DIY roll-up screen for a projector. The best screens for projectors. What to make a projector screen from

Despite the incredible popularity of modern television equipment, which amazes with its technical capabilities, display sizes and picture quality, traditional projectors remain a very useful tool.

Many business conferences, seminars, lectures and other important events cannot do without them. In order for the image to be transmitted accurately and efficiently, you need to pay due attention to finding a good screen, the cost of which is sometimes prohibitive. Fortunately, there are many ways and instructions on how to make a projection screen with your own hands, so anyone can save money and do without large financial expenses.

Projector screen - the main element of a home theater

Projectors are often purchased for home theaters. They play videos with improved quality. The fan makes virtually no noise, and the ability to reproduce computer images makes them an indispensable device for everyday purposes and family movie watching.

If you have bought a projector for your home, then the next question that should concern you is purchasing a canvas. Its cost is very high, so you can try to make it yourself. It is important to understand that the main task of the canvas is to display the image in a high-quality manner.

Considering the interior properties of your room, you can use tension or roll sheets . By the way, roll ones save a lot free space, which is why they are especially popular. They are also great for different interiors and display the image with the most accurate color reproduction without distorting the picture. The presence of a special mechanism prevents damage to the fabric due to uniform tension and neat folding.

Tripod-mounted screens are not always effective and can be difficult to use in tight spaces. The screen on a tripod can easily be damaged during transportation. It can also be spread by a pet or child.

Choosing a quality fabric

As mentioned above, the quality of the canvas is the main characteristic of a projector screen. The implementation of two important points depends on it:

High-quality picture transmission.
Correct distribution of light towards the viewer.

When choosing, you need to take into account the characteristics of the room, viewing angle, and placement of the projector on the ceiling or table. Don’t forget to pay attention to the lighting in the room, as well as the brightness of the projector.

Another important factor that can influence the choice of suitable equipment is the picture format.. Currently, there are several formats in terms of width and height ratio:

Standard - aspect ratio 1:1.
Video format - 4:3.
HDTV - 16:9.
Wide format - 16:10.
Cinematic - 2.35:1.

In most cases, consumers prefer wall-mounted displays that can play any video format and resolution. It makes sense to purchase a canvas with electric drive support, or with manual control.

The first case allows you to correctly stretch the canvas onto a special shaft, as a result of which the service life of the canvas will be significantly extended and the likelihood of damage will disappear. With manual control, the quality of the folding mechanism determines the safety and durability of the canvas. The speed and smoothness of folding also depends on it.

It's all about the size

If you intend to build a projector screen with your own hands from a banner or special fabric, do not forget to carry out a series of calculations to select the appropriate dimensions and correctly determine other characteristics, such as the placement of seats and room design. The canvas is placed directly in front of the audience, but not in front of the projector itself. In this case, the event will be accompanied by a high-quality computer presentation, which will be available to every viewer.

If you have to use a wall-mounted screen for the projector, its height should be 1/6 of the distance “canvas - last row of spectators”. In this case, the text will be readable and clear. IN ideal a feature is provided that the first row of spectators is placed at a distance of two canvas heights. Such a gap is considered the minimum from which it is comfortable to read the information offered. The lower area of the canvas is placed at a height of 1.2 meters from the floor. If you take this feature into account, viewers from the last row will be able to notice all the data and not miss anything important.

If you are making sizing calculations, be sure to pay attention to the type of format being reproduced. If you need to show videos of different formats, carefully study all the characteristics.

Installation Rules

The quality of the image will depend on how correctly the projection equipment is installed. Only two important problems need to be solved:

Choose the location of the canvas.
Select image size.

When choosing the appropriate location for your projector and screen, be sure to consider the room size, layout, and personal preferences. Also, the choice may depend on the width and height of the canvas, the location of the outlet, the distance to the devices and other subtleties.

Projectors are installed in several positions:

In front of the screen on the table.
In front of the screen on the ceiling.
Behind on the table.
Behind on the ceiling.

To adjust the equipment, use a special remote control or push-button control of projectors. And if your homemade screen is made exactly to the established requirements, it will be as easy to operate as a shop canvas.

The second point of installation of the projector and the accompanying unit - the screen, depends on the size of the picture that will be shown on the homemade monitor. The width and height are determined by the distance between the screen and the projector, the video signal format and magnification. It is important to place the equipment on a flat horizontal surface so that the beam falls strictly perpendicular to the center of the canvas.

