Paint your own silver screen

Tikkurila Feelings Interior Paint is a truly versatile paint, as many home theatre builders have discovered to their benefit.

Pekka Punkari, editor-in-chief of Kamera magazine, presents the latest in video projectors. Mounted on the wall like a picture, this flat video projector from LG is quite different from the massive data projectors that used to hang from the ceiling in lecture theatres. This adds a totally new dimension to watching movies at home. “A video projector is equally suitable for films and digital images. Many avid photographers have replaced their traditional slide projector with one of these,” says Punkari.

In both appearance and technical performance, video projectors have advanced tremendously in recent years. Prices have also dropped, making them more affordable for the average consumer. Although Punkari does not yet see them replacing TV sets, he adds that manufacturers expect them to become the next standard household appliance.

“These days, you need only pay a thousand euros for a reasonable video projector, or two thousand for an excellent one. Compared to the prices of high-definition TV sets, that is not such a bad price.” Although the video projector is the most conspicuous link in the viewing technology chain, reflective surface quality is also significant. The size and structure of the screen are important, as are the shape of the room and the amount of ambient light.

“In small homes, ambient light from windows and lamps, and reflections from light-coloured walls tend to reduce image contrast. To some extent, the projector’s luminosity can compensate for this,” explains Punkari.

The grey “silver screen”?

Feelings Interior Paint H499 has been found to be the most suitable for creating a “silver screen”.

Creating your own silver screen has become a very popular pastime among enthusiasts. The reason for this stems from the surprising properties of Tikkurila Feelings Interior Paint H499. This velvety matt light-grey paint has proven to have better reflective surface properties than traditional white tones. “Dark colours are reproduced better if the screen surface is a neutral grey,” adds Punkari. Not only does a wall, MDF panel or other panel painted with Feelings Interior Paint reproduce dark colours better, it also offers greater contrast. This is especially apparent with LCD video projectors. After comparing surfaces treated with Feelings Interior Paint with screens available commercially, Punkari gives the paint top marks. He is particularly critical of “silver stripe screens”, whose stripes actually worsen image quality. Feelings Interior Paint also has price on its side, as commercial screens are relatively expensive. High-quality screens for home use can cost anything from 300 Euros upwards, depending on image size and other equipment-specific requirements.

Punkari does not know exactly how the unique qualities of Feelings Interior Paint were discovered. He has verified it for himself in his own home theatre. A quick survey of Internet chats shows that many other DIY enthusiasts swear by it.

	Just paint your screen right on the wall Measure the required rectangular area on the wall and mark its corners with a pencil. Then mark off the area with masking tape, using a spirit level, long ruler or a straight edge as an aid. Apply a coat of Tikkurila full-matt Feelings Interior Paint H499 with a paint roller. A single coat may suffice if the surface is not very absorbent, and the difference in colour between the paint and the underlying wall is not great. Wait one to two hours before applying a second coat if necessary. Remember to remove the tape before the paint dries for cleaner edges.
	H499

“It really looks like Feelings Interior Paint can knock the pants off screens costing hundreds of Euros,” smiles Punkari.

Unlimited possibilities

Besides the right choice of paint, there are a few basic points for home theatre enthusiasts to remember. It should be possible to black out the room as much as possible. The surrounding surfaces — the other walls and the ceiling — should also be coloured in darker shades than white.
 
Punkari recommends 1.5 times screen image width as a suitable viewing distance. If the image appears pixelated and resembles coloured sugar cubes, then you are sitting too close.

You can also paint the entire wall with Feelings Interior Paint instead of just an outlined screen.

“If you paint the entire wall, then image size is irrelevant. Still, some people feel that an outlined screen makes the home theatre look like a cinema,” says Punkari.

Although contrast is often used as a sales argument for video projectors, experts emphasize the importance of viewing conditions and the reflecting surface above all. The whole family can enjoy a good home theatre, whether for watching films, playing games or viewing photos. Connect a digital tuner to the projector and you can also watch TV.

“It might be better to describe it as a multimedia projector,” concludes Punkari.

Text by Ari Rytsy


Choose an appropriate theme to add to your home theatre. Here, Feelings Interior Paint was used: X444 for the background and V500 for the motif.

For large motifs that you can paint yourself, see: 
Large Patterns

Products

Feelings Interior Paint

Plaster, concrete, brick, building blocks and boards, MDF, wallpaper, etc. Feelings Interior Paint can be used for repainting interior surfaces previously coated with waterborne or alkyd paints. Feelings Interior Paint is also the recommended base coat for Feelings Effect Paint. Coverage: 10-12 m2/l for non-absorbing surfaces 7-9 m²/l for absorbing surfaces The above should be used as a guide, as actual spreading rates will depend upon many factors including texture, porosity and application method. Application method: Brush, roller or spray application. For airless spray use a 0.017” – 0.021” spray tip. Thinning: if necessary thin by up to 10% with water. Thinner: Water Colour Cards: Tikkurila Symphony 2436 Colour Card Product data sheet Material Safety Data Sheet - Feelings Interior Paint