Clear Projector Screen Paint

What is Clear Projector Screen Paint?

Clear Projector Screen Paint is a high-performance transparent coating designed to create projection surfaces on normal walls. It is applied over a painted colour, preserving your existing wall colour while adding projection-grade reflective performance. This makes it ideal for any room where you want a large projection screen without a traditional white or grey screen.

How does clear projector paint work?

Transparent projector paint contains reflective particles in a clear base. When applied evenly over a painted surface, it reflects projected light back to the viewer, creating a projectable surface in your chosen base colour. Because the wall retains its colour, you will need a projector with colour mode settings to calibrate the image accurately.

Can I apply Clear Projector Screen Paint over any colour paint?

Yes, except for white. If white is your desired wall colour, we recommend choosing one of our white projector screen paints based on your projector specification. For all other colours, the clear coat can be applied on top.

What is the gain value of Clear Projector Screen Paint?

Clear Projector Screen Paint has a gain of 1.03 at 90°.

What is gain value and why does it matter for projector screens?

Gain refers to the screen's ability to reflect and amplify the brightness of the projected image. It determines how well the screen reflects light and directly impacts both image brightness and viewing angle width. 

The gain value represents the ratio of the screen's reflective power compared to a standard reference surface, usually a matt white screen with a gain of 1.0. A higher gain value means more light is reflected, producing a brighter image. A lower gain value reflects less light, resulting in a dimmer image but a wider viewing angle for larger audiences. 

The ideal gain depends on factors such as ambient light levels, screen size, projector brightness, and audience seating arrangement.

Does a higher gain always mean a better image?

No, a higher gain projector screen doesn't automatically guarantee a better image quality. While it can provide a brighter image from certain angles, it may result in diminished brightness from other perspectives. Higher gain screens typically have a smaller viewing angle.

How do I determine the ideal gain for my projector screen?

The standard gain for a projector screen is 1.0, which ensures equal brightness from all sides and is visible from multiple angles. However, the ideal gain depends on the viewer's preferences and the specific environment. Consider the pros and cons of high and low gain screens to determine the best fit for your needs.

What are the pros and cons of high gain screens?

High gain screens produce clear, bright images in well-lit and dark conditions, reflect minimal light from walls and ceilings, and perform well against ambient lighting. However, they come with a narrower viewing angle, meaning viewers need to sit directly in front of the screen for the best picture. This makes them less suitable for larger audiences, wider seating arrangements, or outdoor viewing.

What are the pros and cons of low gain screens?

Low gain screens offer a wider viewing angle, making them well suited for larger audiences and broader seating arrangements, with light diffused evenly across the screen for a consistent viewing experience. On the downside, they produce a dimmer image, reject some light from the projector, and may lack the contrast needed to display all images clearly. This makes it less effective for outdoor use or brightly lit environments.

Does Transparent Projection Screen Paint work with blended projections?

Yes, Transparent Projection Screen Paint is fully compatible with blended projection setups. Its formulation supports precise colour accuracy, uniform brightness, and consistent light diffusion, all essential for smooth transitions between projected images. It is a practical alternative to physical screens for large-scale installations such as art displays, theatres, and conference environments.

Why are projection paints acoustically transparent?

Smarter Surfaces projection paints do not affect the acoustic properties of the surface they are applied to. Independent testing on a 12mm gypsum board recorded identical Sound Absorption Coefficient (SAC) values for both unpainted and painted boards (α = 0.04 - 0.07), confirming that the paint introduces no change in sound absorption, making it fully acoustically transparent.

Does Transparent Projection Screen Paint work with both 2D and 3D projectors?

Smarter Surfaces’ entire range of paints is compatible with both 2D and 3D projectors, ensuring optimal performance regardless of the projection mode. When projecting a 3D image onto our paint, it delivers the intended effect, creating an immersive viewing experience when paired with 3D glasses.

How is Transparent Projection Screen Paint 'Polarity Preserving'?

3D projectors work by projecting two slightly different polarised images, which viewers separate using 3D glasses (each lens blocking one image so each eye sees a different perspective). If the projection surface alters the polarity of the light, the 3D effect is lost. Transparent Projection Screen Paint is polarity preserving, meaning it reflects light exactly as intended, maintaining the full 3D effect.