A screen-door is great for keeping the bugs out but it wouldn’t have the same positive effect when placed between a client and your slideshow.
All digital projectors are susceptible to a pixelated image. It’s also known as “the screen-door effect” or “fixed-pattern noise.” This visual artifact makes the whole screen look like there’s a small rectangular or hexagonal grid of black lines running throughout the image.
Whether it’s an LCD or DLP machine, pixelation is simply a matter of how the unit shoots each dot of information at the screen. The tiny electronics that surround each pixel deep inside the projector are what block the light from shining perfectly evenly.
The first digital projectors (in the 80s) had quite a problem with fixed-pattern noise, but technology has improved, making it much less noticeable. Still, the screen-door effect can be as distracting as letting a fly in. Here are four remedies:
Go DLP: DLP projectors are much less susceptible to the tiny black grid compared to LCD models. While there will be some minor pixelation, it’s not as perceptible as with the LCD counterparts. Luckily, Projector123 only offers DLP projectors.
Choose a higher-resolution projector: Resolution is a matter of how many pixels your projector unleashes on the screen. (You can read more about resolution here.) Higher-resolution projectors (like our 3000 Lumen model), display more pixels at once. More pixels may mean more lines — but it also means that those lines are much smaller.
What if you already have the projector? Try these solutions:
Move viewers away from the screen: The farther your audience is from the screen, the less they’ll be able to see the individual pixels and the lines between them. Afterall, every digital image looks pixelated at a very close distance.
Adjust the focus: A sure-fire way to reduce the screen door artifact is by playing with the focus a bit. This will cause the lenses inside the projector to optically blend pixels together. Start with the projector perfectly focused – so that the screen effect is crisp and visible – then move the focus ring ever so slightly. You want the pixels to blend together without intersecting, which will blur out the black lines in between. Be careful, though, because this ever-so-slight blur can cause eyestrain for viewers over a long period of time.
If you’re considering purchasing an expensive LCD projector for your business, there are a few points to consider first:
Frequency of use.
Storage.
Maintenance.
Portability.
Depreciation.
Cost per use.
First, ascertain how often a projector will get used. Keep in mind this is likely NOT an item that you will use more often just because you have it handy. Consider what kind of events you typically need a projector for — annual meetings, conventions, trade shows, employee training, etc. If you plan to use a projector six times per year or less (approximately once every other month), it does NOT pay to purchase a projector — you would be far better off renting a projector when you need one.
Next, consider where and how you will store the projector. A case or protective cover is essential to protect the machine from dust, and ideally, a projector should be stored in a location where it will not be bumped or otherwise disturbed. However, storing your projector too far out of reach will certainly diminish its likelihood of getting utilized.
Projectors require maintenance, so if you don’t already have a staff member who can handle this task, you’ll want to purchase an extended warranty or a maintenance contract. Remember to include this when calculating your cost-benefit analysis.
Where will you use your projector? If you don’t have a standard conference room (or if you typically go offsite when you use a projector, e.g., at conventions or trade shows) you will need a durable, highly protective carrying case. Remember that this will be bulky and somewhat difficult to transport.
The cost of depreciation is a factor to consider when deciding whether or not to purchase a projector to keep in-house. Check with your accounting department for specifics on how this will affect your bottom line.
Taking all this into consideration, you should be able to calculate the cost per use. If your calculated cost per use for purchase, depreciation, maintenance, storage, and transport is less than $100, it simply makes sense to rent a projector when you need it instead of housing and caring for your own projector.
There’s no need to purchase, store and lug around a company projector if it’s only used a few times a year. Save time, money and incur less risk and responsibility by contacting Projector123.com whenever you need a projector rental. Rates start as low as just $99 — contact us today.
The next time you’re traveling for business reasons, don’t fight the hassles of airport security with an LCD projector — prearrange a projector rental from Projector123.com.
Take a look at how you’ll benefit:
No risk of damage. When you rent an LCD projector from Projector123.com, we’ll ship the rental directly to your final destination, whether it’s a hotel, office building, convention center or private home. And our rentals are shipped in a sleek Platt hardside carrying case that doubles as a highly protective shipping container, so there’s no worries about potential damage during delivery.
Ease of movement. You’ve got enough to think about — don’t bumble through security with a bulky, suspicious looking LCD projector rentals — let Projector123.com ship your rental for you, so you can breeze through security screening and relax while waiting for your flight. When you’ve finished your presentation, simply affix the prepaid FedEx label and drop the package off at any FedEx location or drop box. It’s really that simple!