If these steps are completed correctly, you can begin connecting the projector. It's no secret that on its back side there is a large number of various connectors. In most cases, users connect the computer to the device through the same input. True, if you need to show video rather than slides, you will most likely have to change the base connector to another. Typically this is HDMI capable of playing audio files.

Projection screen manufacturing technology

If you understand the basic features of projection equipment and are seriously thinking about self-production For this product, you will need the following materials:

foamed PVC.
Aluminum profile, springs, corners and hinges.
Suspension mechanisms such as rails and rollers (especially needed if there is a need to move the canvas).

The preparation of the canvas is carried out on a soft surface. In other cases, the risk of damage to the front part increases. As for the algorithm of actions, it is as follows:

Thus, making a projection screen with your own hands is not at all difficult with the proper skill. If you wish, you can cover ready product from PVC gray paint, which will allow you to feel the effect of being in a real cinema.

Alternative solutions

If you can’t go to a hardware store to buy a PVC sheet, you can get by alternative options. According to users, instead of a screen you can use:

Clean apartment wall. It is important that the surface on top is not used. Perhaps there is in the house white door, cupboard or refrigerator. They are also quite suitable.
Often people project a picture onto a white ceiling. In this case, you will have to increase the number of pillows that will be laid on the floor. You will also have to fix the projector not in a horizontal position, but in a vertical one.
Large flip calendars, which are turned to the audience with the white side, are often used as a screen. A good solution could be a white shelf from a closet or chest of drawers, which is placed on a stool and leans against the wall. The picture may not be accurate if projected onto a white Roman shade or light-colored curtain.

That's all, now you know what the features of projection equipment are and how to make a canvas for a projector with your own hands.

Attention, TODAY only!

Studying the topic of a homemade screen on the Internet, you will notice that the opinions of projector owners are divided on this issue. Some believe that screen manufacturers use special technologies in the production of projection surfaces. Others accuse the former of naivety and offer solutions that, in their opinion, are much cheaper and no worse than industrial screens. In principle, everything is clear with the arguments of supporters of ready-made screens, and therefore it will be interesting to study the arguments of the second side.

Projector screen material

If we undertake to calculate the approximate cost of a homemade screen, the following picture will emerge. Screen size 3.2x2.4 (starting from standard sizes banner sheet) has an area of 7.68 m2. With an approximate cost of quality canvas of $10 per square meter comes out to $76.8. Let's mark up the frame and get the cost of the screen about $100. In the store, screens of this size are sold starting from $300.

Step 1: Materials Needed

You will need:

Tools to assemble the projector wall screen:

Metal scissors, just large scissors or a sharp knife
Level 124 cm (usually used as a ruler for marking cutting lines)
Drill or screwdriver

Step 2: Install the fasteners

I cut the length with metal scissors plastic panel up to 152.5 cm so that the panel fits the wall area where the projector will be located. The panel is easy to cut big scissors or sharp knife, just metal scissors were at hand at that moment.

You don’t have to cut the panel at all, in which case the screen will be the dominant accent in the room, or you can trim the sides to get the aspect ratio you want. For 16:9 ratio maximum size the projector you can make from such a panel is 216x122 cm (85”x48”).

Don’t forget that the required aspect ratio also depends on the media format you choose, for example, HDTV=1.78:1, regular TV=1.33:1, DVD can generally be any video format, up to 2.35:1. I decided that I could watch videos of any of the mentioned sizes on a 5:4 screen, without huge empty spaces.

I secured the panel with 13mm screws: four along the top, three along the bottom and one in the middle of the sides. I didn't use dowels because the panel is very light. It has been hanging in place for several weeks and has not yet budged.

It is better to tighten the screws within 2.5 cm from the edge of the panel so that they are not noticeable or can be hidden under the frame. With the lights off and the projector running, the screws are almost invisible.
The surface of the panel is different on both sides. For the screen I chose the smoother side. I can't say if there is a difference in use with the other side, but I am very pleased with my results.

The contrast on this screen is at least as pronounced as on the old Da-Lite Flyer. The color reproduction on the new screen is better, due to the fact that the old screen has yellowed over the years of use. Also the old screen was too small and square.

Step 3: Watch a movie

I saw a lot of comments that due to the black frame at the edges of the screen the difference when watching a video is simply huge, although nowhere was it explained why there was such a difference. Some say that it adds additional volume to the image, others that it enhances contrast, and some claim that it retains the light flux, but most did not even think that it might not exist.

