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scottap
Joined: 27 Mar 2007 Posts: 177 Location: Palo Alto, CA
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Link Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2007 10:27 pm Post subject: Does It Have To Be Black? |
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I have a small room (12x9) that I'm setting up as a home theater. I know the ideal setup is a black batcave, but the room doubles as a workspace and also a refuge when my wife and daughter insist on watching yet another rerun of "The Gilmore Girls".
I'm afraid all black all the time might be a bit much and wondered how big a difference it is between all black and say something like a reasonably dark shade of blue? Is it more critical that the ceiling be dark than the walls? (The projector will be ceiling mounted.) Are there other solutions people have for reducing reflected light?
Since the house is a rental, I'm trying to limit how much I do to the room that has to be undone later. In the end though, I want it to be effective.
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madpoet
Joined: 30 Mar 2006 Posts: 852
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Link Posted: Wed Apr 04, 2007 12:23 am Post subject: |
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See Kal's theater pics... very nice color!
_________________ 9500LC + MP Mods V2 + HD10F lenses + Frankenyoke V2 = Something nice... I hope I get to actually watch it sometime!
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AnalogRocks Forum Moderator
Joined: 08 Mar 2006 Posts: 26690 Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
TV/Projector: Sony 1252Q, AMPRO 4000G
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scottap
Joined: 27 Mar 2007 Posts: 177 Location: Palo Alto, CA
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Link Posted: Wed Apr 04, 2007 2:49 am Post subject: |
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Do you think though that there would be much difference whether you painted your ceiling dark blue vs. black? Kal's theater does look great, but the first few feet on the ceiling and the side are black. If there a rule of thumb: first x number of feet from the screen should be black? After that is it less critical?
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AnalogRocks Forum Moderator
Joined: 08 Mar 2006 Posts: 26690 Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
TV/Projector: Sony 1252Q, AMPRO 4000G
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Link Posted: Wed Apr 04, 2007 5:00 am Post subject: |
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scottap wrote: |
Do you think though that there would be much difference whether you painted your ceiling dark blue vs. black? Kal's theater does look great, but the first few feet on the ceiling and the side are black. If there a rule of thumb: first x number of feet from the screen should be black? After that is it less critical? |
Yeah Kal put up fabric up for the first few feet. You are on the right track with blue. Blue reflected back on the screen won't tint your picture to bad from what I have read. I'd give you the link but it was AVS and I can't find anything useful with their search engine.
There's no rule of thumb by the way. I would just do what looks good to me. You can do the same. Just keep the light out. Don't forget the led's and displays on your equipment will also wash out your screen.
_________________ Tech support for nothing
CRT.
HD done right!
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Person99
Joined: 09 Mar 2006 Posts: 4901 Location: Flower Mound, TX
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Link Posted: Wed Apr 04, 2007 2:11 pm Post subject: |
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Most of us do the screen wall all black and maybe the ceiling. Generally the other walls are some dark or even medium color. I don't know anyone with a completely black room.
In my case, the walls are a dark maroon.
Dave
_________________ Dave
A train station is where the train stops. A bus station is where the bus stops. On my desk, I have a work station....
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JustGreg
Joined: 07 Mar 2006 Posts: 3098 Location: Kenosha, WI
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Link Posted: Wed Apr 04, 2007 3:58 pm Post subject: |
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Yeah I've been meaning to get some new pics since getting the ceiling done in front of the screen. It's definately black that's for sure. The sheets don't absorb the light as much as say a velvet/felt/velveteen/ultra flat black paint would but I think that's the flame resistant treatment affect.
Nothing from nothing here because I just learned to toddle in this hobby, but if I were renting I'd definately go with more attention to black out curtains (BOC material sold at most fabric stores) to minimize external light sources at the windows.
Black sheets can be made to look pretty damn good on the walls too if you build some inexpensive frame work to staple it to. They're also relatively cheap.
If you make the frame measurements close tolerance you won't even need to use any fastening method to keep it up against the wall. It will basically be wedged between the ceiling and floor and leave no permanent marks or holes to fix when you move. You can also plan in cross braces in the framework to hold pictures and such if the wife insists.
Another alternative:
If you want to please everyone, make the frame, cover one side with black sheets, and the other with BOC, and paint the BOC to whatever color you (wife) decide, and if needed, just reverse the 4'x?' (insert your ceiling height) panels when the theater isn't in use. (Easy to say but against wall furniture changes everything).
I don't have any suggestions for the ceiling in front of the screen. Nothing short of paint is going to give you what you're looking for without leaving holes or adhesive repair areas.
As far as black on the screen wall, I need to make some changes to that and add bias lighting behind the screen. I can't sit for more than an hour or two at a time without leaving the HT to exercise my eyes...I get a bit green around the gills in the sensory deprivation chamber HT I've created.
All my babbling aside, reasonable color choices are key. Burnt orange or sunset orange, maroons, etc are choices I've seen alot of guys use...and a finish that reduces reflections (no ultra glossy obviously).
Greg
_________________ Greg
"Is it ignorance or apathy? Hey, I don't know and I don't care!" --Jimmy Buffett
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AnalogRocks Forum Moderator
Joined: 08 Mar 2006 Posts: 26690 Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
TV/Projector: Sony 1252Q, AMPRO 4000G
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Link Posted: Wed Apr 04, 2007 9:02 pm Post subject: |
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JustGreg wrote: | snipped....
Black sheets can be made to look pretty damn good on the walls too if you build some inexpensive frame work to staple it to. They're also relatively cheap.
If you make the frame measurements close tolerance you won't even need to use any fastening method to keep it up against the wall. It will basically be wedged between the ceiling and floor and leave no permanent marks or holes to fix when you move. You can also plan in cross braces in the framework to hold pictures and such if the wife insists.
Greg |
That's esentialy what I am doing. I am going to stretch fabric over 3 pannels of 2x3's to cover my side wall and I'm going to make 1 pannel for the other wall. When I leave all I'll have to do is take those down and primer the celing back to white.
_________________ Tech support for nothing
CRT.
HD done right!
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draganm
Joined: 08 Mar 2006 Posts: 8990 Location: Colorado
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Link Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2007 1:22 am Post subject: |
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JustGreg wrote: | As far as black on the screen wall, I need to make some changes to that and add bias lighting behind the screen. I can't sit for more than an hour or two at a time without leaving the HT to exercise my eyes...I get a bit green around the gills in the sensory deprivation chamber HT I've created. Greg | LOL well we can argue about whether that's a good or bad thing. It seems in todays world sensory overload is the norm. This might also explain the growing use of meds to put people back on an even keel? I know the last time I walked into a casino in Vegas I felt like someone started a pressure cooker in my head, had about 10 minutes to get out or go off the deep end.
I find my HT to be a great escape and sensory depravation in a good way.It's something I used to get on my bicycle during 4 hour rides back in the bachelor days.
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