Paint a projection screen on your wall.

Who thought staring at the wall would ever be worthwhile? Not us -- until now.

"Fresh Gear" searched everywhere for the best paint to create a projection screen on a wall, and all sources (particularly the folks at AVS Forum) point to Screen Goo.

Manufacturer Goo Systems describes Screen Goo as "specially formatted, highly reflective acrylic coating" designed specifically for video projection. Considering the price of quality projection screens, Screen Goo's cost per square foot makes it an appealing option.

Find the right coat

Goo Systems offers base and topcoat colors ranging from "CRT White" to "Digital Gray." The toughest part of using Screen Goo, which is formulated for particular projector types and viewing environments, is picking the right color for the job. If the end result is too dark, lesser projectors produce a dim image. Too light and the image suffers from distracting hot spots or degraded black levels.

Another challenging aspect of Screen Goo is its application. Roll or spray? Textured or smooth? How thick should each coat be? Regardless, good results depend on spreading Screen Goo evenly and consistently.

Make like Michaelangelo

Goo Systems provided us with a paint kit that included two 1,000-milliliter containers of its Digital Gray base coat as well as two matching containers of topcoat. We prepped a blank wall in TechTV Labs and masked out our screen area. We then applied two base coats and two topcoats using a low-density roller.

Results were great. We now have a rather impressive (and large) 16:9 screen that provides enough room to test two projectors side by side.

The gray-on-gray (base coat/topcoat) combination was a bit on the dark side for most value projectors, but it appeared near perfect for higher-end models. The relatively thick coat we applied produced a lightly textured surface that improved off-axis viewing.

Final thoughts

With patience and a little practice, Screen Goo matches or exceeds the quality of projection-screen materials. Also, Screen Goo is a good value in terms of cost per square foot. If you're looking to transform a wall or other surface into a projection-quality screen, we say Goo it.

Application tips

  • Surface to be used should be clean and free of defects.
  • Prior to applying Screen Goo, practice evenly painting the surface using regular white primer.
  • If needed, Screen Goo can be thinned with clean water.


Company: Goo Systems
Price: 1,000-milliliter Digital Gray base coat: $20; 1,000-milliliter Digital Gray topcoat: $100
Available: Now
Category: Projection screen paint