Also, showed the three links and the first two were shot down extremely quickly.
So, I'm not saying you guys are right or he is, but just getting conflicting information and reccomendations.

So I'm trying to weed through the heap and figure out what is best as I'm learning along the way.

So who is 'this guy' you are referring to? Does he frequent the boards here? Is he a professional installer? You will have to forgive JohnD, he routinely locks horns. But take away the sarcasm and bite and he is still correct. You need to look into a product, either paint or actual screen, that is purpose made for projection. You are going waste some money and more time trying to cheap out.

I don't want to say cheap out, I really don't. I just know that you either do this correctly or you don't.

Bottom line is: Stop screwing around with standard paint.

 

[E-A-G-L-E-S]

I thought Behr was just an interior flat paint like shermin williams, no?
I am researching pull down screens as that is my budget it seems as I try these simple, cheap DIY methods.
I don't know his credentials but he is well respected on 'another' board and has many in-depth color analysis presentations, graphs, charts, pictures and write-ups. He could be full of it, but he seems sold and so do many on the board who have done it. Granted they for the most part 'may' not know what a really good commercial screen can do?

Make sense? So Behr silver screen is a mix right?

Thanks for the help!