Learn about Projectors

How is brightness measured?

The brightness of a projector is measured by ANSI lumens (American National Standards Institute). The table below will give you a rough idea of the various ANSI lumens that are available on the market.

ANSI Lumens	Cost	Use
<500	Most Inexpensive	Projector must be used in a dark or dimly lit room. Any room light will greatly decrease visibility.
500-1000	Mid-Level Range	Room may require minor adjustments in light, although dimly lit or dark rooms are not usually necessary. Great for use in classrooms or conference rooms.
1000-1500	High-Performance Range	Room should not require any adjustments to lighting. Great for large conference rooms or classrooms.
1500+	Depends on other features	Ultra-bright projectors for use in churches, large auditoriums, nightclubs, board rooms or concerts. These range from 1500 to 8000 ANSI Lumens.

A general rule of thumb is the brighter the projector the better. When considering the brightness of your projector you should be aware of four factors.

How many people will be viewing the projection - Remember that as your image increases, the light spreads out over the surface. Imagine a flashlight, up-close the light is brighter but as you shine it further away the light dims. If you have people viewing the presentation from far away your image must be larger and so your projector must be brighter.

How much light will be in the room - A projector will always perform the best in a dark room, but you may need some light for audience note-taking or eye contact. The more light that is in the room the brighter your projection will need to be. Remember that any projector under 450ANSI Lumens will require you to turn down the lights and risk a sleepy audience.

What kind of screen is available - The type of surface you will be projecting on makes a big difference on how bright your projection is. For best results we recommend investing in a screen. Most screens have a reflective light surface making your projector seem much brighter. If you are traveling you may consider purchasing a portable screen to avoid using your walls as your projection surface. If you choose not to purchase a screen you may need to purchase a projector with greater ANSI Lumens as walls and other surfaces tend to absorb light.

What is your application - Finally you should ask yourself how you will be using the projector. Typically training or workgroups require more note taking and attention to detail. This calls for a brighter projector as lights will be on and everyone will need to see a clear and bright image. General presentations using graphics and video applications will not need as much light as these presentations can generally be done in a darker room.

What is the best resolution for a projector?

The resolution of a projector works the same way that the resolution of your monitor works. A higher resolution means that the pixels are packed closer together, allowing for a clearer image. There are five different types of resolutions:
VGA - 640 x 480. This is the lowest resolution available on the market but typically the least expensive.
SVGA - 800 x 600. Because it is the same resolution as laptop computer, it is one of the more popular resolutions. Remember matching your resolution with you computer generally will give you the best image.
XGA - 1024 x 768. This is the format for most new projectors on the market and because it is the resolution of a normal desktop PC, is the second most popular resolution.
SXGA - 1280 x 1024. This resolution is notably more expensive than XGA and is typically meant for CAD/CAM or graphic design work where a great level of detail is needed.
UXGA - 1600 x 1200. This resolution is typically used for presentations requiring a great level of detail or ones that are very information intensive. Currently, there are very few projectors with this resolution on the market.
We recommend looking for a projector that will give you the same quality as your desktop PC, a resolution of 1024 x 768 or an XGA projector. Remember that a better resolution will give you a cleaner, viewable image.

Weight of the Projector The weight of your projector depends a great deal on how you plan to use it. If you plan on traveling with your projector you should insist that it is less than 10lbs and can easily fit into an airplane overhead compartment. If you plan on keeping your projector in a conference room a general rule of thumb is any projector less than 20lbs is a good choice, this will give you the option of traveling with it in the future.

What should I look for in the sound of my projector?

The speakers of your projector will depend largely on your plans for presentations. If you are addressing large groups of people you will need to have better speakers, for smaller groups the speakers may not be as important. And of course external speakers are always an option.

What other features should I be aware of?

Ceiling Mountable - When purchasing a projector it is also important to determine if you are going to want to mount it sometime in the future. Some projectors are ceiling mountable and some are not. When looking at different projectors remember to ask whether or not the projectors' image can be turned upside down for a ceiling mounted projector.

Multiple Computer Ports - Occasionally presentations with more than one speaker require the need to hook more than one computer to the projector. You may want to consider this option when purchasing your projector. Several projectors on the market have the ability to hook up more than one computer.

What is the best screen for my presentation?

For best results always use a screen for projection. Walls tend to absorb light instead of reflecting off it, making it difficult to see even while using the most expensive projectors.

It is important to choose the right size screen for your presentation not for your projector. Here are some general rules to keep in mind:
The height of the screen should be about 1/6 of the distance from the screen to the last row of seats.
The first row of seats should be about 2 screen heights away from the screen.
The bottom of the screen should be a minimum of 4 feet off the ground to allow for everyone in your audience to see the screen.

Are there accessories that will be helpful to a projector?

If you plan on traveling with your new projector it may be a good idea to invest in a carrying case. There are many cases on the market that provide a space for your projector as well as your laptop computer. This is a perfect combination as airlines are cutting down on the amount of carry-on items allowed.

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LCD Projector

DLP Projector