| Projector screens are generally divided into two types | | | | don't have to use gray screen. There are magazines |
| base on their functionalities: reflection projector screen | | | | recommending putting the light gray filter of a |
| and transmission projector screen. It can be also | | | | photographic camera to the projection lens, the |
| divided into soft and hard screen base on the materials | | | | principle is the same. You can even use more simpler |
| they are made from. | | | | method, namely you need to adjust the projector's |
| Home theater generally uses soft reflection screen. | | | | output brightness or increase the contrast gradient. No |
| My brother-in-law originally wanted to buy a ¥1000 | | | | need to spend a cent, you may achieve the similar |
| (~$150) so-called "import screen", but a friend of his | | | | effect, but the premise is that showroom must be dark |
| who sells projector screens told him that it is hard | | | | enough. |
| nowadays (in China) to distinguish the genuineness of | | | | Back to the bottom line, if a gray projector screen |
| an import screen, it is hard even for himself. Some of | | | | cost you $2000, definitely it is not just because the |
| them that are labeled with 'import' or 'joint capital' were | | | | screen color is changed from white to gray. Speaking |
| actually manufactured somewhere in the south of | | | | from the optical principle, I'm afraid there's a lot more |
| China. He felt that he'd rather to buy a ¥300 | | | | behind. I'm guessing probably certain chemical |
| domestically manufactured screen with good feelings | | | | compositions have been added to the material of the |
| than buy this kind of "import screen". What this friend | | | | screen that changed the reflection or absorption |
| said makes perfect sense. But after doing some | | | | intensity of different wavelength of light, thus changed |
| research, my brother-in-law found that all screens on | | | | the luster and the contrast gradient of the entire image, |
| the local market are made from high gain Bolivian bead | | | | that, makes up the inborn flaw of liquid crystal board |
| that is used for projecting newspaper clips, they are | | | | after all. In addition to this, what other tricks do you |
| simply not suitable for video frequency. | | | | think they can play? It doesn't seem to be possible |
| Theoretically speaking, a white wall with one smooth | | | | with the meager knowledge of physics that I have. |
| side actually is the best "screen". Because its gain is 1, | | | | It sounds more like it to throw in a ¥150,000 screen |
| meaning that the light projected can be completely | | | | if your projector cost you ¥15,000. But adding a |
| reflected out, which is an ideal state of being "no | | | | ¥15,000 screen to a ¥15,000 projector doesn't |
| absorption, no gain". Unfortunately, for the purpose of | | | | make much sense at all. If I have to buy a ¥15,000 |
| absorbing and proliferating the sound wave, he already | | | | screen, then it would simply work better if I put the |
| made the wall a background wall with sound-absorbing | | | | money together and buy a ¥30,000 higher level |
| material and plywood installed. making it impossible to | | | | projector to achieve better effect without any extra |
| serve as a "projector screen', he had to find another | | | | effort. A ¥15,000 screen is a crazy price to my |
| solution. | | | | brother-in-law (imagine his monthly income is merely |
| You might be wondering at this point: why do people | | | | ¥3000). Also if he buys a name brand Japanese |
| still bother purchasing expensive screens if we can all | | | | gray screen, then he actually spend most of the |
| use white walls? | | | | money to pay for the labor which he personally |
| Well, there are always benefits and advantages of | | | | doesn't feel comfortable. |
| using a professional screen: convenient, artistically | | | | The ideal screen for the DLP projector that my |
| beautiful and dignified, good screen can also make up | | | | brother-in-law purchased should be like a white wall, |
| the insufficiency of a projector and improve visual | | | | just let the project light reflected completely without |
| effect. Among the expensive screens, one type is | | | | any "reservation". He figured that he really didn't need |
| "gray screen" (cost about ¥15,000, roughly $2000). | | | | such costly screen. So he finally decided to make one |
| This kind of screen probably was originally designed | | | | on his own. |
| for liquid crystal projectors. The biggest problem with | | | | Exactly how did he do it? You may not believe how |
| liquid crystal projector is that the color appears dark | | | | simple and inexpensive it really was! He spent a bit |
| and grey, insufficiently calm. This is its "congenital | | | | over ¥10 (about $1.50) in a home decorating store |
| defect" that is caused by its liquid crystal board and | | | | on a self-adhesive pure white matted formica PVC |
| path of rays. | | | | panel with dim grains, cut the right size, pasted to his |
| Regarding gray screen, we all know that gray is | | | | original background wall, that is it, flat and smooth! With |
| merely a lighter black, and black absorbs all visible light. | | | | such PVC screen, he doesn't need to worry about the |
| Gray can only partially absorb visible light, it is like | | | | 'curl-up' phenomenon that may occur to a regular |
| brightness of the picture is reduced. If you have used | | | | projector screen after around 12 years of use, he also |
| any picture processing software's "brightness / | | | | doesn't need to worry that it would turn yellow one |
| contrast gradient" option, you should certainly have | | | | day due to natural oxidation. But remember it requires |
| noticed such phenomenon that reducing brightness is | | | | some pasting techniques to make it work perfectly for |
| equivalent to increasing contrast gradient? Same | | | | you. The result? Great! |
| concept, since the brightness has been reduced, it in | | | | Here are couple of self-made projector screen photos |
| turn increased its contrast gradient. The black effect | | | | from my brother-in-law as 'evidence': |
| gets improved due to the bigger contrast. We can also | | | | Note: You may freely republish this recipe as long as |
| experience the same effect when we look out | | | | author bio and active hyperlinks are kept intact. Thank |
| through the sunshade glass of our car. In fact, there | | | | you. |
| are many ways to just reduce the brightness, you | | | | |