Have questions about Carl’s Place projector screen products or materials? I’ve put together some FAQs below that I hope will help.

If you have a question that I haven’t answered here, please feel free to email me at carl@carlofet.com

Blackout Fabric Care

I’ve received my blackout cloth. Which side of the fabric do I use to project on to?
The two sides of the blackout cloth are both white, but have two different, distinct textures. One side looks and feels like a tightly woven fabric, while the other is smooth and uniform due to the acrylic coating. Most people choose to use the smooth, coated side, as it provides the most uniform texture and color. However, some choose to use the fabric side for its ability to be scrubbed down when used outdoors. The coated side is a bit more fragile, because a hard scrub can slowly scrape away the acrylic coating and expose tiny black spots from the middle coat. It's best to experiment, but the quick answer is to use the smooth side of the blackout cloth.



You say you ship the projector screen material folded in a box. How will I ever get the wrinkles out from shipping?
I ship the material folded because wrinkles are really quite easy to remove and it saves a great deal on shipping costs. As soon as you receive the projector screen, take the material out of the box and unfold it. If you have the space, leave it unfolded until you're ready to use it, or at least unfold it and refold it loosely to store until you're ready. Once you're building your projector screen, remember that the best way to remove wrinkles is by stretching the material. Once you place some tension on the fabric, you should see the folds and wrinkles disappear immediately.



Can I iron the blackout fabric?
Yes, you can iron blackout fabric, but you must do so very carefully. If the iron is too hot, you can melt the acrylic coating. I suggest starting with the lowest setting and turning it up slowly until it works -- be careful!

Is your blackout fabric washable?
The best way to wash blackout fabric is one spot at a time. If you find that a spot has been soiled, a very light rubbing with a wet rag should take care of it.

Shipping

Do you ship outside of the U.S?
I ship anywhere in the world, including APO addresses! You can get an exact quote for shipping in the shopping cart.

I have a party this weekend and I really need a projector screen for it. Can you get one to me by then?
I'll do whatever I can to get you what you need on time, whether it’s raw material for a DIY projector screen or a finished product. Give me a call and I can let you know your options.

When will my projector screen ship?
Most orders ship the next business day after they are received.

Other Questions

Is your projector screen material seamless?
As long as one dimension of the screen is 9' or smaller, there will be no seams. I can provide projector screens that are many times bigger if needed, but seams are required for those.

What is the exact size of the material I'm ordering?
The material I sell is 110" wide, and I sell various lengths of it. If you order 12', you'll get 12' plus about 6-12" extra to make sure you have enough to work with. If you order 5', you'll get 5' plus about 6", etc.

If I build a projector screen for outside, can I leave it out in the rain?
That should be no problem at all -- just make sure it has a chance to dry so that mold and mildew don't have a chance to grow on the fabric.

I have a (insert your brand and model of projector here) projector. How big of a screen can I use?
It really depends most on how well you can control the light for your setup. In a very dark room or in the completely dark outdoors, you should be able to go far beyond what the manufacturer recommends for screen size. If you aren't able to keep things completely dark, you'll want to stay within your manufacturer's recommendations to avoid having a washed-out picture.

Can I get a sample?
Absolutely! Shoot me an e-mail or give me a call with your address and I can send you out a small piece.

Does blackout fabric work for rear projection?
Since it blocks nearly 100% of light from passing through (which helps it work so well for front projection), the material does not work at all for rear projection.

What is the gain for blackout fabric?
I have seen people claim gains from 0.8 to 1.3. I happen to believe that it is very close to 1.0. The material is a matte white projector screen, and the viewing angle is as close to 180 degrees as I have ever seen. You will see no hot spots with blackout cloth!

How stretchy is blackout fabric?
It stretches a little, but not very much. Over 110" you might add 2-3" by stretching.

How do I use your material? How do I build a frame for your material?
Check back soon for a whole page dedicated to projection screen frame construction.