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.
- Lighting requirements
- Lumens
- Lens types
- Aspect ratio
- Throw ratio
- Resolution
- Lens calculator
- Orientation / angle range
- Lens shift / displacement
- Keystone
- Floor surface
- Wall surface
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.
Office, small business, classroom: 2500 - 4000 lumens
Small tradeshow, outdoor event (at night), retail: 4000 - 7000 lumens
Large tradeshow, large venue, theme park: 7000 - 10,000 lumens or more
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.
Floor surface
Any smooth, unpatterned, light colored surface will work for LUMOplay interactive floor projection systems.
Our favorite interactive floor projection surface is light grey Marley Floor. Marley Floor is made for dance studios and stages, so it's durable and slip resistant. Here's a video of what the light grey Marley Floor looks like in combination with a ceiling mounted 7000 lumen projector.
Wall surface
Any smooth, unpatterned, light colored surface will work for LUMOplay interactive wall projection systems.
If you're looking for a high reflectivity paint designed specifically for wall and theatre projection, Rosebrand's Screen Goo product line works very well. Here Goo System's high contrast light grey paint used with a 2000 lumen short throw laser projector:
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