namrfumot

I just scored an LCD projector for my classroom! The problem is I don't have a great screen to project it on. In the past I've been using an overhead prjoector and shooting it on to a LARGE piece of white cardboard. Not great but it does the job when you're only using black and white.

Now when I use the cardboard with the LCD projector the picture looks kinda crappy. I might be able to get the school to buy a big white board - the dry erase kind and use that.

But are there are cheap home solutions I can use to make a big 8'x4' approx screen that is suitable for video?

islandclaws

Are you able to paint one? I hear that's a good method.

namrfumot

The place where it is going is actually a door....I have the big piece of cardboard nailed to eaither side of the door frame...no way to paint

Mrs. Danger

Th0r S1mpson

Contact your local KKK and invite 3 or 4 of them to be guests during the presentation?

Franchot

Check out this site:

http://www.thefind.com/office/info-c...ll-down-screen

Kind of what Mrs. Danger suggested, but these are pull down screens. You might score a cheap find or maybe the school will pony up some money to buy you one.

Spiky

Parkland Plas-tex Polywall. It's a plastic bathroom wall material, available in standard 4x8 sheets for under $20 at many home improvement stores. The rough side is a nearly perfect material for a projector screen. I'm staring at one right now. It is very thin, doesn't hold itself up. I made an aluminum frame for mine, or it could be glued to something firmer than itself.

Sdallnct

You can make your own screen for a $100 or so. Then I'd just add a couple of handle to the outer frame. Likely you would need two people to move...but....

http://www.projectorcentral.com/diy_screen.htm

Troy Stiffler

How big is your cardboard? They make 96" x 48". And if you look around, you could find a good, stark white. I think that I pay around $4 per sheet.

You could also look on eBay for screens. You can get a big screen (around 80", with tripod) for around $120. Or you can get a HUGE screen (material only) for around the same price. But you'd have to have a permenant place to put it. I can imagine it'd be a pain to hang up and take down all of the time.

namrfumot

Troy where did you buy pieces of cardboard that big?

Spiky

No doubt the simplest way is to get a pull down screen, that's why so many board rooms and classrooms already have those. But they are in the 3-digit range. If you really want to keep below that, some compromises need to be made.

You could try cardboard, but it will likely warp without a stronger backing, or just break down at some point, being moved around and whatever. There are some light, strong materials that could help. Hardboard, insulation sheathing in 1.5-2", simple aluminum pieces to make a frame for the cardboard. Paint the cardboard with a custom Behr formula to match the type of projector you have and you'll have a surface rivalling some of the best screens.

There are plenty of ways to put it up DIY.

• Attach it to the ceiling with chains or hinges and let one side swing down when you need to use it.
• Use something thin enough (like the hardboard) that standing it up against a wall out of the way isn't an issue.
• Maybe put something else on the other side that you would normally have in the classroom, just flip it around.

Some people have just been happy with blackout cloth as material. Very inexpensive, find a way to hang it without wrinkles and you are done. Or it could be stretched over a backing like those above.

You could also peruse the whole forum at AVS about DIY screens.

yakuza70

I have a pull down map of California in my classroom and simply flip the map on the hooks that it attaches it to the board so when I pull it down I have a white screen (back of the map) for my overhead projector or LCD projector.

Numanoid

You're in a school, for crying out loud. Don't go DIY and cheapo. Just get a portable screen for around $100 and be a professional.

Kmical

With school budgets these days, I think "DIY and cheapo" is about the only reasonably-priced way to get things for the classroom.

Spiky

Yep, a lot of teachers now have to come up with their own supplies. And/or students (well...parents, of course) will supply paper, pencils, etc. at the beginning of the year.

namrfumot

Thanks guys...I found an old blackboard and painted it!