Screen To Enhance Black Levels

[talstarone]

I have been fortunate to get an older projector at a Wonderful Price.

Considering it is an older LCD 720p projector the reviews states that its black level could be better then it is.It states in some instances that Black and Shadowed areas can take on a Grey Tone to Them.

Its said that its not too Big of an Issue and in an older projector I know Blacks are not up to the Level(or Standard)they are in the newer projectors.

Is there any type of screen or screen gain that can enhance the Contrast and make the Blacks appear darker?
Or is my best bet just a regular screen with a gain around 1.1 to 1.3.

Thanks for any and all help.

[Fors*]

Originally Posted by talstarone

I have been fortunate to get an older projector at a Wonderful Price.

Considering it is an older LCD 720p projector the reviews states that its black level could be better then it is.It states in some instances that Black and Shadowed areas can take on a Grey Tone to Them.

Its said that its not too Big of an Issue and in an older projector I know Blacks are not up to the Level(or Standard)they are in the newer projectors.

Is there any type of screen or screen gain that can enhance the Contrast and make the Blacks appear darker?
Or is my best bet just a regular screen with a gain around 1.1 to 1.3.

Thanks for any and all help.

What happened and how and where did you get a projector Tals?

[igotcabada]

Most screen companies produce Low Gain screens, here are some descriptions of Dalite & Draper high contrast screens

DaLite:

High Contrast Da-Mat
A smooth, gray, vinyl finish surface for high output LCD and DLP projectors. This surface improves the perceived contrast by lowering black levels. It is a flexible unsupported vinyl fabric and may be folded or rolled. Available on all models offered with the Da-Mat surface. Screen surface can be cleaned with mild soap and water. Flame retardant and mildew resistant.

0.8 Gain 90 degrees

Draper:

ATGrey
This screen uses innovative and versatile acoustically transparent screen material with the best optical qualities of both Matt White and High Contrast Grey. It is unique in that it offers both a 180° viewing cone and the vivid color contrast associated with high contrast grey materials. Washable, flame and mildew resistant. Not recommended for screens smaller than 80" wide when used with LCD or DLP projectors.

0.8 Gain 70 degrees

HiDef Grey
A grey front projection surface that provides greater contrast and black reproduction than standard surfaces, with a lower gain to handle today's super-bright projectors. The grey allows for more ambient light in the audience area than traditional surfaces.

0.8 Gain 70 degrees

High Contrast Grey
Grey textile backed surface offers excellent resolution while enhancing the blacks of LCD and DLP projected images, even as whites and lighter colors are maintained. It performs well in ambient light conditions, even with a brighter projector.

0.7 - 0.9 Gain 70 degrees

[talstarone]

Thanks Sincerely for the Much Needed Help.
Now I will begin looking on different sites to see where it may be offered at a reasonable price.

[brokenthumb]

Originally Posted by forsberg21

What happened and how and where did you get a projector Tals?

I'm right there with you Fors.

[Fors*]

Originally Posted by brokenthumb

I'm right there with you Fors.

I think he is being coy about it too. Tals, you're killing me with curiosity......

[talstarone]

Originally Posted by forsberg21

I think he is being coy about it too. Tals, you're killing me with curiosity......

Hi brokenthumb and forsberg,my friends.

Lets just say I am not going to say a word until a package is in my hands.Hopefully that will be no later then next week or Monday/Tuesday of the week after.

[talstarone]

I will say these Grey Tinted High Contrast Screens seem to carry a pretty good price .
I am going to keep looking and see if I can find one in my size and price range.If not then the regular matte white screen will have to do the trick.

[Fors*]

Originally Posted by talstarone

Hi brokenthumb and forsberg,my friends.

Lets just say I am not going to say a word until a package is in my hands.Hopefully that will be no later then next week or Monday/Tuesday of the week after.

Aww, c'mon! That is simply not fair buddy! Is it bigger than a bread box?

[talstarone]

Originally Posted by forsberg21

Aww, c'mon! That is simply not fair buddy! Is it bigger than a bread box?

I actually dont know how big a Bread Box Is...

I am just excited and hope everything goes thru like it should.I will be one Very Happy Home Theater Owner.

But if it doesnt go thru (for whatever reason)I will understand,and just continue down the path towards my goal,that I was already walking towards.

[Fors*]

Originally Posted by talstarone

I actually dont know how big a Bread Box Is...

I am just excited and hope everything goes thru like it should.I will be one Very Happy Home Theater Owner.

But if it doesnt go thru (for whatever reason)I will understand,and just continue down the path towards my goal,that I was already walking towards.

