Black Widow (paint mix)

Black Widow (paint mix) (also Black Widow US and Black Widow EU) is a non-commercial open source project, led by mechman (US) and custard10 (EU),^{[clarification needed]} to create paint mix for DIY (do it yourself) projection screens from easily accessible materials all over US and EU, which could outperform even some expensive commercial projection screens.

A very brief history of DIY painted screens and some of the more popular methods and mindsets:

For years many have tried to make the 'perfect' DIY screen. One that would perform with ambient lighting as well as in a dark and dedicated environment. For years the debate was White vs Gray. White is easy, more forgiving and can be off more and not be as noticeable as a gray screen that isn't a well balanced color. The better balanced a white screen is, the more accurate it will be. Still, even with a white screen, the closer to D65 it is the more accurate it will be. The same goes with gray screens, the closer they are to neutral the better and more accurate they are. But what exactly constitutes a 'neutral'? There are many parameters but the main ones are the color balance (L*ab and xyY values), spectral curve, and color temperature.

One of the biggest problems and debates has been what exactly is gray? This has literally been debated for years and rather than explain it all over again the best thing is to refer to the neutral gray thread.

The most popular way to improve simple neutral gray up until now has been by the use of mica (pearlescent) and poly coatings. The problem is mica by nature causes a color shift. So, how to improve on a well balanced neutral gray, without introducing color shifting that mica's and interference pigments are known to cause? By using non-interference pigments instead...

It was found that by adding aluminum based paint (which is a water based paint comprised primarily of aluminum and no other colorants) a gray was created. It has been used over the years as a 'silver' substitute, and has even been used for making mirrors. It is very bright and reflective. Aluminum is a very bright and universal element. That and the fact, that it is a non-interference substance, gave astounding results and benefits:

Better Blacks
Bolder Colors
Whiter Whites
Excellent performance with both ambient light and lights out dedicated setups
A brighter and more vibrant image without the color shifting problems caused by iridescence
Sharper image quality and shadow detail

Black Widow US

Black Widow US is a projection screen paint mix version for US. The formula is

1 quart (946ml) of “Valspar Ultra Premium Super Flat Finish” tinted (PPG Pittsburgh Paints color code: 427-2 Bermuda Beige) paint from Valspar.
8 oz (227ml) of “Auto-Air Aluminium Base Fine” (code: 4101) paint from Createx Auto Air Colors.

Black Widow EU

Black Widow EU is a projection screen paint mix version for EU. The formula is

4 parts (960ml) of “Johnstone's Covaplus Vinyl Matt Finish” tinted (NCS color code: S 0907 Y70R) paint from Johnstone's or Leyland Trade.
1 part (240ml) of “Auto-Air Aluminium Base Fine” (code: 4101) paint from Createx Auto Air Colors.

Black Widow AU

(960ml) of “DULUX Wash & Wear Flat” tinted (PPG Taubmans color code: 427-2 Bermuda Beige) paint from Mitre 10 or Bunnings.
(240ml) of “Auto-Air Aluminium Base Fine” (code: 4101) paint from Createx Auto Air Colors.

Recommended painting techniques and safety

Spray with HVLP (High Volume Low Pressure) paint spray gun. If paint is too thick - dilute it with water up to 20%. Use appropriate protection.
Use a good quality low-nap roller. Avoid foam rollers as they have the tendency to cause bubbles which leave bright spots on the screen surface.

References

External links