Add a Projector Screen Border for Epic Viewing

When you’ve decided to bring the cinematic experience into your home or office, many elements come into play. From the type of projector to the projector screen, every component matters. One aspect that often gets overlooked is the projector screen border. But why is it so crucial, and how can it enhance your viewing experience?

Projector Screen Border in Home Theater

Whether you’re setting up a home theater or enhancing your meeting room, a projector screen border can make a big difference. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll delve into everything you need to know about a projector screen border, including its purpose, types, and ideas for making it visually appealing. We will also touch upon a trendy alternative for projector screens—projector paint—and how you can create a border around it.

Does a Projector Screen Need a Border?

The short answer is no, you don’t absolutely need a projector screen border. In our office, one entire wall serves as a projector wall without any border thanks to our projection wallpaper. That said, a projector screen border offers significant benefits that enhance your viewing experience. It absorbs any light that spills outside of the screen area, helping you in situations where you can’t perfectly align the projected image. Another benefit is the visual enhancement; the contrast between a white screen and a darker border can make images stand out more clearly. This leads us to the question…

Why Do Projector Screens Have a Black Border?

Technically, projector screen borders can be of any color, but black is often preferred due to the Bartleson-Breneman Effect. This phenomenon affects the perceived contrast among areas of different value within an image when the image is viewed against a light or dark background. Simply put, a black projector screen border improves your eye’s ability to process the image by providing a reference point. This, in turn, enhances the image’s contrast, making it appear brighter and more colorful.

Black Projector Screen Paint with a Natural Black Projector Screen Border

If you’re using a specialized paint like Black Projector Screen Paint, your projector screen border can work in conjunction with the enhanced image contrast feature of this paint. The Black Projector Screen Paint absorbs ambient light, thus improving image contrast even further.

The Aesthetics: More Than Just a Frame

At first glance, a projector screen border may seem purely cosmetic, but it serves a higher purpose. It acts as a frame that accentuates the projected image, focusing your attention where it should be: on the screen. Think of it as the frame around a painting; it brings the entire picture into perspective.

Can You Frame a Projector Screen?

Absolutely, framing a projector screen is not only possible but also a popular choice among home theater enthusiasts. A frame around your projector screen border gives it a finished, professional look, almost like a giant cinematic canvas hanging on your wall.

You can choose from a variety of materials like wood or metals for your frame, depending on the aesthetics of the room. The type of border—be it velvet or plastic—also impacts your decision. Velvet surfaces have near-zero reflectivity, while well-made plastic frames minimize reflection.

How to Make Your Projector Screen Look Good: Projector Screen Border Ideas

When it comes to projector screen border ideas, you’re only limited by your creativity. Projector paint is a fantastic alternative to traditional projector screens. It’s a clean, hole-free solution to create a functional wall. To make your projector wall pop, consider using one of the projector paints in our range, and painting a boarder. If you have a high lumen projector you can apply High Contrast Projector Screen Paint or Black Projector Screen Paint and the boarder will be ready to use with the projector screen.

How to Create a Projector Screen Border

Creating your own projector screen can be a rewarding experience. Not only do you get the exact size and finish you desire, but you also have the option to add a customized projector screen border. Below is a step-by-step guide to help you create a projector screen and a black border, enhancing both the aesthetic appeal and the functionality of your DIY screen.

Step 1: Cleaning
All surfaces to be painted should be clean, dry, and free from loose materials.
Step 2: Mark the Dimensions
Measure the area you wish to paint and mark it using masking tape. The maximum dimensions our projector paints will cover is 109.8” x 61.8”. Want a bigger screen? Just add another tin.

Step 3: Priming
Apply two coats of Smart White Primer

Step 4: Sanding
Lightly sand the surface before each coat of primer to ensure a smooth finish.

Step 5: Drying Time
Allow the primer to fully dry (approx. 2-4 hours at 20°) and ensure the surface is smooth.

Step 6: Stir the Projector Paint
Stir the projector paint thoroughly before use.

Step 7: Application
For best results, apply the paint using a mohair or lint-free short pile roller sleeve.

Step 8: Coating
Apply the number of coats depending on the projector paint you’ve purchased, allowing the previous coat to dry before applying the next coat (approx. 2-4 hours at 20°).

