When most people think about a projector screen, they usually picture a large, retractable wall projection canvas screen or a backdrop screen stand. While it’s true that most of us use backdrops, there is an alternative budget-friendly option. We are talking about the best paint for projector screen and painted wall screens.
In our search for the best paint for projector screen, we studied particular features of each product. For example, we took a look at things like paint type, color, and gain value to help you get the paint that’s right for you. We also considered factors like light reflection and cleaning to make sure you’ll get something easy to maintain.
We’ve spent hours researching the best paint for projector screen. We looked over reviews posted by customers that bought the same products and took into account their comments when we did our testing. We did not forget about comments of experts and product specs to figure out the pros and cons of each item. In the table below, there is a description of each paint for projector screens based on our analysis. You’ll also find detailed reviews of each product. Last, you’ll see a complete buying guide to help you determine the best paint for projector screen that meets your needs.
More features: can be rolled or sprayed, 3D capable, makes up to a 240″ diagonal image, designed for high-end entertainment environments with high ambient light, wide 150-degree viewing angle cone
If your budget is a bit limited and you can’t afford to purchase a projector screen, then painting your wall with Paint On Screen S1 Ultimate Contrast is the best option. When purchasing this product, you won’t have any limitations on where you can paint your screen. You can paint on any flat surface, even if it’s a window, and create your projector screen.
S1 not only lets you make your screen anywhere, but you’ll also get HD quality with your projection. You can make your projection screen as large as you’d like and paint the entire wall. Or, if you prefer, you can save some space and paint a smaller one.
With S1 Ultimate Contrast, you’ll be able to use the painted surface to project whatever you need: films, photos, presentations. And you don’t need to worry about wiring or electrical connections.
Paint on Screen’s product provides a gain of 1.5, so you’ll get a screen that’s brighter than usual, but not overly bright.
There’s a neutral color shift with this paint, and you’ll be able to see media of up to 4k HD resolution. This paint works great on drywalls, and no special preparation is necessary when you apply this paint.
You’ll get reliable, accurate results right on the surface when you use this paint. The viewing angle is also up to 160 degrees so that everybody will see the clarity of the image.
More features: paint 2 coats of 1 product, ready to view in 1 day, excellent for home theaters, churches, classrooms & conference rooms
Digital Image is a manufacturer that specializes in projector screen paint, and this option is one of the most popular projector screen paint options around since it’s such a great all-around product.
Digital Image’s Screen Paint serves many needs and gets the job done with its reliable performance. It’s also one of the few VOC-free projector screen paint products available on the market today.
Since this paint doesn’t feature any VOCs, it’s very safe paint to use. However, even when you use the paint, you need to follow proper safety precautions and use a mask and ventilation when you apply the paint.
Digital Image’s Screen Paint also provides for a large coverage area of about 140 square feet. So, you’ll be able to paint a screen that has about 19’ diagonal. While some other products can give you a projector screen that’s almost three times as large, this paint offers higher gain, and it is 50% brighter than normal white wall paint. Also, you can utilize active 3D projections with this screen paint.
Also, Digital Image’s Screen Paint doesn’t require the use of a primer, so it will save you some time and money when you apply it. This product does have a few drawbacks, however.
Digital Image’s Screen Paint is one of the few projector screen paints on our list that doesn’t have ambient light-reflecting qualities. That means your room will have to be dark when you project films or else you won’t be able to see well.
More features: 3D compatible, ambient light reducing technology, simple mix-and-apply application
Pro Screen HD Projection has 1080 Full HD resolution and a bright display, including in ambient light, because it has 2.0 high gain and ambient light reducing technology. The inexpensive paint is considered among the best options for a home theater screen. It also has ultra-high titanium dioxide that prevents light interference.
The 1-quart projector screen paint has a large coverage of up to 80 square feet that will transform your wall into a large HD screen. It is neutral light gray, which produces vibrant colors, and it is compatible with 3D and Blu-ray. It features a powdered glass additive that produces the right texture for a vivid contrast and amazing colors and creates a smooth top layer. To apply the paint and spread it evenly, use a foam paint roller and remember to use a white primer. Also, wear a mask for additional safety, although the paint has a low quantity of chemical additives and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). Some buyers recommend mixing a small amount of the paint with the powder in a smaller container and then adding the mixture to the powder packet to mix a larger amount.
Digital Image Screen Paint Ultra HD Premium is a top-rated projector screen paint for its brightness and large coverage. However, it is expensive. Pro Screen HD Projection will be ideal if you have a limited budget because it has a high gain that provides great clarity and vibrant colors.
