The art of using a projector on a dark wall
Can you use a projector on a dark wall? The dark vs white screen for a projector is a much-discussed topic. The answer to this discussion is objective. The type of screen, dark or white depends upon the conditions in which you are using the projector. The final image projected comes out differently on different screens and under different circumstances. In this article let’s find out the best circumstances under which using a dark wall as a screen is ideal.
Contents
Can you use a projector on a dark wall?
The answer to this question is Yes! You can use a projector on a dark wall. If you want to get rid of the extra white-washed look of the projected images, you should go for a dark screen. A black or dark screen is the best when the ambiance of the room is dark. It works best when the only light source in the room is the projector and there is no other light from the surroundings. While a black screen or wall may work out in your favor when used in a home theater, it’s not very ideal for regular use.
Why a black wall?
A black screen works when you are projecting in a pitch-dark room. As there is no other source of light in the room, a Black screen makes your picture more bright and brings out a better contrast. However working with a Black screen may work out under the best conditions, a wall is not ideal as a projection screen under any circumstances. Let’s find out why.
Why avoid walls as a projector screen?
Do many people wonder if a projector screen is necessary? The answer to this question is no. But using a projector without a screen decreases the quality of the image projected. The image projection depends on both the projector as well as the screen. . Can you use a wall as a screen? The answer is yes! But is it recommended? No! Let’s find out why that is. There are two main reasons why one should avoid the use of a wall as a screen. The reflective properties of a wall are not even half as good as a screen. Also, the wall texture is not always smooth and the color of the wall will also affect the quality of the image.
Reflective properties and color of the wall
The projector screen comes with a special coating that helps it increase its reflective properties. A wall does not have this coating. This will reduce the brightness of the image, decreasing its quality. Talking about white or black walls, a white surface reflects more light than a black surface. However, you can use a black wall if you are using it for a home theater. Therefore if you want a sharp image and want to read the contents of the image clearly, you will have to paint the wall white.
Wall Texture
Most walls appear smooth at first site but if you run your hands over the wall, you will notice small bumps and cracks all over the wall. These imperfections decrease the quality of the image by forming small shadows. The overall image, therefore, appears less bright and crumbly. If you are using a low-quality projector, such an uneven wall will not have a lot of impact on the image quality. But if you are using an expensive and high-quality projector, the quality degradation of the image will be visible.
How to use a black wall as a screen?
Smoothen the surface of the wall
As we discussed above, textured walls decrease image quality. So try to make the wall as smooth as possible. because the small bumps and cracks form shadows and decrease the brightness and sharpness of the image. If you have not installed the projector yet, use a flashlight to detect the uneven surface. If you’ve already installed the projector, projector an image on the wall and mark the textured areas. Then use a sandpaper or power sander to correct the texture. You will need to sand and paint the wall repeatedly to make the surface as smooth as possible.
Paint the wall
Although you can paint the wall black or white depending upon your requirements, it’s best to paint it with projector screen paint. This paint increases the reflective properties of the surface. The only problem with this paint is that it’s costly. It’s more costly than the screen itself. Therefore you can also paint the wall with regular paint and then paint a layer of projector screen paint.
Create a border/ frame
A border/ frame helps to make the screen surface distinguishable from the rest of the wall. This also saves you from sanding and smoothing the whole wall. You can use contrast colors for drawing the frame. White frame for black wall and vice versa. Making a frame helps distinguish the edges and does not cause any distraction while the image is projected.
Conclusion
Can you use a black wall as a screen? Yes! Is it recommended? No! Although you can use it If you want to get rid of the extra white-washed look of the projected images. A black or dark screen is the best when the ambiance of the room is dark. It works best when the only light source in the room is the projector and there is no other light from the surroundings. However, the reflective properties of a wall are not even half as good as a screen. Also, the wall texture is not always smooth and the color of the wall will also affect the quality of the image. To do a little extra reading, be sure to check out this website.