Step 9: Mark the Lines for the Border
Once the projector paint is dry, outline your projector screen border with a pencil. Use tape to mark the area. This will define the size and shape of your projector screen border. If you’ve applied High Contrast Projector Screen Paint or Black Projector Screen Paint, your projector screen border is already painted, just reduce the projection size slightly and it will be framed.

Step 10: Choose Your Shape and Color
While a traditional rectangular projector screen border is the go-to option for most, feel free to get creative. You can opt for unique shapes or even incorporate a color that complements your room décor or brand logo. Opt for a black paint that complements your projector screen. A black projector screen border enhances the Bartleson-Breneman Effect, improving your viewing experience.

Step 11: Mask the Border
Tape off the area for the boarder. You will want it to be at least 2 inches to frame it nicely. More on this below.

Step 12: Paint the Border
Use a small roller or brush to carefully paint within the taped-off area. Make sure to apply the paint evenly. Remove the tape while the paint is still wet to avoid peeling off the dried paint.

Step 13: Final Touches
Once the projector screen border is dry, it’s time to test out your new screen. Turn on your projector, align it properly, and enjoy your newly enhanced viewing experience.

Projector Screen Border and the Bartleson-Breneman Effect

The Bartleson-Breneman Effect Explained

The Bartleson-Breneman Effect describes how our eyes perceive contrast in different lighting conditions. Essentially, a black projector screen border creates a “frame of reference,” enhancing your eye’s ability to process the image. This makes the colors appear more vibrant, the blacks deeper, and the whites brighter. If you’re considering installing a projector screen border, understanding this effect can guide your choice of color and material.

Do You Need a Border?

You don’t necessarily need a border for your projector screen or painted wall. However, a border aids in quickly identifying the projection area and can improve the overall visual quality.

Projector Paint vs. Projector Wallcovering

If you’ve opted for a projector wall rather than a traditional projector screen, you might be wondering what to use: projector paint or projector wallcovering. Each has its merits.

Our Projector Wallcoverings, for instance, offer dual and triple functionality: dry-erase and magnetic as well as a projector screen. Our Projector Paints, on the other hand, are a more specialist option, depending on your requirements.

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Projector Screen Border

Now that you understand the importance and benefits of a projector screen border, what should you look for when choosing one? Here are some factors to consider:

Projector Screen Border: Surface Material

When it comes to choosing a material for your projector screen border, you have two prime options: velvet and black projector paint. Velvet border felt is often hailed as the gold standard for its near-zero reflectivity, adding a touch of elegance while effectively absorbing stray light for an immersive viewing experience, but much harder to install.

Projector Screen Border using velvet

On the other hand, Black Projector Screen Paint is a cost-effective and flexible alternative that also excels in absorbing ambient light, enhancing image contrast and offering the freedom to create custom border shapes. Both materials have their merits, and the best choice depends on your specific needs, aesthetic preferences, and the projector setup you have in mind.

Projector Screen Border: Width and Depth

The width of the projector screen border typically ranges from 0.5 inches to 3.5 inches. A wider border can make your screen pop and provides a safety net for projector alignment. Depth refers to how far the edge juts out from the screen surface. Deeper borders are aesthetically pleasing and increases the effectiveness of the Bartleson-Breneman Effect.

Projector Screen Border: Shape and Style

Whether you go for a squared or beveled edge, your choice will affect not just the aesthetics but also the maintenance of your projector screen border, as beveled edges collect less dust.

Projector Screen Border: Borderless Screens

While aesthetically appealing, borderless projector screens make perfect alignment almost impossible, leading to light bleed around the edges.

Projector Screen Border: Account for Size

Remember, the size of the projector screen border will add to the overall dimensions of the screen. Make sure to account for this extra size when measuring your available wall space.

What Will Your Choice Be?

A projector screen border serves as more than just a frame for your images; it enhances your viewing experience in numerous ways. Whether you opt for a traditional projector screen or explore projector screen border ideas for a wall painted with projector paint, the options are endless.

Projector Screen Border in Home Theater using Black Projector Screen Paint

So, what will your choice be? A black velvet border to leverage the Bartleson-Breneman Effect, or a black paint. Either way, a well-chosen projector screen border can make all the difference in how you experience your movies, presentations, or video games. We hope this comprehensive guide has given you the insights you need to make an informed decision about your projector screen border. Happy viewing.