More features: can be rolled or sprayed on any smooth surface with 2 coats, Optiperfect sheen for maximum brightness with no reflection or hot spot, acrylic latex paint, water-based for safe and quick application
Digital Image’s screen paint provides you with an HD solution to give you the best picture possible. With Digital Image’s projector screen paint, you’ll get a high contrast resolution and plenty of room to make your screen.
You can cover a 16 by a 10-foot surface with just one gallon of this paint. Also, this company has an excellent reputation for making beautiful products, so you know you’re getting a high-quality option. Known for their reliable products, Digital Image’s screen paint will give you what you need.
We also like the fact that this paint comes VOC-free, which means it is safer and has less odor compared to ordinary screen paint. It improves screen visibility and has quick application. In addition, you’ll be able to cover a large area with this paint. It comes with a 19-inch diagonal coverage, so you’ll get plenty of use out of this paint.
Not only this paint is very safe to use, but it’s also simple to apply. The projector screen paint works as its primer. So, you’ll save a bit of money with this product since you won’t need to make extra purchases.
Also, you only need to use two coats of this paint to get the job done. That means you’ll get your wall 50% brighter and you’ll be able to start projecting after just one day of work with your paint.
More features: 3D capable, 140-degree viewing cone, can be rolled or sprayed, high-gain superior clarity with 4K ready smooth coating technology. the most versatile product in the Paint On Screen lineup
We love Paint On Screen as a brand because they specialize exclusively in projector screen paint as well as accessories for projectors. So, Paint On Screen knows how to give you what you want when it comes to projectors. That’s because each type of paint they make is matches with a particular situation. The variety of paints offered by Paint On Screen means you’ll get the high performance and reliability with their products.
3D4K paint has the high gain value. Not all projectors generate the excellent light saturation, so that this will be a significant advantage. Also, the distance of the projector from the screen can affect gain. So, this paint allows you to set your projector as far as you want and gives you best quality picture each time you watch a film.
Plus, 3D4K has a vast coverage area, about 170 square feet, to be exact. That’s about 10 square feet larger than its closest competitor, meaning you’ll get plenty of use out of this paint. Moreover, this paint lets you watch video of any format and size from TV, HDTV and DVD to Cinema Wide.
We know that there are many parameters of the paint. That’s why choosing the best paint for a wall projector screen means considering several factors. We want to focus on them so that we can help you to understand what you need. We’ll break down some of them so you can study our research and make your own conclusion.
So, how do you determine the best paint for projector screen? You’ll need to think of a few things about the paint to find the option that’s right for you. You must think about paint type, color, gain value, light reflection, how to clean it, and the number of coats to apply before you make a decision. We’ll cover all of this information below to help you make your decision.
Paint for wall projector screens is either acrylic or latex.
Just about every best projector screen paint option comes with a water-based formula, whether you purchase acrylic or a latex type paint. However, regardless of the names, neither type of paint contains any latex rubber. The real difference between latex and acrylic paint is the concentration of acrylics in the paint mixture. Some brands add vinyl to their water-based acrylic paint, and that’s what makes up latex paint.
Acrylic paint is the best type of paint because it contains no vinyl. Furthermore, acrylic paint usually has chemical components that make it more durable and reliable than latex paint. Acrylic paints aren’t as affected by things like changing temperatures and humidity when compared to latex paints. However, the chemical components found in acrylic paints are quite dangerous for your health if you are not careful with it.
Latex paint, on the other hand, has vinyl in its materials, and usually comes at a less expensive cost than acrylic paint. That’s because vinyl is cheaper to make when compared to acrylic paint. Paint with vinyl can cover a larger area with the paint. You’ll also get paint that’s safer for your health.
When you are determining what color you want for the best projector screen paint, remember that a white screen will reflect more light compared to a silver or grey screen. So, if you have a projector that doesn’t produce much bright light, then you won’t want a darker projector screen.
However, if you do own a bright projector and it can make light over 3000 lumens, then you can pick a white or grey screen depending on how much brightness you want. Remember that image quality on white projector screens is excellent, but they don’t display dark or black parts well.
Grey projector screens, by contrast, do show black objects well and also offer a better contrast ration, but you won’t get as much color brightness as you would with a white screen. So, the selection of color is really up to you and your personal preference.
For example, if you like vibrant color, then you should probably get a white projector paint. If you want to see black objects better, then consider grey.
