Paint-On Video Screen

The specially formulated coating from Goo Systems can be applied with a paint roller to any flat surface and can present larger-than-life images from any type of video projector. Electronic design and installation by Fast Track of Seattle, WA. Photo by Tom Henscheid.

What's one of the most afforable ways to get a big screen in a media room? Try a little goo.

Everyone dreams of one day owning a big-screen TV. But it can take thousands of dollars and a lot of blood, sweat and tears to bring one into your family room. Thanks to the innovative folks at Canada-based Goo Systems, all you need is a paint roller, a free weekend and $199 to add a 130-inch screen to your house.

Screen Goo is a specially formulated, color-corrected screen coating that can be applied to any flat, smooth surface. But unlike typical wall paint, Screen Goo is designed to reflect and disperse colored light patterns produced by video projectors, transforming the wall into a high-performance projection screen.

Because video projectors differ in contrast, brightness and other qualities, several different shades of Screen Goo are available. Visual Reality, the U.S. distributor of Screen Goo, offers an online calculator to help you decide exactly which coating to go with, depending on the performance of the projector and the characteristics of the room.

Because Screen Goo is less expensive than a typical stand-alone video screen, you can budget more money for your projector, and because you can do it yourself, you won’t have to pay for labor. Maybe it is okay to dream big.