I fully admit that all these statements are true, but I am completely satisfied with my screen without a frame. Only when the room is fully illuminated can it seem that something is missing.
Since it's located in my room, little things like that just don't bother me. Perhaps the dark green wall played the role of a kind of frame for the screen. I also read that you can hide the white parts with black curtains, but almost the entire surface of my screen works, so I don't need that.

The projection screen may not be the most sophisticated, but the image quality is excellent.

A projector screen is a device that turns an ordinary room into a home theater. White wall for this purpose it is quite suitable. In order for the image to be clear, the surface must have certain properties.

General requirements for projection screens

Making a homemade screen is not difficult - the main thing is to find out what determines the quality of the picture. The costs will be minimal, and the result will be very worthy. After all, you can choose the dimensions and proportions yourself based on the characteristics of the projector and your preferences.

For a monitor to be successful for watching movies, it must meet the following requirements:

Perfectly flat plane. A wavy or curved surface will cause video image distortion or loss of sharpness. Accordingly, the tension should be uniform and strong enough. Deformation is especially noticeable when projecting 3D games and movies.
Ability to reflect light well. The fabric from which it is planned to make the screen must be dense, uniform and opaque. Glossy surface is not suitable for these purposes, as it produces glare. A material capable of absorbing part of the light flux is also unsuitable - the image will be pale. The situation can be corrected with a more powerful film projector, but this will lead to excessive consumption of electricity and money. The cost of such equipment is much higher, and lamp replacement is usually required more often. Old, sometimes frayed fabric is also excluded, even if it looks decent in appearance. Worn areas will reproduce the image unevenly - the color intensity drops here. The overall perception of the video in this case deteriorates significantly.
Light weight. Firstly, the structure will be easier to mount on the wall, and secondly, even if it falls, it will not be able to damage nearby equipment.

You can also make a roll-up screen with your own hands, driven by an electric motor if desired. But due to it high cost and the technical complexity of this option will not be considered here. Let's dwell on inexpensive designs that anyone can easily assemble. Of course, provided that you have at least once held household tools in your hands.

Selecting canvas size and format

In order for a homemade display to satisfy your needs and please your friends who come to visit, it is important to choose the right screen size and aspect ratio. It's best to start by choosing the video format you plan to use.

Most often you can find the following standards:

the 2.35:1 3D format, which is gaining popularity in the modern film industry;
widespread HD-TV 16:9;
and the long-standing, but still holding the palm, format of old television 4:3.

Other standards are rarely used and are not intended for movie viewing.

The next step is to determine the size projection screen. Here we can see the dependence on the room parameters:

Good readability of the text is maintained provided that the last row of spectators is located no further than 6 display sizes in height. That is, if the length of the room is 6 meters, the height of the screen cannot be less than 1 meter.
To maintain a comfortable perception of images and text, the first row of viewers should not be located closer than 2 display heights.
Full visibility of the screen for all viewers is ensured when its lower edge is located at a height of 1.2 meters from the floor surface.
When choosing a location for the canvas and the projector, it is taken into account specifications, room design, availability of sockets and other circumstances.

Plasterboard - common, but not too common practical option. Simply cut out a rectangle with the required aspect ratio and paint it white. It can be glued or mounted on a frame made of metal profile on the wall in in the right place. The material is very fragile and if damaged it will need to be replaced entirely.
Fiberboard sheet - used in the same way as drywall, belongs to the category of cheap and unaesthetic structures with minimal but tolerable quality of the resulting projection. This also includes cardboard or paper screens are usually short-lived, solving the problem quickly, but temporarily.
Thick fabric - for example, a white linen sheet, new, free of dirt and scuffs. Pulls onto the frame. Sometimes the canvas is painted with white paint or a backing made of dense black polyethylene is made to increase reflectivity.
Raincoat is a good option for homemade design. It is moisture resistant and resistant to contamination from hand touching. Durable material allows for maximum tension and ensures a high-quality picture and no distortion.
Vinyl canvas is a very good option for obtaining high-quality video images. But the material itself is prone to stretching and tearing if handled carelessly. Finding the required roll width is not so easy, and the cost of such a display will be rather high.
Synthetic fabric for banners is very popular, despite the price. It has excellent strength and reflective properties. The variety of products makes it easy to buy a piece of the desired size.
Perhaps the best option in terms of price-quality ratio is a projector screen made from suspended ceiling materials. For its manufacture, a synthetic fabric is selected white, or PVC film. In both cases, the material is mounted on a frame made of a special profile for suspended ceilings. In this case, a matte rather than glossy canvas is chosen to avoid glare.

