Laser TVs have been heavily advertised in recent years, but it’s important to clarify that a laser TV is essentially a projector. Simply buying a laser TV or projector is not enough to watch video – you need a suitable surface to display the image, and not just a screen, but a special screen.
Contrary to advertising, buying a projector and expecting to watch a bright, large-scale video with a diagonal size of 90-120 inches is unrealistic without taking into account additional factors. In addition to the cost of the projector, you will have to invest in a quality screen and arrange a suitable room for optimal viewing.
Why do I need a screen for a projector?
Projectors, including laser TVs, usually produce images with relatively low brightness. To achieve a clear and bright image, the surface on which the video is projected must have special reflective properties, simply put, it must reflect as much light as possible.
Can I use an ordinary wall instead of a screen?
Watching a video on an ordinary wall is not the best solution. Ordinary walls do not have the necessary reflectivity, resulting in dull and blurry images. Below is an example of what projection looks like on a regular wall – it’s far from ideal and degrades the viewing experience.
If you prefer to use a wall rather than buying a special screen, you can use specialized screen paints. These paints have reflective properties and create a more suitable surface for projection. For a 100-inch viewing area, the cost of such paint is around $100. However, for optimal results, the wall must be carefully prepared – leveled and cleaned of imperfections.
Screen paints come in different types, suitable for resolutions such as Full HD and 4K. The difference lies in the size of the reflective particles in the paint. Applying the paint evenly is also important to get the right surface.
Pre-painted projector screens
An alternative to painting a screen is to purchase a ready-made projector screen. These screens are specifically designed to improve image reflection and are available in a variety of styles including wall-mounted, ceiling-mounted, freestanding, and motorized versions. While the base price of the screen is usually affordable, the cost can increase when additional features such as motorized mechanisms or mounting systems are added.
Difficulties when viewing video from projectors
When using a projector or laser TV, the image is reflected off the screen, so ambient light is a critical factor in image quality. As in a movie theater, a darkened room is ideal for viewing. At home, reducing ambient light by pulling the curtains or using blackout curtains can greatly improve video quality.
Well, and in conclusion we can talk about some nuances, namely: when creating an image laser TV creates three color beams, in the desired spectrum, but because of this feature, the color flow is obtained in a very narrow spectrum, red, blue and green. This color flow is not quite familiar to humans, so some people may get tired faster when watching video from laser TV.
