CurtPalme.com Home Theater Forum

draganm · Joined: 08 Mar 2006 Posts: 8990 Location: Colorado

I was flipping through some of the pics and was surprised at the number of installs with Glraing White ceilings. This pretty much kills the ability of a CRT, or any other projector, to deliver anywhere near it's full potential in contrast ratio. so I was wondering, how many people here are settling with a washed out pic from their white ceiling?

Nashou66 · Joined: 12 Jan 2007 Posts: 16171 Location: West Seneca NY

Black Ceiling right from the start!!!!

Nashou

MikeEby · Joined: 24 Jun 2007 Posts: 5237 Location: Osceola, Indiana

I have a dark gray ceiling not optimum but better then white. Cliff goes as far as to place a black piece of velvet on the floor in front of the screen, it does indeed make a huge difference.

I'm due for a theater revamping soon mine's been in place for 8 years. Thinking about the cool looking star treatment like SanmanX did.

A local high end HT dealer has a room with that type of ceiling and it is really neat with the stars off its black and could probably pass the WAF. I would NOT do the light colored soffits it ruins the whole effect.

http://www.allegroforlife.com/

Mike

**kal** · Posted: Sat Apr 04, 2009 3:03 am Post subject:

You don't have to do the whole ceiling to reap the benefits - do the first 10 feet or so, or the area between the screen and projector and you're good.

I've only done about half that in flat black, the rest is dark chocolate brown (the picture below make it seem brighter than it is).

Kal

draganm · Joined: 08 Mar 2006 Posts: 8990 Location: Colorado

dammit, every time Kal posts pics of his HT I feel like ripping mine out and starting over from scratch.
2 people so far voted , "yes,so what, it's fine". I think some of you guys need to get out more and visit other peoples theaters. It's a little scary at first but after the first beer everyone is getting along just fine. Wink

Mr. Green · Posted: Sat Apr 04, 2009 3:47 am Post subject:

Clarence · Posted: Sat Apr 04, 2009 4:18 am Post subject:

Clarence · Posted: Sat Apr 04, 2009 4:19 am Post subject:

P.S. My ceiling is charcoal gray with RL Suede texture. Love it.

Nashou66 · Joined: 12 Jan 2007 Posts: 16171 Location: West Seneca NY

Mr. Green · Posted: Sat Apr 04, 2009 5:12 am Post subject:

NewbieDAN · Posted: Sat Apr 04, 2009 6:54 am Post subject:

Flat black

csamos · Joined: 10 Jul 2008 Posts: 59 Location: Austin, TX

The entire ceiling and front wall are both flat black, and there are black acoustic panels on the ceiling and walls.

Here's a shot of the ceiling in front of the projector:

Here's a view towards the screen:

I also recently covered the glass doors of the component cabinet with black felt, and now when a scene goes black, the theater goes black. It's awesome. Smile

-Carl
http://www.samos.org/Theater/

Zubinell · Joined: 10 Feb 2009 Posts: 39

Mr Green Writes
"Cute, I'm not painting my living room ceiling, not everyone has a theatre or usable basement."

The popular notion of painting a ceiling white is due to the use of table lamps, chandeliers and the like for room lighting. The concept was founded when we lit our home with candles. If the ceiling is white the light reflects and illuminates better. Since it is impossible to marry table lights and front projection, you need to use recessed down lighting in the room. When using down lighting the color of the ceiling is meaningless to everything but the projector. I find that a grey ceiling works excellently for reducing projector reflection and makes a very livable room. I can watch the projector with the recessed lights dimmed and enjoy perfect safe vision in the room. Our theater is in the family room and fully dark is not the best things when the kids are traveling through.

I say try it and not only will you like it, you will absolutely love it.

Clarence · Posted: Sat Apr 04, 2009 2:50 pm Post subject:

Spanky Ham · Joined: 22 Mar 2006 Posts: 5643 Location: Comedy Central

WanMan · Joined: 19 Mar 2006 Posts: 10270

For those that think a white ceiling is acceptable and that the end result in PQ looks acceptable then why not just go digital?

Kiev Savoie · Joined: 25 Oct 2007 Posts: 432

I have been debating this issue myself. I was thinking about going with some curtains and black felt or velvet-like panels to fill in the space around the screen and maybe put a strip of panels about a meter or so wide on the ceiling. My setup will be rear projection with a 3.5 gain screen though, my point being that most of the light is directed in a fairly narrow cone toward the couch. The dynamics are so different from front projection I'm not sure if it will matter as much.

bbfarmht · Posted: Sat Apr 04, 2009 5:13 pm Post subject:

draganm · Joined: 08 Mar 2006 Posts: 8990 Location: Colorado

**AnalogRocks** · Posted: Sat Apr 04, 2009 6:38 pm Post subject:

Painted mine flat black.

Now if I could just get around to painting the rest of the living room.

Just having the celing black makes a huge difference. I can fall asleep much easier in there now. Very Happy