Artistic Projection: Top Projectors for Creative Cinematics

An art projector could be the tool you never knew you needed. As an artist, using a projector can improve your artwork and simplify your processes.

Photorealist artists have been using these useful gadgets for decades. But any artist can benefit from adding a projector to their studio.

It makes it so much easier to enlarge your designs, trace on canvas, or even outline a mural. 

Depending on the type, you can project either a digital or physical image onto a larger surface. That makes it very handy to enlarge sketches on a canvas for example.

It’s also essential if you want to keep the same dimensions as your original design, but on a large scale. Not only will it save you time, but you’ll get more accurate results than sketching it from scratch.

Digital projectors have other uses, too. You can transform a room into a mini home cinema by projecting movies onto a wall. In an instant, any blank wall can become a cinema screen!

But choosing the right projector isn’t so straightforward. There are a few different types of projectors to pick between.

It used to be that you had to use slide projectors and get a slide made up for every design. But with improvements in technology, things have changed a lot since then.

Now, you can find digital art projectors at reasonable prices. That makes them more accessible, so it’s not only professional artists who can afford one.

That means you have the choice of a digital art projector or the traditional slide projector. Not to mention opaque projectors and overhead projectors!

It’s enough to make your head swim with all the options!

And that’s before we get onto different brands, prices, and features to consider.

If you’ve been considering investing in a projector, don’t stress. I’ve put together this comprehensive guide to the best art projectors out there.

First, I’ll get onto the reviews. I’ve shopped around and researched the best art projectors to save you the work! 

Then, I’ll explain quickly the various types and how they work. I’ll share my tips on what to look for when shopping for the best art projector.

Buying Guide: How to Choose the Best Digital Art Projector

Before we get onto the reviews, there are a few basics you should know about. So, let’s get stuck in! 

What Are Art Projectors Used for?

If you’re not familiar with projectors, then this article could be a revelation for you! 

Many artists use an image projector to enlarge a sketch, photo, or image onto a canvas. You can even project it onto a wall to paint a giant mural.

That makes it so much easier to create large-scale projects that are accurate. You won’t need to spend so long trying to get your proportions right.

Art projectors are essential tools for Photorealist or abstract artists. If you want to recreate a picture down to the tiniest detail, you need the accuracy of a projector.

Once you’ve created a sketch you’re happy with, you can project it onto your canvas. It means you can perfect your design on a small scale and just blow it up onto your larger canvas.

That makes your process so much quicker, easier, and stress-free. You won’t need to worry about messing up your canvas or having to start over from scratch many times.

They are also handy when you’re working to a strict deadline and need a quick turnaround on a project.

Other uses for art projectors include displaying digital art, animations, and 3D projects. 

If you like to work with media like optical illusions or art displays, a projector could be vital.

As you can see, a projector for drawing and tracing is a useful tool. Almost all artists will find it a helpful addition to their art supplies.

What are the Different Types of Projectors?

There are four main types of projectors available. Which type you go for will depend on the kind of artwork you make, your needs, and your budget.

Here’s a quick explanation of each type of projector.

Digital Projectors

Digital projectors tend to be the most expensive but also the easiest to use.

Another name for digital projectors is a home theatre projector. These are the type of projectors you can also use for projecting animations, videos, and movies.

Digital projectors have improved hugely in recent years in accuracy and brightness. They are also more affordable than they used to be. 

Another big bonus is that they can project any digital image. So, you don’t need to worry about printing it or getting your design made into a slide.

You can generally project your images from a memory card. The other option is to transfer them from your laptop, tablet, camera, or smartphone.

Having these different options makes it very versatile and user-friendly. Plus, it means that you don’t need to prepare materials in advance like with slide or opaque projectors.

Opaque Projectors

An opaque projector can be handy if you’d like to enlarge a sketch or photo onto a canvas or a wall. 

There are a few things that you’ll need to keep in mind. Firstly, the room needs to be dark for an opaque projector to work well. 

Secondly, you’ll have to print out the image or sketch it by hand to use with your opaque projector. It needs to fit the opening of your model, so it should be around 5 inches large.

That requires some forethought and access to a printer. 

Opaque projectors vary in power and price. You can get very basic models for a cheap price, but they may not be very accurate or powerful.

If you can pay a little more, you can get better quality. But in that case, you might be better off saving up for a decent digital projector with less hassle to use.

Slide Projectors

The third type of projector dates back to the ’60s. Artists commonly used slide projectors to enlarge their designs. But this process is a bit more complicated.

That’s because before you can use a slide projector, you’ll need to make a slide of the design. You might have to outsource this part of the process.

Once you have the slide, you can fit it into the projector to blow up your sketch. 

Slide projectors can be more accurate than opaque projectors. But that depends on the brand and model. 

You also have to accept the inconvenience of slide projectors. If you like to create spontaneous art, it can cramp your style.