Also, instead of a projector screen, a suspended ceiling is used if its color and texture allow you to get a high-quality picture. To do this, install the projector vertically, and lay pillows on the floor under the heads. An option for everyone.

Making a screen from PVC film

As an example, let's look at how to stretch PVC ceiling material onto a wall and use it as a display. The film chosen for this purpose is matte and white. Its cost is about 400 rubles per square meter.

IMPORTANT: the canvas will have to be stretched strongly, its size should be 6-10% smaller than the frame. The percentage depends on the size of the future screen. In order not to make a mistake with cutting, it is better to consult with specialists.

The installation technology is no different from installing suspended ceilings. True, there is one subtlety: if a screen is planned for the entire wall, one way or another, there will be a technological gap of about 5 centimeters around the perimeter. This is due to the fact that the tool requires a certain amount of space to operate.

The procedure is as follows:

Step 1. To mark the future screen, just turn on the configured projector and launch a picture of the preferred format. Straight lines are drawn along the perimeter of the light field, with a small margin.

Step 2. A profile frame is mounted along the markings - the pitch for self-tapping screws is 8 cm. In the area of corners and joints - no more than 3 cm from the edge of the guide profile.

Step 3. The canvas is fixed at the top of the screen and heated with a heat gun to 60-70 degrees. The PVC film is stretched over the frame until a perfectly flat surface is obtained.

Step 4. A decorative strip is installed along the perimeter of the profile.

When using a projector, it is necessary to provide for shading of windows, since in daylight the brightness of the picture will be clearly unsatisfactory.

Making a roll-up screen from a fabric stretch ceiling

You can make a small portable roll-up display literally from available materials. For this you will need:

piece of plastic sewer pipe diameter 50 mm, length 144 centimeters;
pair of rolling bearings 6604;
a rectangular piece of fabric for a stretch ceiling at the rate of: 140X105 cm (working area of the screen with an aspect ratio of 4:3) plus a margin for installation of about 15 centimeters in height, it turns out 140X120 cm;
insulating tape;
synthetic cord for hanging;
two lids from jars (for example, mustard or adjika) of the Twist off type 53 mm;
a piece of 10 mm plywood 10X10 cm;
two cuttings for garden tools, with a diameter of 25-30 mm, a length of at least 145 cm;

The material for the screen is a matte white polyester synthetic fabric used for the manufacture of stretch ceilings.

Installation is carried out in the following order:

Step 1. From one cutting we make an axis for winding the canvas. To do this, a piece 145 centimeters long is cut out. 2 is marked at one end, 3 cm at the other and a cut is made along the perimeter. Its depth is calculated so that the inner part of the cutting, with a diameter of 20 mm, remains intact.

Excess wood is removed with a knife so that the bearings fit tightly onto the axle. One of them is put on its place - where 2 cm is selected, and wedged from the end. To do this, use a small chisel to make a split along the diameter of the handle, into which a wooden wedge is driven and cut flush with the bearing. The other end of the axis, with a recess of 3 cm, remains free for now. After assembly, the flywheel will be attached to it.

Using a stapler, the end of the canvas, turned a couple of centimeters, is pinned to the handle. One row of staples - 2-3 mm from the fold, the second, to be sure - along the edge of the fold. The screen is twisted around an axis and set aside.

Step 2. The next step is to prepare the casing for folding the screen. To do this, along the axis plastic pipe two lines are marked with an interval of about a centimeter. To prevent spiral displacement from occurring, the inscriptions along the pipe can serve as a guide. Then a cut is made with a grinder according to the markings, the edges are cleaned with a sharp knife and sandpaper. Debris is removed from the pipe with a wet rag, which can be pushed through with a second handle.

Step 3. Then the twisted screen is inserted inside the casing. In this case, the free edge of the fabric is passed through the cut. The fixed bearing is driven under the edge of the pipe, and the second one is placed on the opposite end of the axle so that it looks 1 cm outward. The edges of the casing are wrapped with electrical tape so that the Twist off covers, acting as plugs, fit tightly onto the ends.

An M-8 bolt, 60-70 mm long, with two nuts and a metal or plastic tube put on it, is used as a handle. The handle is installed like this: a piece of tube (3-4 cm) is put on the bolt, then the first nut is screwed almost tightly to the tube. The free end of the bolt is inserted into the flywheel hole and clamped on the reverse side with a second nut. To make the structure more durable, it is better to place flat washers between the nuts and plywood. The tube is selected with such a diameter that it rotates freely around the bolt, but does not jump off the head.

