How to Make Your Own Projector Screen

A projector screen is a fundamental piece of equipment that is basically made up of a smooth surface, and together with a video projector, it fulfills a function similar to that of a movie theater because the picture is projected onto the screen in front of an audience. Projector screens can be permanent such as those in movie theaters, or semi-permanent like those used in conference rooms.

The average price of a video projector is about $1,000 and people do not like to get into further expenses by purchasing a projector screen for a price that varies between $500 and $1,500. When there are no projector screens, white walls are often used as a screen, but the texture of the wall can cause the picture to lose quality. In such cases, to let the projected image retain its good quality, the best solution is to make your own projector screen.

Where to Find Projector Screen Supplies

You will probably have to visit three different kinds of stores to get your supplies: A camera supply store, a home improvement store and a fabric store. The materials listed above are enough to create a 100-inch diagonal 16:9 screen.

Step 1: Cutting the poplar boards

Take two poplar boards and cut them to 55.25 inches and the remaining two to 93.5 inches. Then cut the edges at 45 degrees with a wood-saw and a 45-degree triangle.

Step 2: Cutting the Black Velveteen

Cut the black velveteen in four 6.5-inch pieces. Use two pieces for the sides of the frame and the other two of the top and bottom of the screen’s frame.

Step 3: Joining the Boards and the Velveteen

Put the velveteen strips on a tile or a linoleum floor and then place the respective pieces of the frame on them. Wrap the boards with the velveteen and staple them so that there will be 2 inches of unwrapped wood left as a gap between the parts of the frame.

Step 4: Trimming the Velveteen

Cut the velveteen neatly to fit the angle at the edges.

Step 5: Joining the Brackets to the Boards

Capsize the wrapped poplar boards into a rectangle and attach an L-bracket to each corner with six flathead wood screws.

Step 6: Laying the Seamless Paper onto the Frame

Take the seamless paper, roll it out and lay it onto the frame. Staple one end of the paper’s 55-inch sides to a corner of the unwrapped wood and then staple it along the frame. Fix a staple every 9 inch and finally cut neatly the seamless paper from the roll and staple it properly into place.

Now that everything is finished, you have a 100 inch diagonal 16:9 projector screen that you are proud enough to say that you made it all by yourself. You can now hang it to the wall, switch on the video projector, turn off the lights and enjoy the movie!