Digital projectors aren’t just for passive viewing. They can provide an engaging artistic opportunity, especially for those who aren’t as gifted at painting and drawing. That’s because projectors let you cheat! You can easily trace an image from a projected one — and make it larger than life in the process.
Many artists use what’s called an “opaque projector” which is designed precisely for this task. But if you already have access to a digital projector, there’s no need to invest in the costly art hardware. A digital projector will work just as well.
The setup is simple. Pull up your image on the projector, hit the lights, affix your canvas to the wall, adjust for size and trace away. Be sure that your projector is on a stable surface — even the slightest nudge of the projector could cause your work to look like Picasso’s. Take the same care in making sure the projection is flat to the wall and square. You don’t want distortion.
Image via Creative Commons 2.0 license courtesy of Flickr user FeatheredTar.
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.
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.
Let’s face it — bridal showers can either be fun and enjoyable or boring and dull.
If you’ve got a close friend who’s getting married and you’ve taken on the task of planning her bridal shower, here is an easy instructional guide to get you started on those first hard-to-tackle steps.
Focus on the bride. Too many bridal showers fail because the planner is coming from the perspective of what SHE likes, instead of thinking of the bride herself. Business and leadership expert Stephen Covey says “Begin with the end in mind” but this can definitely apply to party planning too! Put yourself in the bride’s shoes for just a moment and imagine being totally happy at the END of the shower. What was it about the shower that made it so successful?
Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Depending on the size of the wedding, a bridal shower can be a huge undertaking, so don’t be afraid to ask another friend of the bride (or another bridesmaid or family member) for help. A few caveats: make sure it’s someone who knows the bride well AND whom you can work with (for example, the bride’s domineering aunt may not be the best choice), and talk up-front about how you envision sharing the expense, to ensure there aren’t any unpleasant surprises down the road.
Set a budget — and stick to it. Do your research and don’t go overboard. Choose 1 or 2 special areas to splurge on (flowers, favors, food, location, decoration, invitations, etc.), and keep the rest simple. Remember, you don’t have to spend a fortune to create a wonderful event for the bride and her friends & family.
Decide whether or not to make it a surprise. Remember: what would SHE like best? If it’s not going to be a surprise, be sure and choose a date that works well for the bride.
Choose a date and select a venue. These may go hand-in-hand, depending on the popularity of the venue you choose or the host’s availability if you have an in-home shower.
Once you’ve made it through these steps, the event will really start to come together. And if you’re planning to showcase the bride in a photo or video montage (highly recommended!) then remember to reserve your bridal shower projector rental from Projector123.com.