Gain is another way to describe how reflective your projector screen paint is. You’ll need to think about this because you’ll want to get the best image quality possible when it comes to resolution.
You’ll need to factor in your gain as it applies to your projector. Small projectors don’t tend to emit as much light as more powerful projectors. So, if you have a small projector, you’ll want a high-gain projector screen paint of at least 2.0, so the images look brighter.
On the other hand, larger, more powerful projectors require less gain when used. So, make sure you check out your projector parameters to select the gain value of the paint.
The type of resolution you’ll want for the best wall paint for projector screen will depend on the kind of projector you’re using just as the gain value. If you’ve got a projector that’s limited to 1080p on image quality, then you won’t need a high-end of a projector screen paint for SuperHD quality.
However, since technology is ever-evolving and now we’ve got 6K and 8K options with 4K being more standard, you might want to purchase a projector paint for that. So, buying something a bit better in quality would probably better suit your needs in the long run.
If you want a paint that works in HD, then Paint On Screen Projector Screen Paint 3D4K and Digital Image Screen Paint Ultra HD Premium are both great options for you. However, if you don’t need that great of quality, then Smarter Surfaces might be right for you.
Projector screen paint should not reflect light, but you’ll still discover that some of them do. With that in mind, you’ll want to deal with the ambient lighting in your room as well as check the quality of the screen paint itself.
If you can control the light level in your room and make it darker when you project your films, then you can go grey with your paint. Grey is far less reflective than white, and that means you’ll have a better experience with the picture quality itself.
However, if you don’t have a dark room, you might need a white color paint. That way, there’s enough of light being released from the projector so you can still see the film.
There are different approaches to cleaning the paint, depending on what type of best projector screen paint you purchase. Washable paints should be cleaned with a microfiber cloth with a simple, circular wiping motion. Using plain soap and no cleaning products is usually your best option.
For dry cleaning paint, using a vacuum or a duster and dry wiping the paint is your best bet. This is also true for no cleaning paint, which you need to be very careful not to damage. That’s why it’s recommended that you simply dust or vacuum this type of paint as well to prevent any damage to the paint or the wall itself.
Different types of projector screen paints require a different number of coats. Some require a primer before applying the paint, which can mean it will cost you substantially more.
Nevertheless, many of the best projector screen paint options on our list work well without primer, although not all of them. For some price considerations, note that you want to avoid a paint that requires more than two coats if possible, especially if the primer is also required.
Most good projector screen paints only need two coats, which saves you a lot of money in the process. If a paint requires more than two coats, you’ll be more than doubling the amount of paint you need to buy, and hence the cost as well.
We like Paint On Screen Projector Screen Paint 3D4K because you won’t need to buy primer and only need two coats. While this paint costs a bit more, if you think about it, you’ll save money in the long run with it.
Most projector spray paint options can be rolled or sprayed on. For spraying, you’ll need some experience and the right type of spray equipment. However, if you don’t have the spray equipment, you can simply use a roller and apply your paint, which will also save you some money.
For rolling your paint, you’ll want a good quality 1/4″ or 3/8″ nap roller. After you roll, finish the edges with a small 2″ or 3″ edge roller. Most paints require at least two coats of application, and you should let it dry for about six hours before applying another coat.
Your budget may still dictate how much you can spend on the best projector screen paint. If you are hunting for the reliability and quality, then you’ll be looking to spend over $100 and purchasing something most likely by Paint on Screen. For example, S1 Ultimate Contrast gives you the largest coverage area per gallon and great value for the best picture results.
With more average results and prices, Digital Image Screen Paint High Definition 4K – Ultra White is affordable and cost a bit less. We will suggest this option if you would like to get 4K definition with high gain.
After all, if you need something that costs substantially less, say less than $100, then Smarter Surfaces might be a better option for you. While you might not get the higher quality of the other brands, you’ll still get something that will work well enough for your needs and still fit your budget.
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We like Paint On Screen S1 Ultimate Contrast as our editor’s choice because it’s a high-quality, high-end paint that’s capable of getting your 3D home theatre experience to the next level. You’ll get an excellent screen with high ambient light reflection and a wide 150-degree viewing angle.
For our customer’s choice, we picked Digital Image’s Screen Paint High Definition 4K because it is perfect for any type of room. This screen can be ready for you to use in a single day.
Our budget pick is Pro Screen HD Projection. This is an ideal solution to control the ambient light and has acoustic dampening properties. The paint is VOC free, organic and easy to apply
So depending on what you need, you should be able to select one of our best paint for projector screen options and get great results.
