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Gear / Technical Help => Playback Forum => Home Theatre & HDTV => Topic started by: §†∑∫åµÞ≥¥ on May 12, 2008, 12:50:27 PM

Title: Projector screen vs. Painted screen... opinions?
Post by: §†∑∫åµÞ≥¥ on May 12, 2008, 12:50:27 PM
My wife and I are building a new house and will have a theater room in the basement. I've been looking into a projector and am thinking screen paint might be the best way to go (less obtrusive than a screen and probably cheaper). Does anyone have experience -- positive or negative -- with paint-on screens? I found this online, and it looks pretty decent: http://www.digitalscreenpaint.com/
Title: Re: Projector screen vs. Painted screen... opinions?
Post by: John Kelly on May 12, 2008, 01:47:07 PM
I don't have any direct experience, but everything I have read on AVS points to screens being a MUCH better option than paint.

If I were going projector (which I will in the future, but not until I move into a house), I'd go with a screen mounted directly to the wall with a frame around it. 
Title: Re: Projector screen vs. Painted screen... opinions?
Post by: OFOTD on May 12, 2008, 02:12:30 PM
What for you is a compelling reason to go with a projector instead of a plasma/lcd/oled television?   Picture quality is not one of them.

I have a good friend who operates and consults on high end digital projectors for corporate events, tradeshows, etc.  Every single conversation we have about consumer projectors he gets a bad look on his face.  I ask why and then he begins to recite the million reasons why 99.9% of consumer projectors suck and the 1 or 2 reasons why they don't.   As hard as you try as well as the guys on avsforums try a projector will not look as good or nearly as sharp as a plasma/lcd/oled television.  Just not going to happen.

Title: Re: Projector screen vs. Painted screen... opinions?
Post by: John Kelly on May 12, 2008, 02:28:16 PM
What for you is a compelling reason to go with a projector instead of a plasma/lcd/oled television?   Picture quality is not one of them.

I have a good friend who operates and consults on high end digital projectors for corporate events, tradeshows, etc.  Every single conversation we have about consumer projectors he gets a bad look on his face.  I ask why and then he begins to recite the million reasons why 99.9% of consumer projectors suck and the 1 or 2 reasons why they don't.   As hard as you try as well as the guys on avsforums try a projector will not look as good or nearly as sharp as a plasma/lcd/oled television.  Just not going to happen.



Which projectors specifically?  Because you can get some very good projectors that will rival or beat plasma/lcd (oled isn't out and doesn't count). 

Plus, good luck affording a 150" plasma.
Title: Re: Projector screen vs. Painted screen... opinions?
Post by: OFOTD on May 12, 2008, 02:44:31 PM

Which projectors specifically?  Because you can get some very good projectors that will rival or beat plasma/lcd (oled isn't out and doesn't count). 


John I always respect your opinions because I know you're a gadget freak like me but there is absolutely no consumer projector that will rival or beat a plasma or lcd.  It just isn't there.  Now you can do lots of things to make a projector look better (good screen, tuning discs, pitch black room with NO extra light) but they just don't look nearly as good.    There is no crispness, there is no defined color separation and there are no true blacks. 

I admit it would be cool to get a 150" screen no doubt.  But isn't it a little fishy that you could find a consumer projector that could create such a screen size for less than a plasma or lcd? 

Size of picture I can understand.  Picture quality ain't gonna happen.  A neighbor has a projector home theater setup and he's an avsforum guy as well.   He's tuned his system, done all the tricks they all talk about but at the end of the day the picture isn't real sharp, the colors bleed and in general it does not compete with a plasma/lcd. 

Best thing to do is to go to a theater store and compare them.  Do a comparison with your own eyes.  They won't lie.   
Title: Re: Projector screen vs. Painted screen... opinions?
Post by: John Kelly on May 12, 2008, 03:10:03 PM
I mean what do you consider consumer?  Is a $10k projector consumer?  LCDs also don't have "true blacks" but people buy them by the truckload.  There are tradeoffs for EVERY type of television out there.  There is no perfect solution yet, and the projectors are no less of an option than the others. 

I admit it would be cool to get a 150" screen no doubt.  But isn't it a little fishy that you could find a consumer projector that could create such a screen size for less than a plasma or lcd? 

Fishy?  No.  Because the projector can create a 150" picture just as easily as a 50".  That's just how the technology works.
Title: Re: Projector screen vs. Painted screen... opinions?
Post by: OFOTD on May 12, 2008, 03:31:32 PM
I mean what do you consider consumer?  Is a $10k projector consumer?  LCDs also don't have "true blacks" but people buy them by the truckload.  There are tradeoffs for EVERY type of television out there.  There is no perfect solution yet, and the projectors are no less of an option than the others. 

Typically but not always are the majority of projectors that can be purchased at a home theater store, a Best Buy, etc are consumer grade.   Some professional projector brands (not all) include Barco, Eiki and Runco to name a few.   Consumer projectors would be  BenQ, InFocus, Sony and Panasonic.   