Overhead Projectors

You might be familiar with the good old overheard projector from the classroom. Many teachers used them to project worksheets or lessons onto the whiteboard.

But artists can also use overhead projects to enlarge their sketches. This way, you can transfer a small design onto a much larger canvas.

To use an overhead projector, you’ll need to create a transparent version of your design. But that’s easy to do nowadays.

You can print on transparency film using a printer you already have if you buy the right type of supplies.

But it’s worth noting that overheard projectors don’t come cheap. I’d recommend thinking carefully about how often you’ll use it before you shell out for one. 

Slide projectors and overhead projectors can both be found much cheaper secondhand. So if you’re on a budget, don’t rush into buying the first projector you come across.

If you’re willing to shop around and wait for a bargain, you could save a lot of money!

Do I Want a Digital Projector or An Opaque Projector?

Digital projectors are more modern and versatile. You can display digital images and connect a digital projector to your laptop or even for your phone.

As a result, they are speedy and easy to use. You can also play videos or films on a digital projector, making them multipurpose.

Another benefit is that you can adjust the image on the projector itself. For example, you can switch before color and black and white on many digital projectors.

However, digital projectors don’t tend to come cheap. That makes them less accessible for anyone on a budget, including students.

If you just need to transfer your designs onto a larger surface, an opaque projector may be all you need.

Opaque projects tend to be less expensive than digital models. But they’re not as convenient because you’ll need to print out the sketch to fit the projector opening.

Once you’ve done that, they’re pretty straightforward to use. For a cost-effective way to enlarge your designs, consider getting an opaque projector.

Opaque projectors are also simpler bits of kit, making them easy to repair or maintain. For example, you can swap out light bulbs yourself. 

How to Choose the Best Art Projector

When you’re looking for the best art projector for tracing in instance, there are a few factors to consider. 

You know all about the different types of projectors now, so you should know which type fits your needs.

But there are other things to think about to ensure you get the best tracing projector for you.

Portable or Overhead Projector?

First, you should decide whether you need a fixed or portable projector. A fixed or overhead projector can sometimes be more precise.

But you lose a lot of flexibility if you have a fixed projector. If you’re looking for the best projector for murals, portability is essential.

Unless you only ever work from one place, you should go for a compact, portable projector. That’s true even if you just want to switch up the direction or angle within your studio, too.

There are some excellent portable projectors on the market now. So, getting a smaller, compact projector doesn’t mean sacrificing quality.

Brightness

Some projectors will be brighter than others. The best digital art projectors tend to have LED lights rather than regular bulbs. LEDs are brighter, last longer, and don’t overheat.

The projector’s brightness shouldn’t be a significant problem if you’re working in the studio.

But if you need to work outside, then checking the brightness is critical. That’s especially true if you’re working on murals in bright daylight and full sun.

In that case, look for the brightest projector possible. The brightness is measured in lumens (sometimes referred to as lux). 

Connectivity

You’ll want to check the connectivity of any model before you buy. The best digital projector will have WiFi connectivity so you can transfer images without cables.

But this feature isn’t available for all models. However, most projectors will have USB ports and memory card slots. 

Size of Your Room

One last thing you shouldn’t overlook is to double-check the projector will work with your studio’s size. 

You should look up the throw distance of the projector and see whether it matches your studio.

Projectors can fall under three different categories. These range from ultra-short throw to short throw and long throw.

You’ll need to buy the right type of projector for your room. So, make sure you measure up first!

Otherwise, you could find that the projector doesn’t fit your room’s dimensions. You don’t want to discover that after you’ve parted with your cash.

How Does an Art Projector Work?

Projectors used to work by shining light through a translucent film onto the wall.  Nowadays, most digital projectors work in a similar but slightly different way. 

You choose an image or video and open it on your projector. Then, it will appear on the display of the projector.

Next, a very bright light shines through the LCD. As a result, the pixels on the display are projected onto the surface in front of the projector.

Slide projectors will throw the image on the slide onto the wall. And overhead projectors enlarge whatever is on the transparency film in the same way.

Opaque projectors differ as they also use mirrors. They still work by beaming bright light onto the physical image (hand-drawn or printed). 

But you’ll also find mirrors and a lens carefully positioned within an opaque projector. They reflect the image in larger proportions onto the wall. 

The Best Projectors for Artists

The Wrap Up

Buying the right art projector can seem like a daunting task at first. But once you narrow down the type of projector you want, you’re halfway there.

You need to compare the different factors laid out in our buying guide and consider your budget.

Keeping these things in mind, you’re sure to find the perfect projector for tracing and drawing.

If you’re not sure where to start, check out the recommended products above! 

There’s something for everyone at every price point. But they’ve been carefully picked out as the best art projectors around right now!

Let me know which one you go for in the comments. And if you have any questions about the best projector for tracing images, ask away. I’ll get back to you as soon as possible. Happy tracing!

This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, Proactive Creative may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.