How to Make Your Own Outdoor Movie Screen
A homemade outdoor movie screen can be made by stretching a white tarp or cloth over a frame made of PVC pipes. Outdoor movie screens can be made from PVC pipe, PVC tarps, or even old bedsheets. A digital projector, an outdoor screen or blank wall, speakers, a DVD or laptop computer with a movie downloaded, and extension cords are needed.
Best Materials for Outdoor Movie Screens
The best materials for screens are outdoor fabric, white paint, a tarp, a bed sheet, or an inflatable screen. If you’re looking for the best fabric, use a white blackout cloth. A tarp can also be used as a projector screen. Inflatable screens use a high pressure air blower.
Larger frames may require a three-phase blower. The blower typically continues operating to keep the screen fully inflated.
Tips for Building DIY Outdoor Movie Screen
Lay the 6 PVC pieces to make sure everything fits using elbows and couplings. Cut them down further until they don’t fit, as the tension will pull the screen tight. Keep adjusting and pulling the material until it fits nice and tight with no wrinkles or creases.
This DIY screen takes less than an hour and costs about $10. Pre-drill frame holes to prevent wood splitting. Deck screws are better since they are designed for whitewood studs. When attaching canvas, have someone keep it tight to ensure a smooth screen. Wash and dry the canvas to prevent wrinkles.
Other Handy Tips for Outdoor Movie Screens
For an outdoor theater look, PVC vinyl offers a crisp image with good color saturation and contrast. This material can be hung on walls or frames and will not sag or tear easily. Spandex is also a good DIY screen material that is easy to hang up and take down.
When deciding screen size, bigger is not always better. You want seating within four times the screen height. So for a 12-foot screen, optimal seating is within 48 feet. Also, consider the projector brightness needed. Over 3,500 lumens is best for outdoor use. The higher the lumens, the brighter the projected image.
Portable outdoor projectors with built-in audio make setup easy. Just point and play. For bigger yards, add portable Bluetooth speakers. Folding tripod screens are another convenient option. Hang them on a wall or use free-standing feet. Inflatable screens have a balanced base, like a bounce house. High-quality electric screens offer motorized remote control.