You're right that the different varieties have different drawbacks like the LCD true black as a good example.   If you compare the pluses and minuses of the three we're talking about here (lcd, plasma, projector) then I think you'll find the projectors to have an overall much larger list of drawbacks when compared to the other two.


I admit it would be cool to get a 150" screen no doubt.  But isn't it a little fishy that you could find a consumer projector that could create such a screen size for less than a plasma or lcd? 

Fishy?  No.  Because the projector can create a 150" picture just as easily as a 50".  That's just how the technology works.

Let me reword it then.   

"I admit it would be cool to get a 150" screen no doubt.  But isn't it a little fishy that you could find a consumer projector that could create such a large screen size in addition to a smaller screen size or comaprable screen size for less than a plasma or lcd? "

Isn't the whole draw of alot of projectors that you could have a larger screen size than other options?   I mean would you really consider a projector  over a lcd/plasma if you were going to view at say 50" (<-- example size)

I think in theory they are cool.  In real world they just don't look as good as the same or larger screen size.  If I was as anal about my video as I am about my audio a projector would not even be in the conversation.

Again the easiest way to get a handle on it is to go and compare the different forms.  But when you do make sure that your environmental conditions are the same for each.   
Title: Re: Projector screen vs. Painted screen... opinions?
Post by: John Kelly on May 12, 2008, 05:01:36 PM
I guess I just didn't know what you meant when you said "consumer".  I wouldn't look at the brands you mentioned, but definitely would consider a Runco or other projector in that range.  I would consider the Sonys and BenQs to be "low end consumer", and the others "high end consumer". 

Although there is a new Panasonic 1080p projector that is getting some good reviews, but it's 10+ thousand as well.  I can find the model if anyone is actually interested.
Title: Re: Projector screen vs. Painted screen... opinions?
Post by: StuStu on May 13, 2008, 05:17:48 AM
I guess I just didn't know what you meant when you said "consumer".  I wouldn't look at the brands you mentioned, but definitely would consider a Runco or other projector in that range.  I would consider the Sonys and BenQs to be "low end consumer", and the others "high end consumer". 

Although there is a new Panasonic 1080p projector that is getting some good reviews, but it's 10+ thousand as well.  I can find the model if anyone is actually interested.

I recently bought a 1080p Panasonic. The model is PT-AE200U. I paid a little over 2k. They also offer a less expensive model PT-AE1000U for around $1900. I picked mine up at costco.com. I see they are no longer offering my model. The PT-AE1000U is still available there. I'm LOVING it! Sports are superb on the screen. :)
Title: Re: Projector screen vs. Painted screen... opinions?
Post by: §†∑∫åµÞ≥¥ on May 13, 2008, 10:30:25 AM
Interesting conversation thus far. In truth, my research is just beginning in regards to how to set up my theater room -- an actual theater with raised seating and wall sconces... the whole bit. If I go with a projector (or a TV for that matter), I'll definitely shoot for a 1080p as I don't see the point of spending money on anything less since it's the most current technology. I'm really just gathering basic info at this point, but I appreciate the opinions. T's around.

Has anyone acually used/viewed digital wall paint?
Title: Re: Projector screen vs. Painted screen... opinions?
Post by: rokpunk on May 14, 2008, 06:57:56 AM

Has anyone acually used/viewed digital wall paint?

yes. i've installed projectors in rooms where the client wants to use the wall, painted with that Da-Lite "screen paint".
it works, and actually works fairly well, but, for a home theater, i'd stick with a real screen. the brightness and clarity of a screen will beat the wall paint every time. don't cheap out on the screen though. buy a good screen (check Da-Lite..they make some nice ones).

we too are in the process of building a home theater....pin spots, sconces, elevated floor, theater seating, etc.
pay no mind to the people suggesting LCD and plasmas over projectors. stick with a decent brand (runco, ben-q, infocus, eiki, etc..) and stay away from low end "buisiness" projectors.
Title: Re: Projector screen vs. Painted screen... opinions?
Post by: Frank in JC on May 14, 2008, 08:57:51 AM
...pay no mind to the people suggesting LCD and plasmas over projectors...

If you enjoy the impact of a huge picture, a "conventional" television isn't going to cut it.  I ran a Sanyo XP-21n for a few years (a glorified but very bright business projector) and the sheer image size outweighed most of the shortcomings as far as I was concerned.  Naturally there is also a significant difference between viewing a projected image and viewing an image/light source directly.  There's something really cool about the former, but I can't quite put my finger on it. 
Title: Re: Projector screen vs. Painted screen... opinions?
Post by: John Kelly on May 14, 2008, 09:13:37 AM
I'm thinking about just getting one of these for my eventual theater, rather than a projector:
(http://cache.gizmodo.com/assets/resources/2008/01/panasonic%20150%20inch%20plasma0.jpg)
(Panasonic 150" Plasma)
Title: Re: Projector screen vs. Painted screen... opinions?
Post by: Krispy D on May 14, 2008, 10:08:59 AM
^^ that can't be cheap...   :o
Title: Re: Projector screen vs. Painted screen... opinions?
Post by: OFOTD on May 14, 2008, 10:32:55 AM
^^ that can't be cheap...   :o

