Thread: Good rear projection material?

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I've been experimenting with some different (cheap) rear projection materials...
So far, seems like cheap shower curtain ($3) works best...
See this vid:
YouTube - UltraProjector.com $149 Projector projecting Halloween Effects through window

Anyone know of any better - heard some mylars work well?

why is the image reduced and shaped round?

which shower curtain did you use?
there was alot of talk last year about the walmart "mainstay" brand

Originally Posted by icemanfred

why is the image reduced and shaped round?

which shower curtain did you use?
there was alot of talk last year about the walmart "mainstay" brand

That's the way it looks on one of those Ultraprojectors, they have a round led light source and poor resolution (320x240). You can do the same thing with a cheap opaque art projector and a portable dvd player for less money.

Yep, the Walmart white vinyl shower curtain is the best. Works beautifully. I made a video of mine if you want to see it in action (fast-forward to time stamp 1:40)

YouTube - Halloween 2008 Lead-up

For some reason I couldn't find the listing for it at Walmart but here's a picture of the same type over at Target White Vinyl Shower Curtain Liner : Target Just look for the really cheap one. I think I paid $3 (I needed two for the size of my window so a grand total of $6). I can't imagine the picture being any better.

Originally Posted by HomeyDaClown

That's the way it looks on one of those Ultraprojectors, they have a round led light source and poor resolution (320x240). You can do the same thing with a cheap opaque art projector and a portable dvd player for less money.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but don't Art Projectors only do still images and not video?

I've never used one, but I see them online at DickBlick all the time. Looked like they were just used for tracing still images on large items.

Could you post an example? I would be very interested in a cheap video projector solution.

Originally Posted by jaybo2099

Correct me if I'm wrong, but don't Art Projectors only do still images and not video?

I've never used one, but I see them online at DickBlick all the time. Looked like they were just used for tracing still images on large items.

Could you post an example? I would be very interested in a cheap video projector solution.

That's what they are designed for but if you place them over a small lcd screen they will project video. It's the same concept people have used to create video projectors out of overhead projectors. Just do a search on Youtube for home made video projector. I built two for around $50 each with old gamecube 5 inch screens, pc power supplies, a couple old projection tv lenses and 20 watt leds.

Check this out:
Black scrim looks great, who would of thought?>>
YouTube - Using Black Scrim to Improve Projection Contrast

Ok I know this must be a silly question, but what is black scrim? Do you find that in the fabric section?

Oh wow, that black scrim looks great. I may have to make a screen change. Black scrim is a fabric that looks solid but when you shine light behind it, you can see through the scrim to what is being lit. Any fabric that has these properties can be called a scrim fabric.

Originally Posted by Terra

Oh wow, that black scrim looks great. I may have to make a screen change. Black scrim is a fabric that looks solid but when you shine light behind it, you can see through the scrim to what is being lit. Any fabric that has these properties can be called a scrim fabric.

I'm thinking about trying this when I get home, but could I use that black weed blocker for the scrim material? Similar to the material they use to cover the television in the big scream television illusion.