Have you always dreamed of having a home theater, but the setup is more expensive than you could have imagined? Fortunately, you can save a few bucks by using a roller shade projector screen. In this case, getting creative can work! Although roller shades aren’t made for projection, you can turn your roller shades into a decent projector screen by following these recommendations:
Choose the Best Roller Shade for Screen Use
Although you can use a roller shade projector screen, it doesn’t mean that you can just use any type of roller shade. For the best results use a blackout roller shade. Blackout roller shades will capture the projected image in the same capacity you’d get from a professional projector screen. Standard roller shades will let light pass through, resulting in a projected image that is not as clearly reflected on the screen. On the contrary, blackout roller shades will prevent light from seeping through, giving you the highest resolution. If you’re using a roller shade as a window covering and a projector screen, you’ll definitely want to buy blackout roller shades to keep sunlight out of your home theater.
The color of your roller shade projector screen is another important matter to discuss since the wrong color can cause the projected image to blur. To get the best image, use a white or light gray roller shade. Using a white shade will offer a clear image on a neutral background while using a light gray shade will capture deeper contrast.
Select the Right Size and Placement
If you’re going to use a roller shade as a makeshift projector, it’s important that you choose the right size for your roller shade. This is the type of thing that varies from person to person, so take a good look at your home theater to figure out how far you’ll need to place your projector from your projector screen. You can test out the projector on an unfinished screen or use the throw ratio of the projector to make a prediction before installing the shade. Placing your projector either too close or too far from the screen will result in an image that is distorted. You can measure the size of your screen after you’ve found a suitable location for your projector. Remember that the beveled edges will not be part of the screen since it warps the image. When measuring the screen size, you’ll also need to leave enough room for mounting equipment.
Improve Your Roller Shade Projection Effectiveness From the Start
While roller shades aren’t designed to be projectors, there are several things you can do to improve their performance. To begin, you can paint your roller shade projector screen with projector paint to increase its reflectivity. Secondly, you should use the flatter backside of the shade to prevent small surface ridges. Finally, you can remove wrinkles and creases from your roller shades to prevent the image from being distorted. This can be done in two ways. You can either iron the backside with a towel on top to prevent damaging your treatments or you can place a weight on the treatment.
Using a Roller Shade Projector Screen Will Save You Money
There’s no denying that projector screens are expensive. Luckily, you’ll be able to stick to your home theater budget by repurposing existing roller shades or even buying new ones! If your roller shades are of the blackout variety, you’ll be able to watch movies right in front of your window. As long as your makeshift projector screen is large enough to fit the dimensions of the projector image, it is better than using a blanket, curtains, or even a canvas frame.
Home theaters don’t have to cost you thousands of dollars. Cutting corners can work as long as those cuts are not destructive to the overall vision. Repurpose your existing roller shades or buy new ones to make your dream come true!
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