My friend who is in the business was working the Panasonic booth at this past CES.  Estimated price was $200k for the 150".  Currently Panasonic has built only three of them.
Title: Re: Projector screen vs. Painted screen... opinions?
Post by: John Kelly on May 14, 2008, 11:04:45 AM
Yeah but I know a guy.  ;)
Title: Re: Projector screen vs. Painted screen... opinions?
Post by: OFOTD on May 14, 2008, 12:32:49 PM
Yeah but I know a guy.  ;)

Some of his shots of the plasma before CES started and they were all getting setup.   They were too big to attach so you'll have to click the links to see them full size.

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b311/ofotd/Panny%20150%20plasma/IMG_3409.jpg
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b311/ofotd/Panny%20150%20plasma/IMG_3410.jpg
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b311/ofotd/Panny%20150%20plasma/IMG_3411.jpg
Title: Re: Projector screen vs. Painted screen... opinions?
Post by: Corporate hack on May 14, 2008, 02:35:13 PM
Yeah but I know a guy.  ;)
Comes out of the white van selling speakers.
Title: Re: Projector screen vs. Painted screen... opinions?
Post by: John Kelly on May 14, 2008, 02:36:02 PM
Yeah but I know a guy.  ;)
Comes out of the white van selling speakers.

Duuuude.  Don't give away my secrets.
Title: Re: Projector screen vs. Painted screen... opinions?
Post by: L Ron Hoover on May 14, 2008, 02:37:40 PM
Yeah but I know a guy.  ;)
Comes out of the white van selling speakers.

I wonder if those asspipes are still around with their hundred million gigawatt dixie-cup speakers.
Title: Re: Projector screen vs. Painted screen... opinions?
Post by: rokpunk on May 14, 2008, 06:49:30 PM
^^ that can't be cheap...   :o
Estimated price was $200k for the 150".  Currently Panasonic has built only three of them.


Yup, and in 18 months, it'll be $50K.
Title: Re: Projector screen vs. Painted screen... opinions?
Post by: OFOTD on May 14, 2008, 07:04:24 PM
^^ that can't be cheap...   :o
Estimated price was $200k for the 150".  Currently Panasonic has built only three of them.


Yup, and in 18 months, it'll be $50K.


Could be.  I think you'll see alot of innovation and $$$ going into OLED in the next few years though instead of these 150" types of plasmas.
Title: Re: Projector screen vs. Painted screen... opinions?
Post by: §†∑∫åµÞ≥¥ on May 14, 2008, 11:42:36 PM
^^ that can't be cheap...   :o
Estimated price was $200k for the 150".  Currently Panasonic has built only three of them.
Yup, and in 18 months, it'll be $50K.
Could be.  I think you'll see alot of innovation and $$$ going into OLED in the next few years though instead of these 150" types of plasmas.

Those gigantic Mitsubishi's look pretty decent as well -- although I've never been to excited about the thought of buying a television from a car company... or is it the other way around?
Title: Re: Projector screen vs. Painted screen... opinions?
Post by: BC on May 23, 2008, 01:57:08 PM
What for you is a compelling reason to go with a projector instead of a plasma/lcd/oled television?   Picture quality is not one of them.

Going with a projector can get you into a larger screen size at a given price point. I got a  HD projector (720p/1080i) and 92" screen for for less than $1500.

I am happy with the picture quality. The tradeoffs? No, it is not as sharp/crisp/bright as a smaller plasma, and the picture is definitely washed out when there is a lot of sunlight in the room. However, I really enjoy the larger size for watching sports and movies, and at night when it is dark outside the picture looks very nice. I have not gotten around to installing light blocking curtains, which would make it look better in the daytime. Since stejampzy is putting this in his basement, I assume he will have good control over ambient light which is a plus for a projector-based display.



Title: Re: Projector screen vs. Painted screen... opinions?
Post by: BC on May 23, 2008, 02:02:52 PM
My wife and I are building a new house and will have a theater room in the basement. I've been looking into a projector and am thinking screen paint might be the best way to go (less obtrusive than a screen and probably cheaper). Does anyone have experience -- positive or negative -- with paint-on screens? I found this online, and it looks pretty decent: http://www.digitalscreenpaint.com/

I've never seen the picture quality of screen paint, but IMHO having a quality display surface is crucial to getting the most out of a projector. If your wall has any sort of texture I think it will degrade your picture quality. FYI I Dragonfly offers a nice screen at a reasonable price, I got my 92" gray from http://www.theprojectorplace.com/ for less than $500. 

Some good info is at

http://www.projectorcentral.com/
http://www.avsforum.com/

Title: Re: Projector screen vs. Painted screen... opinions?
Post by: §†∑∫åµÞ≥¥ on May 28, 2008, 02:45:50 PM
Thanks BC! +T

-Steve