Can you at least inform us of whatever you are looking at, if it is coming from another member, friend or brand new?

[talstarone]

Originally Posted by forsberg21

Can you at least inform us of whatever you are looking at, if it is coming from another member, friend or brand new?

It seems as if it was a present Santa noticed that he forgot to leave me last Christmas.
So since that happened,he is sending a reindeer and an elf sometime in the near future to drop the forgotten gift off at my house.

[Fors*]

Originally Posted by talstarone

It seems as if it was a present Santa noticed that he forgot to leave me last Christmas.
So since that happened,he is sending a reindeer and an elf sometime in the near future to drop the forgotten gift off at my house.

The chocolate Santa that is!

[killat0n]

Light absorption had by far the biggest impact on black levels for me. My projector has pretty average black levels, but when the entire screen has light absorbing material in all directions(ceiling especially) the black levels and overall picture quality improved so much. Take a look at the first picture in my gallery to see what I'm talking about. I'm actually a bit surprised most people don't do this. There are only a handful of people with projectors on this website I have found who have proper light absorption. I actually got the idea from Brain Sturgeon's theater long before I even got a projector. To me it makes perfect sense and really is a no brainer. If you want that image you're projecting to look the best that it can, then there can't be light reflecting off of the walls lighting the room up, in turn degrading the picture quality.

My 2 cents.

[talstarone]

Originally Posted by killat0n

Light absorption had by far the biggest impact on black levels for me. My projector has pretty average black levels, but when the entire screen has light absorbing material in all directions(ceiling especially) the black levels and overall picture quality improved so much. Take a look at the first picture in my gallery to see what I'm talking about. I'm actually a bit surprised most people don't do this. There are only a handful of people with projectors on this website I have found who have proper light absorption. I actually got the idea from Brain Sturgeon's theater long before I even got a projector. To me it makes perfect sense and really is a no brainer. If you want that image you're projecting to look the best that it can, then there can't be light reflecting off of the walls lighting the room up, in turn degrading the picture quality.

My 2 cents.

Thanks for the Great information,killat0n .
Looking over your gallery I am in complete awe.That is a tremendous set up you have put together.Esepecially the screen and the the inky darkness that surrounds it in All Directions.

You are extremely talented and knowledgeable individual and I look forward to learning from you and reading your posts to learn and understand as much as possible.

Again,Thank You,my Friend.

[Big Daddy]

You asked for it. Now sit down and read.

White vs. Gray Screens:
http://www.projectorcentral.com/whit...on_screens.htm

http://www.da-lite.com/products/sele...viewMode=front

Front Projection Screen Surfaces

Matte White
One of the most versatile screen surfaces and a good choice for situations when presentation material is being projected and ambient light is controllable. Its surface evenly distributes light over a wide viewing area. Colors remain bright and life-like, with no shifts in hue. Flame retardant and mildew resistant. Viewing Angle: 60° Gain: 1.0

High Contrast Matte White
Designed for moderate output DLP and LCD projectors. This screen surface is a great choice when video images are the main source of information being projected and where ambient light is moderately controlled. With its specially designed gray base material and reflective top surface, this screen material is able to provide very good black levels without sacrificing the white level output. Flame retardant and mildew resistant. Viewing Angle: 50° Gain: 1.1

Video Spectra 1.5
This screen surface is specially designed with a reflective coating, which provides an increased amount of brightness with a moderately reduced viewing angle. The increased gain of this surface makes it suitable for environments where ambient lighting is uncontrollable and a projector with moderate light output is utilized. Flame retardant and mildew resistant. Viewing Angle: 35° Gain: 1.5

Silver Matte
A uniquely designed screen surface with a specifically designed silver finish. This surface is perfect for situations where a silver surface is necessary for a polarized 3-D projection. The matte finish of this surface successfully rejects ambient light. Screen surface can be cleaned with mild soap and water. Flame retardant and mildew resistant. Viewing Angle: 30° Gain: 1.5

High Power
A technological breakthrough, providing the reflectivity and optical characteristics of a traditional glass beaded surface with the ability to clean the surface when necessary. Its smooth textured surface provides the highest gain of all front projection screen surfaces with no resolution loss. The moderate viewing angle and its ability to reflect light back along the projection axis make this surface the best choice for situations where there is a moderate amount of ambient light and the projector is placed on a table-top or in the same horizontal viewing plane as the audience. Flame retardant and mildew resistant. Viewing Angle: 30° Gain: 2.8

