Any projector that can be connected to a computer will work with LUMOplay's interactive floor and wall software, but to pick the best one for your space and installation type, it helps to know a few things about projectors. We've assembled some recommendations for specific locations here, but this is a brief list of the elements to consider when choosing a projector.

1. Lighting requirements
2. Lumens
3. Lens types
4. Aspect ratio
5. Throw ratio
6. Resolution
7. Lens calculator
8. Orientation / angle range
9. Lens shift / displacement
10. Keystone
11. Floor surface
12. Wall surface

You may be in the market for a projector that can also do other things. If so, check out this comprehensive video explaining how to buy a projector for any project.

Lighting requirements

Projectors work best in areas without direct sunlight or directional lighting. If you plan to use a projector for your installation, the area should be as evenly lit with ambient lighting as possible. Avoid installing near outdoor windows.

Lumens

Choose the right brightness for your projector based on the environment. These are guidelines. If you're in doubt, call a local AV company and request a site inspection.

1500 - 2500 : dark room. You can go as low as 100 lumens if the lights are completely off.

2500+ : low light

3000 - 5000 : classroom / office

6000+ : tradeshow, retail

10,000+ : outdoor, events

Lens types

Choose the right lens type for the distance from your projector to the projection surface. These are guidelines. If you're in doubt, call a local AV company and request a site inspection.

Ultra-short-throw: .6m - 1m (2' - 3') from the projection surface. Ideal to eliminate shadows in wall installations. Causes extra big shadows on floors.

Short throw: 1.8m - 2.5m (6' - 8') from the projection surface.

Fixed lens: 4m - 4m (10' - 14') from the projection surface.

We don't recommend long throw lenses, but these are appropriate if your projector will me more than 5m from your projection surface.

Aspect ratio

The Aspect Ratio of a projector represents the size relation between the width and height of the display. The most common aspect ratio for projectors is 16:9, 16:10 or 4:3.

Most LUMOplay games are created to be displayed at 16:9 or 16:10 (see the game description in our app library for the resolution of each game). We can customize games for different aspect ratios if desired.  

Throw ratio

The Throw Ratio (often written TR) represents how big the image will be when the lens is a specific distance from the projection surface, and is usually written as #:# or #:#:#

#.# The first number is the distance from the lens to the projection surface, and the second number is the diagonal distance of the projected area. So a 1:1 throw ratio would produce an image 1 meter diagonal, from a distance of 1 meter.

#.#:# When the Throw Ratio is expressed as 3 numbers,The first number is the distance from the lens to the projection surface, and the second and third numbers represent width and height. A 1:1:75 TR would produce an image 1m wide x .75m high.

To get a large image from a small distance, you should look for a throw ratio where the first number is 1 or less. Projectors that have shorter throw ratios are called 'Short Throw Projectors', and usually have a Throw Ratio ranging from 1 - 0.4.

Resolution

Any projector resolution will work with LUMOplay interactive floor and wall software, but our apps and games are optimized for a specific range that balances cost with image quality.

Below is a chart that highlights the ideal projector resolution for your LUMOplay installation:

Lens calculator

There's a handy tool on Projector Central's website to help you quickly discover the total size of a projected image from any model of projector, and you can even search specifically for short throw projectors. Try it here.

Orientation / angle range

The Orientation refers to how the projector will be positioned (vertically or horizontally, or at an angle in between) Some projectors cannot be pointed down for an extended period. We recommend Epson's LED and LED/laser projectors for floor projections as they offer extremely long bulb life around 20,000 hours, and they are safe to point in any direction. If you're unsure about the orientation or angle range of your projector, it's best to contact the manufacturer.

Lens shift / displacement

The Lens Shift of your projector refers to the position of the image in relation to the lens. Many office and home projectors have a vertical displacement of 50% or more, meaning that the bottom of the image is lined up with the projector lens. Some projectors have an adjustable lens shift. It's important to know the lens shift of the projector you plan to use before you install it, since it will affect where you install the projector.

Keystone

Keystone is an adjustment method provided by most good projectors so that you can square your image in cases where the projector is as a slight angle. It is very common to find projectors with horizontal keystoning. Vertical keystoning is less common, but is extremely useful in commercial installations where the walls are not quite flat, or where the projector is mounted with a slight pitch.