DIY Projector screen blackout fabric

whitecrook

whitecrook

whitecrook

Soldato
Joined
22 Aug 2005
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Location
Clydebank
Hi all

I've used a bit of white blackout fabric approx 2.5m by 137cm in size to create a screen for my projector.

This works excellently, but I can project a 60" (150+) cm screen height, but the shops don't seem to stock white blackout in any other width than 137cm


So, doe anyone know where I can get a bit of blackout cloth 3mx60" preferably 65" or so, without paying ridiculous 'custom cut to size' prices ?

Even a 90" wide would do I'd just cut it and fold it on my frame.
 
It's because the machines used to make it are mostly 54" wide carriage size. There's a lot of those machines so the cost of the fabric production is relatively low. Wider carriage sizes are available, but only in big jumps - 72" and 90" typically, and those wider sizes are made by a much small number of companies. So unless your screen size fits a standard fabric size then you'll end up with a lot of waste.

The projector screen industry works on much larger carriage sizes. Cheap Chinese screens won't be as low cost per sq yard as 54" wide blackout lining, but I wouldn't mind betting that the price is far more favourable when compared to larger widths cut down to size.

Head on over to AV Forums and have a look at the DIY section to see what others are using.
 
Thanks. It would be OK actually, but I'm going to lose approx another 10cm when I wrap the fabric on the screen, so I'll have an image height of about 130ish cm, down from my current test setup of 137.

I've already shrunk the size down from 124" diagnol to 110" diagonal to fit into the height of 137cm, but this means an even smaller screen. This means a 2.35:1 image is significant;y smaller than before.

I found some white almost 'hard felt' like stuff that was 90cm tall, which may or may not have worked well as a screen, but was pricer than the blackout fabric... anyway I'll check out avforums
 
Got a reply back from them. Apparently they don't recommend is for projection, and the large threads give it a displeasing appearance. I still think my 54" wide blackout is te best bet.


How much do I need to wrap it round? I'm thinking I'm going to lose at least 3 inches each side - so about 48 actual inches of screen height.
 
interesting. Still that's about 95£ more than I paid for my screen material..... I see they also do ready made frames, £383 for a frame my size.... I think I'll stick with my plan so far to make it out of wood and my cloth for less than £50 all in....
 
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