Affordability. Our projector rentals cost as little as $99 for a short-term rental. You simply can’t beat it!
Reliability. Ordering an LCD projector rental is easy — just visit Projector123.com and with a few clicks of your mouse, your rental will be on its way. We rent the highest quality professional projectors and we always ship a day early — just in case — so you won’t have to worry about anything except your presentation itself. Setup is easy, too and we’ll enclose a quick start setup guide to get you started. If you still have questions, you can call our 24 hour assistance line for immediate expert support.
Streamline your next out-of-state business presentation with an easy, affordable, reliable LCD projector rental from Projector123.com. You’ll be glad you did!
Why let drive-in movie theaters get all the credit for outdoor movie-viewing? Get your pals out of the minivan and on to a picnic blanket by creating your own outdoor movie night right at home. It’s an inexpensive way to avoid the frigid movie theater A/C and enjoy the summer weather.
Find a venue
And by “venue,” we mean your backyard. Making your outdoor movie theater is mainly a factor of space.
If you want a really big screen, remember that you’ll need to move the projector farther back to increase the “throw distance.” Your throw distance can be anywhere from 10 to 30 feet, depending on the projector’s specifications. Also factor in space to sit comfortably.
If you’re using our 2000 Lumen projector, 10 feet will get you a 76” screen, 20 will get you 151” and 30 feet will provide a 226” screen (diagonally). If you’re using our 3000 Lumen projector, 10 feet will get you 62”, 20 feet will get you 124”, 30 feet will get you 185” and — because of the extra light power — the 3000 Lumen projector can sit 39 feet away and fill a 243” screen.
If you can’t fit the show in your backyard (or you don’t have one), remember that you can’t just set up on the roof or in a park. You need access to power — a very important element. Between a projector, player and sound system, you’ll need plenty of it.
The screen
If you’ve got the cash for a projector screen, more power to you. We prefer to take the DIY approach to save a little cash. Affix the right surface to a wall (or just use the wall) and you have an instant screen.
The Wall
There aren’t many outdoor walls that are ideal for projecting against. Textures can cause a lot of distortion, so garage doors and cinderblocks are out. But a smooth white wall — even a slightly grey one — will work excellently.
The Bed Sheet
What’s the one largest white item you own? A bed sheet. Indeed, it’s a frequently utilized item for an impromptu projector screen. That’s because it works.
Make sure you measure in advance. You could need as many as two king-sized sheets sewn together.
The Fabric Store
If you’re going to the trouble of making your own screen at a fabric store, there’s one material that’s perfect. Look for “black-out fabric.” It’s designed for blocking light from coming through dainty window treatments, but its white vynil surface is very similar to an actual projector screen. Some devout DIY-ers make their own home theater screens from this stuff. It’s on the pricey side, but worth it.
Connecting your computer or DVD player is the same outdoors as it is inside — your projector should come with everything you need, including the instructions to walk you through it.
Handling audio in the backyard is a little more difficult. While many projectors (including Projector123′s) have built-in speakers, that won’t cut it in the great outdoors. Instead, you’ll need to run audio from your player to some external speakers. You have two options without calling in an over-priced sound pro:
Computer speakers
Computer speakers are ideal because they have an amplifier built right in. That means your outlet boosts the sound coming from your source (the laptop or DVD player), which makes the sound big enough to reach a small crowd.
IPod speakers will also do the trick.
Your indoor speakers
If you’re entertaining more than 15 people, you’ll probably need a beefier audio set-up and your indoor system will probably do the trick, even if the speakers look small.
Unlike your computer speakers, the ones on your home system don’t work by themselves. They need the help of an external receiver or amplifier. That’s also what makes them more powerful.
Using your indoor system is a much bigger commitment to wiring outside and disassembly inside, but it’ll make all the difference for a large group trying to enjoy an awesome explosion.
Between your speakers, source and the projector itself, you’ll be pulling a lot of power. Have a surge-protector in play as well.
The finishing touches
On the big day, plan on having everything ready before sunset. You’ll need the light to see what you’re plugging in where. And it’ll help you see the final checklist better. (You have a checklist, right?)
As the sun begins to dim, it’s advantageous to make other tweaks. You’ll be able to see how the image looks on the screen. First, make size adjustments, which might mean moving your whole arrangement. And as you loose more light, begin playing with the color, tint and brightness.
