How to Mix a Projector Screen Paint? DIY Screen Paint Formula for Beginners

Are you tired of hot spots on your projector screen? Do you dread the stress of setting up your projector screen? Projector screen paint may be the solution to your problem. 

You can apply this paint on any smooth solid surface and use it as your projection background.

Painted walls or canvas are an easy alternative to projector screens. They are inexpensive, and they have other considerable advantages.

Various high-quality screen paints are available in the market. With these, you can make a DIY screen with excellent reflective capacity.  

If you’re looking to paint your projector screen on a wall or board, this article will teach you a great DIY formula and how to mix it.  

What Kind of Paint Do You Use For a Projector Screen?

There are a couple of features to consider when choosing paint for your wall. The most important one is reflective capacity. 

Projection involves casting light beams into a surface. The image quality depends on how reflective that surface is. 

No matter the color, regular paint would reflect dull images. You need a specific type or mix of paint to create a good projector screen. 

The options available to you are:

• Glossy paints
• Matte paints
• Acrylic paints
• Satin paints
• Special screen paints

1. Glossy paints 

These often reflect too much light and do not make for an enjoyable viewing experience. Too much light reflection is bad for the eyes.

It diminishes the picture quality and leaves the viewer squinting for a long time. This can cause fatigue and stress to the eyes. 

2. Matte paints

Matte paints are a good option. They possess a fine finish — free of the bad glare that comes with glossy paints.

However, they don’t have sufficient reflective capacity. Images projected on matte paint screens do not have ideal quality and clarity. 

3. Acrylic paint

This type of paint is water-based, durable, and very affordable. It is also very easy to apply and it dries fast. 

A gallon of acrylic paint covers more screen area than most of the other types of paint. It is also known to display vibrant images.

4. Satin paints 

We recommend these as one of the best paints for projector screens. They are affordable, and they possess reflective quality in just the right amount. 

They do not diminish picture quality or cause eye strain. Also, they do not produce glares from the strong projector light beams.

5. Special screen paints

In the market, there are many screen paints formulated specifically for projector screens. These paints have properties that ensure quality image production.

They are easy to find and are guaranteed to match your home theater setup. An example is the Digital Image Screen Paint .

What is the Best Color for a Projector Screen

Much like in regular projector screens, light and dark color paints each have their benefits. 

The best color for you depends on the lighting of your projection area. Some of the best options include:

1. White color

This is the most common projector screen color. It has the least amount of reflective properties and almost non-existent hot spots. 

White-colored screens are best for rooms with low ambient light. They display images with rich and accurate colors, but they display weak blacks. 

2. Grey Color

Grey is the best pick for rooms with some external lighting. On a grey screen, ambient light from windows has little effect on projection quality.

Grey screens darken projection colors to maintain image clarity. They have to be used with bright projectors to prevent light colors from appearing darker on the screen too. 

3. Black Color

Black is a very dark color and it’s not a popular choice for projector screens. Due to its darkness, it tends to absorb ambient light excessively. 

The displayed images may be too bright with high contrast and increased hot-spotting. This color is best used in areas with low external lighting. 

4. Silver Color 

Silver is the best color for projector screens. Silver screens are a higher and more cinematic version of grey screens. 

Silver-colored screens display dark and vivid images in brightly lit spaces like auditoriums and meeting rooms.  

There are some color formulae tailored for specific projectors and room conditions. Like special screen paints, they come highly recommended. 

The silver screen mixture is one of the most common. It gives you the best viewing experience in a dark room.

Due to its high capacity for ambient light rejection, it is also one of the good screens for daytime viewing. 

Steps in Mixing a Projector Screen Paint

Do you want to paint your silver projector screen? Below is an excellent formula and a detailed process for getting the perfect mix. 

Setting Up

Before you start, set aside some materials that will be used during the mixing process. These materials include:

1. The paint

This varies depending on the formulae and comes with instructions specific to its different paint combinations.

In this mix, we will be using the following paints and measurements:

• ½  gallon of silver screen paint 
• ¼  gallon of matte black paint
• 8 ounces dark pewter paint

2. A bucket or painting tray

This is for pouring in the paints you intend to mix. Painting trays make it easy to transfer your paint mixture to the wall afterward with a roller. 

3. Turning stick or industrial mixer

This is for turning the paint until it blends into a perfect mix. If you have a wooden stick, make sure it is smooth to avoid leaving wood particles in your mix. 

4. Measuring cup 

This is for scooping out the correct measurements of paint required for the mix. 

5. Polythene 

The polythene is to be spread on the floor, underneath the paint gallons and other materials. It will prevent paint spills from staining the carpet or floor tiles during the mixing process. 

Note: A standard gallon of paint measures 3.79 liters.

Mixing Your Paint

Step 1: Spread the polythene over your tile floor or carpets.

Step 2: Keep the room well ventilated during and after the mixing process. The paints are eco-friendly, but they also come with a really bad odor which can cause people discomfort. 

Step 3: With your measuring cup, measure out a half-gallon of silver screen paint. Pour it into your bucket. 

Step 4: Measure out another ¼ liter of matte black paint into the bucket. 

Step 5: Measure out 8 ounces of dark pewter and pour it into the bucket.

Step 6: Use the turning stick to turn the mix. Keep turning until all three paints are blended perfectly into your desired mixture. 

Step 7: Shut the paint containers tightly after each use, so that you can use the remaining paint another time.

NB: You can get any of the paints on our list at any home depot close to you. 

If you are buying online we recommend choosing the pickup option to avoid any mix-up with your paint selection. 

Tips:

• Make sure your measurements are accurate so that you achieve your intended result. 
• If you have one, use an industrial mixer instead of a turning stick. It will help you get a perfect blend. 
• Make sure all your materials are clean. If any external particles get into the mix, it will cause problems with the painting. 
• Remove each paint from your workspace after using it. Keep them at a distance to avoid knocking them over and spilling their contents. 

Advantages of Projector Paints

Unlike regular projector screens, you cannot just buy screen paint and begin to project onto it. A good amount of effort goes into painting a screen.

If you’re wondering what the benefits are, below is a list of what you stand to gain:

• Projector screen paint creates a permanent projector screen. It saves you the stress of setting up the screen every time you want to use a projector.
• Wall projector screens do not necessarily need storage space. This helps you avoid the clutter that comes with projector screens.
• Regular projector screens come in allocated sizes and aspect ratios. However, painted screens can be customized to fit any shape, space, and aspect ratio.
• You can paint your screen to fit into the decor of the projection room. This is especially true for grey and silver screens because they match any color scheme. 
• Painted screens work with all types of projectors, whether standard, 4K, 3D, or interactive projectors. 

Conclusion

Projector paints are a cost-effective way to get a great viewing experience. They allow you to make a screen anywhere and on a moderate budget. 

With high-quality projector paint and an accurate mixture, you can paint a screen that competes with high-end projector screens.

The only downside to painted screens is that they are fixed. If you’re looking for something portable, check out the 15 types of projector screens and make a choice.