I was thinking of using posterboards, the white ones, found at a dollar store. We have 3/$1 at our Dollar Tree, and they have this glossy back and a normal paper front. I was thinking that I could buy 9 or so and put them together so the glossy side faces the projection, and thus have a good screen? They're really white. They're not foam-core, just the normal poster papers.

Has anyone tried this before?

I have been using the poster board (bristle board) to make up paint sample cards. So I am familiar with it. I get it from a local drug store also.

I think you will find that the shinny whiter side is too glossy and it is prone to hot spot. However that may not be true with a sub 200 lumen projector.

The other problem I see is that you will probably see the seams. I assume you would put the sheets together on some sort of backing like a sheet of 1/8 hard board. Once you buy the sheet of hardboard you may as well go with a paint. Take a look at your local Home Depot for 1/8" thick hardboard with a white side. It may actually work well with a low lumen projector as is. Or you can paint it. Together the sheet and paint would be less than $30.

You can get photo paper in large sheets. [url=http://www.projectorcentral.com/diy_screen.htm]There is a screen project at projector central that used that material.[url]

By far the most straight forward thing is blockout cloth (BOC). It is a white cloth that has had rubber or vinyl bonded to it. One side is a nice matte white. You can get this at any fabric store as it is used for lining drapes. It is often stretched over a frame but some folks have simply pinned it to the wall.

If you do give the poster board a try, do let us know how it turns out. It may be possible to order it from an art store in larger sheets. It could be rolled up for shipping. So if the color and sheen are good then it will only be the seams that may be a drawback.