Da-Mat®
A screen surface with a smooth, white vinyl finish for precise image reproduction that provides an exceptionally wide viewing angle and no resolution loss. It is a highly flexible fabric that may be folded or rolled. Its versatility makes it a great choice for situations with good control over ambient light and where an exceptionally wide viewing angle is necessary. Screen surface can be cleaned with mild soap and water. Flame retardant and mildew resistant. Viewing Angle: 60° Gain: 1.0

Cinema Vision
A unique non-supported vinyl fabric that offers a bright, uniform image with no color shift at any viewing angle. This surface is designed to provide a higher amount of brightness for lower output projector types such as CRT. Its increased reflectivity will help enhance the image brightness in situations where a low level of ambient light is present. This surface is a good choice when producing video images. Screen surface can be cleaned with mild soap and water. Flame retardant and mildew resistant. Viewing Angle: 45° Gain: 1.3

Pearlescent
A non-supported vinyl fabric, offering a higher degree of reflectivity and brilliance without loss of image quality or resolution. This surface is a good choice when producing video images with a lower output projector and where there is a high amount of ambient light present. Screen surface can be cleaned with mild soap and water. Flame retardant and mildew resistant. Viewing Angle: 40° Gain: 1.5

Audio Vision
Designed for applications where a more realistic soundstage is desired, this fabric allows for the installation of speakers to be placed behind the surface. With virtually no sound loss and good image quality, this fabric provides the same optical characteristics as the Da-Mat surface with specially designed perforations to allow sound to pass through the screen material. Screen surface can be cleaned with mild soap and water. Flame retardant and mildew resistant. Viewing Angle: 60° Gain: 1.0

High Contrast Da-Mat®With a special gray surface, this screen material is designed for use with today's high output LCD, DLP and D-ILA projectors. By lowering the black levels of the projected video image, this surface creates a more film-like image and is a good choice when video is the main source of projected information. This screen surface is best used when there is good control of ambient lighting and a moderately wide viewing angle is desired. Screen surface can be cleaned with mild soap and water. Flame retardant and mildew resistant. Viewing Angle: 45° Gain: 0.8

High Contrast Cinema Vision
Designed for today’s moderate output DLP and LCD projectors, this screen surface is a great choice when video images are the main source of information being projected and where ambient lighting is moderately controlled. With its specially designed gray base surface and a reflective top surface, this screen material is able to provide very good black levels without sacrificing the white level output. With its enhanced black levels and brilliant white levels, this screen surface provides deep life-like colors and greater detail and sharpness to the image. Screen surface can be cleaned with mild soap and water. Flame retardant and mildew resistant. Viewing Angle: 50° Gain: 1.1

High Contrast Audio Vision
With the same optical characteristics as the High Contrast Da-Mat material, this surface is designed to provide the viewer with a more realistic soundstage by placing speakers behind the screen and allowing the sound to be transmitted through the material. This screen surface is best used when there is good control of ambient lighting and a moderately wide viewing angle is desired. Screen surface can be cleaned with mild soap and water. Flame retardant and mildew resistant. Viewing Angle: 45° Gain: 0.8

High Contrast Cinema Perf
With the same optical characteristics as High Contrast Cinema Vision, this surface is perforated to allow placement of a center channel speaker behind the screen surface while allowing the sound to transmit through the material. Ideal for use in environments with moderate control of ambient light. Screen surface can be cleaned with a mild soap and water solution. Flame retardant and mildew resistant. Viewing Angle: 50° Gain: 1.1

3D Virtual Grey
Designed specifically for 3D front projection systems, 3D Virtual Grey is a flexible projection fabric that retains 99 percent of polarized light. Other characteristics include the ability to maintain high extinction values, virtually eliminate ghosting or crosstalk common with stereoscopic 3D projection and excellent image contrast. 3D Virtual Grey offers a 1.85 gain, which is compatible with low levels of ambient light.

HD Progressive 0.6
Formulated with an extremely wide viewing angle and excellent white field uniformity, the HD Progressive 0.6 screen fabric is ideal for applications where projector brightness and screen size require low gain. The light grey surface offers true color reproduction and excellent depth of modulation. Endorsed by Joe Kane Productions, HD Progressive 0.6 was formulated specifically for ultra high definition projection devices.

HD Progressive 0.9
A JKP endorsed projection screen material, HD Progressive 0.9 is formulated to produce true color and white field uniformity. With a 0.9 gain and an extraordinarily wide half angle of 85 degrees, this screen fabric offers excellent depth of modulation for even the most demanding high definition projection devices.