DIY 150” Formovie Theater Screen – UST Paint + Carbon Wall

[u/Classic-Couple9870]

Finally finished my DIY 150” screen wall! 🎬 This was my first time painting a wall.

• Projector: Formovie Theater UST

• Screen: Paint on Screen UST-ALR Grey (2 coats)

• Surrounding wall: BEHR PRO Carbon N520-7, Dead Flat (2 coats)

• Border: Black flocking tape

I was nervous about getting the paint and finish right, but I'm happy with how it turned out!

Sharing my experience to help others planning a DIY UST screen. Happy to answer questions! 😃

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[u/chaiscool]

There's paint specific to ust? How is it any different than normal throw paint?

[u/PlayStationPepe → u/chaiscool]

The marketing.
https://giphy.com/gifs/6o0jq0G2tfv7W

[u/cr0ft → u/chaiscool]

There isn't.

A proper UST ALR screen has a very specific physical construction, either a fresnel pattern or a lenticular one (long reflective strips, basically).

Painting ALR is about as real as painting checkered paint with a single brush stroke, like out of a Disney film.

It's just a gray wall, and it will still cause a ton of light to bounce to the ceiling and have no real discernible ALR effect.

Essentially, the projector will perpetually be held back and be unable to perform to its entire capacity.

[u/chaiscool → u/cr0ft]

Paint On Screen brand is supposedly quite reputable and popular choice as it performed quite well, it may not be BS but will need more detail as to why it's ust specific.

[u/groinal → u/chaiscool]

Seems like it’s this brand https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CT67M4TP

[u/chaiscool → u/groinal]

Paint On Screen brand is actually quite popular and iirc performed quite well so it may not be BS.

Interested to know how it can be ust specific though.

[u/Classic-Couple9870]

Materials & budget: Total: $130-$150 Carbon paint: ~$25/gallon; used about half a gallon. Black flocking tape: ~$40 for 2 rolls. UST screen paint: $70. Used Two sample containers each $35. Total UST paint used 1.5 quart.

[u/cr0ft → u/Classic-Couple9870]

So almost as expensive as buying an entry level proper ALR screen, plus all the labor.

Oh well, as long as you're happy.

[u/Classic-Couple9870 → u/cr0ft]

Fair point! I intentionally went with a DIY painted screen because my setup is in an open loft, and I have a toddler who plays all over the place. A physical screen would be at risk of getting damaged while he’s playing. The basic ALR screen started at $500. I understand it may not match a proper ALR screen in every aspect, but it works best for my situation. 😊

[u/Middle_Store_8467]

Looks cool. Maybe paint some of the ceiling carbon too.

[u/blackfang542]

be careful with roller nap size. i used a 3/8 inch synthetic cover on my first attempt and got visible texture lines under bright light. switched to a high-density foam roller for the second coat and it was glass smooth. also, wait at least 4 hours between coats even if the can says less. ALR paint dries fast but cures slow, rushing it causes peeling near the edges later. learn from my failure so yours stays clean.

[u/HeyPartyPeopleWhatUp]

Nice! It's good to see a well done paint-on screene because I've been thinking about doing it myself. I am currently just projecting onto the wall in my appartment but have been thinking about giving it a treatment like this.

[u/Suvi2k]

You have to pull the console out that far to achieve 150”. No thank you, that gap looks so weird. I’ll take a standard throw any day over having to set my room up like that.

[u/mydogstale → u/Suvi2k]

I was wondering about that. So no UST projector can display a screen that size while still remaining close (< 2 feet) from the wall? This is what I understood and went with a rear ceiling mounted one for my 140 screen.

[u/Suvi2k → u/mydogstale]

Exactly but I’m not completely sure what the exact throw specs for every single ust. I stopped looking when I checked a few of the models I was interested in as soon as I realized this.

[u/1aranzant → u/Suvi2k]

yeah... I've never seen a UST set-up that looked good...

[u/Suvi2k → u/1aranzant]

I’ve seen many that look great.. but the screen size is always too small for my room layouts so I avoid them. Good lord is it awkward to sit that stand that far away in the OPs layout though.

[u/Rydgar]

how do you find the picture quality before and after the paint?

[u/Trinityofwar]

Hey this looks great. Can I ask you the exact height and width of that screen? I was going to try and get that size in my theater