Once everything is tested and ready to go, find a nice patch of grass, some popcorn and a date. Enjoy the show — and the first movie theater you’ve ever been to without painful seats, over-priced snacks and those intimacy-hindering arm rests.
Images via Creative Commons 2.0 license courtesy of Flickr users Symic and Jetheriot.
Linus Åkesson, a Swedish designer, wanted to have a chandelier in the same room as his projector — without casting a permanent lighting fixture silhouette on his favorite movies.
Most of us would’ve moved that projector to a different (and maybe less-desirable) movie-watching room or axed the medieval chandelier in exchange for a flat-to-ceiling option at Home Depot. Instead, Åkesson knew that there’s no need to sacrifice tasteful interior design just because you have a projector installed.
His DIY solution is a sliding track that mobilizes the lighting fixture. On movie night, he can easily move the chandelier to the side of the room so that it casts no shadow over Lawrence of Arabia.
Granted — putting your lighting on a moving track is more for a bachelor’s home than Martha Stewart’s, but that doesn’t mean the final product is a jury-rigged mess. The track is made from a narrow white wooden door jam, keeping it clean and easy-on-the-eyes. The anchor for the lighting fixture is made from small parts from a special building kit and tiny 4mm steel rods, keeping it discreet and tight to the ceiling. The power line is coiled like an old telephone cord to keep the cabling organized.
When it comes to projecting the perfect movie, Åkesson chose function over form. Sacrifice neither by renting a projector from Projector123 — instead of struggling with permanent installation.
In this installment, we’ll provide some thoughtful tips for planning a themed holiday party.
Themed Holiday Parties: Fun for All Ages
If you’re planning a party to include folks who don’t know each other particularly well (or you just like to engage people in a party setting), a themed holiday party may be just the ticket. Try these themes on for size:
1 – Holiday Costume Party
No, we’re not talking about dozens of your closest friends all dressed as Santa Claus. Creative costume party themes might include: come dressed as your favorite gift; a “tacky” party where a prize is given for the tackiest attire; come dressed as your favorite holiday food; a pajama party; a red and green party; etc.
2 – Gift Exchange
Instead of hosting a traditional gift exchange where each person brings a gift of a set value and everyone draws names and gifts are assigned accordingly, why not kick it up a notch? Host an ornament exchange, a cookie exchange, a “white elephant” exchange, a liquor exchange, or a handmade item exchange. To make the event even more fun, try a gift swapping game like this one (White Elephant Exchange) or this one (Yankee Swap).
3 – Progressive Dinner
Several couples or families get together to create a progressive dinner. Essentially, it works like this – each family or couple is responsible for one course in the meal. The meal starts at the home responsible for “appetizer” and progresses from house to house for course to course, ending with dessert. Best to skip the alcoholic beverages on this event unless the houses are all within walking distance.
In our last installment, we talked about simple ideas to create a fast, easy holiday gathering at home. In this segment, we’ll look at tips to help you plan a successful party outside of your home.
Party On and Party Out – Planning Holiday Gatherings Outside of the Home
There are many reasons to plan a party outside of the home — easy setup and cleanup, availability of a central location, ability to choose a venue that may be more spacious than a private home, etc. Here are some planning points to consider:
1 – What’s your budget? Are you (or your organization) picking up the tab for the party, or is everyone paying their own way? If it’s the latter, choose a per-person amount that feels reasonable to those who are likely to attend. Be sure to calculate in anyone who won’t be expected to pay (for example, if there is a special guest, speaker, or honoree, the cost of this person’s meal is typically absorbed by the group).
2 – How will you handle the food? You’ve got plenty of options here — including everything from meeting up at a restaurant where everyone orders off a menu and self-pays, to setting up a fixed-price menu with various options for palates and dietary restrictions, to hosting banquet-style to hiring in a caterer with or without a cash bar. Once you’ve got your budget set, you’ll find it much easier to negotiate with venues and make choices based on what the group can afford.
3 – How many people are likely to attend?
The size of your group is often a determining factor in choosing a location for your event. Some restaurant venues have multiple rooms, suitable for different sized groups, while others have a minimum or maximum party size. Start with the guest list, estimate your attendance, and take into consideration your answers to questions #1 and #2.
You’re party is sure to be a hit – have fun and if you’re planning a trip down memory lane, remember to reserve your projector rental from Projector123.com for the best prices and service available for renting a projector anywhere in the U.S.