Step 5. The second cutting is cut to the width of the canvas and pinned to the lower end of the screen with a stapler. Then it turns around so that the first row of staples is under the fabric and the operation is repeated.

Step 6. The final touch is to attach the cord to hang the screen. It is simply tied to the ends of the casing near the plugs. To prevent it from moving to the center, the loops are wrapped with the same electrical tape.

The screen is ready. Of course, it lacks aesthetics, but in the dark this is unnoticeable. I watched the movie and put it in the closet until the next showing.

As you can see, self installation Making a stationary or portable screen for a projector does not take too much time and allows you to save a lot of money.

Watching films on a projector will make you feel like you are in a real cinema. To get a high-quality picture, you will need to purchase or build a monitor yourself. Let's consider what materials are needed, and also describe the sequence of actions for manufacturing this structure.

The screen can be made from various materials

Selecting material and format

For the manufacture of projector displays use:

Banner fabric. The most popular option. It has a high reflectivity and is available in a wide size range.
PVC film. One of the best materials for the production of projector screens. It is easy to find a roll of the required size. The only drawback is the high cost.
Cardboard or fiberboard. A good option save if necessary. The product cannot boast of picture quality or durability, but it performs the main task.
Thick fabric (sheet). It is recommended to paint the material with white paint or make a backing of dark cardboard. This will increase reflectivity, making the image clearer.
Drywall. It will help you get a high-quality picture with minimal time investment. The material is easy to process.
Wall. Apply white matte paint on it in several layers to get a dense color - the monitor for the projector is ready. Of the minuses: there is no way to move the product.
Covering for suspended ceilings. Among the advantages, we note the high quality of the picture. The disadvantage is low strength. The material is resistant to fire, punctures and direct sunlight.

In this video you will learn how to make a screen:

The image format is one of best factors, determining the choice of coverage. So, we can get a high-quality and clear picture on the projector display. There are five options:

for cinemas (full screen mode) - 2, 35:1;
standard - 1:1;
video format - 4:3;
widescreen - 16:10;
for TV - 16:9.

Note! If you plan to use the projector to watch modern films or as a computer monitor, it is better to give preference to the 16:9 format.

We calculate the sizes

To build a display for a projector yourself, you will need to take into account several features: positioning the projector and viewing angle for viewers. As a rule, the first places are no closer than two monitor heights. For example, height = 2 m, which means the first row is located at a distance of 4 meters. Thus, the eyes perceive the picture better. The bottom line of the canvas must be at a height of at least 1.2 m from the floor.

What tools and materials are needed

To make a monitor, you will need the following tools:

fiberboard sheet;
fabric for the screen (we take 2.6:1.6 m as an example);
screwdriver Can be replaced with a screwdriver;
wooden beam - 4 pcs., 2500:40:15 mm;
sanding paper;
aluminum box - 5 pcs., 2500:65 mm;
self-tapping screws for fastening the structure;
pliers;
paint brush or roller, matte White paint;
furniture stapler;
construction knife or metal scissors;
thin felt.

Don't forget to prepare the necessary material

How to make a projector screen with your own hands: algorithm for making a screen

To make a projector screen with your own hands, follow the instructions:

Two boxes can be used as width guides. Let's cut the other two aluminum profiles to 1.5 m - this is the height. We sheathe the structure from the front side wooden block.
We measure from each corner a distance equal to the width of the box, cut holes using construction knife. Use pliers to bend and align the edges. We fasten the metal box with a wooden block, screwing them to each other with self-tapping screws.
To make the structure more stable, we install another box in the center. Here we also make holes and bend them with pliers. We attach it to the beam.
We cover the fiberboard frame, cut off the excess and process the edges sandpaper. It is better to attach the cover of a homemade monitor to a furniture stapler.
First we lay the felt lining. It will level the surface.
We prepare special fabric. It should not have folds or seams. First, we fix the canvas on side No. 1, and proceed to stretching it on side No. 2. Similarly, we fix the fabric on all sides. You should get a smooth, slightly stretched canvas. We cut off the excess with scissors.
Choose a paint shade. As an experiment, we will divide the canvas into three parts. The first is unchanged, the second is white paint, the third is dark gray.
As you can see, in latest version the picture has more saturated and clear colors. The paint used here is Behr 770E-2 (you can use an analogue)
Using a paint roller, coat the canvas with paint in two layers. After complete drying, go over the surface of the canvas with sandpaper. This will help remove dried paint grains.
To install the product on the wall, we screw a block the width of the aluminum frame to it. Since the display is hollow inside, it is easy to hang on a block.