You absolutely can watch a projector without a screen. It’s not something that I recommend but it can be done.
When people buy their first projector and they don’t buy a screen, then the next thing available to display the images on is a wall.
However, it’s not something that I recommend. Thus, I want to discuss why I absolutely recommend projection screens and why I don’t like using my walls for watching my favourite content.
I know that projector screens can be a bit pricey but they’re absolutely worth it. Even if you buy a cheap projection screen that matches your projector’s aspect ratio, it can make such a huge difference.
If I project on a wall and then I pull my screen down and project the same images, the difference is staggering. There’s really no comparison from my point of view.
Will a projector work on a wall?
Yes, a projector can work on a plain wall. Images will be shown and everything will work perfectly.
However, a question remains: how bright are the colours displayed on a wall?
The answer is that they’re not that bright. Especially if you’re using the projector on a white wall. Things can be improved if you’re displaying on a grey wall.
On a white wall, colours are washed out. If you have a Full HD projectors with a high lumens volume, a very high brightness, and you’re viewing in a completely dark room, then you can get a decent experience, with colors that are not completely washed out.
However, once you buy a projector screen, you’ll notice how much you were missing out on by using a projector on a wall.
Can we use projector screen paint on our walls?
If you weren’t aware, projector screen paint is a real thing that you can use to transform a plain wall into a wall that you can project on.
This special paint works on the same principle as a projection screen: it coats our walls into a reflective anti-glare sheen.
Still, given that this special paint is not exactly cheap and considering that we’ll have to do a bit of work to paint an entire wall with this paint (two coats might be needed), you can see why I don’t love the idea of using this kind of paint on my walls.
Nevertheless, if you enjoy these kinds of activities, this might be your next project to experiment with.
The really nice thing that I appreciate about projector screen paints is that they’re awesome for those who don’t want to mount a projection screen on their walls.
The other alternative to installing a wall/ceiling mount is buying a portable projector that is foldable and comes with a stand.
Projector screen paint also supports 4K resolution, which is totally awesome. It’s also washable and repairable.
Plus, if you paint your walls with this special paint for projectors, then you can choose the size of the screen you want to make. You don’t have to paint the entire wall.
You can paint a 40-inch square if you have a projector with a lower resolution (480p, 600p) or you can paint an 80, 100 or 120-inch square if your projector has Full HD native resolution.
Why are projector screens the best?
A projector screen is essential if you want to use your projector at its full potential. I absolutely recommend choosing to buy a projector screen over projecting on a wall.
Why do projector screens allow projectors to be used at their full potential?
Because projection screens have a reflective surface that reflects light. This is the thing that allows them to project bright pictures, according to the ANSI lumens that the projector light source possesses.
The light is reflected and the brightness of a projector displays those vibrant, vivid colors that we all want to see. It also allows the contrast ratio to do its thing at its full potential.
Moreover, if you don’t want to install a wall/ceiling mount projection screen, then you can choose to buy a portable projector screen with a stand that can be folded and stored in a small space when you don’t use it.
Portable projector screens are also the best choice if you’re projecting outdoors or you’re taking your projector camping.
Of course, there are plenty of people who buy a projector for the outdoors and then project it on the wall of the house, just like we would do indoors.
Plus, if you look at pictures of projectors for camping, you might see pictures of projectors playing content directly on tents.
Can we basically use a projector on any flat surface available? In theory we can. In practice, I recommend using projector screen paint if you want to project on walls or buying whatever type of projection screen works for you.
