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DIY Blackout Screen



I had a tight budget and wanted something to project on other than a white bed sheet. I could have gotten
a good Da-Lite for 300 bucks, but that wasn't an option at the time. I decided to go the old DIY route. I
began reading up on my favorite HT site, AVSForum, and saw a few people were using blackout cloth as a
screen material. The material is cheap, 3 bucks a yard, is easy to work with, and makes a pretty decent
image. Along with some cedar 1x4's for the frame and some black velvet for the masking, I set out to create
my first screen...

I don't have much space in my room, so a fixed screen wasn't an option. Also, with a giant fixed screen, there'd
be no room for a television for daily viewing, so I'd be forced to use the projector for all my viewing. This
also wasn't really an option, due to average light control and high lamp cost.

My solution was to make a screen that would fold up to the ceiling when not in use. This would allow the viewing
of a standard television during the daytime. It also makes my room look more like a bedroom, and not some giant
theater, which is a Good Thing.

The screen measures 92 inches diagonally, with a viewing area that measures about 84 diagonally. It has an aspect
ratio of 16:9. I tried painting it once with some white paint, but the results weren't very good. I applied too
much paint, and it wrinkled. The material is cheap enough, so I might try it again if I ever get bored enough.