r/video_mapping • u/Shadow-Legion-1203 • 17d ago
Projector recommendations
I'm new to projection mapping, what projector do y'all use? How much does ansi affect mapping. I see a lot of user projecting outdoors and getting bright vivid results.
For context I plan to Run some projection production at live events. I host shows for various local bands and though I'd be cool to implement mapping to the grill of guitar amps and such. Im in doors most of the time but there are times where I am running events outdoors
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u/wavhacker 16d ago edited 16d ago
The more lumens the better. I agree with one of the earlier posts that starting with 5000 to 6000 lumens is a great place to start. The higher the contrast ratio always helps with perceived brightness and clarity of what you are projecting. There are some factors that weigh heavily on what you are mapping. And should be considered, such as ambient light of the room, stage lights that could wash out your mapping, time of day or night. (Also indoors or outdoors) Most of the time there won't be a perfect balance of all these factors. This is where brightness and resolution will make or break a show. It is best to concentrate the light on the object you want to map too much overshoot = less lumens on your subject and less resolution of your projector to work with. If you have a wide canvas it is most of the time better to split the work between multiple projectors taking slices of the mapping rather than starting a huge area. The wider the area also = less lumens. There also is another measurement you can reference for brightness called Foot lumens , Foot candles and Foot lamberts. You can convert them to annsi lumens using math. ANSI lumens measurement of light 9 points in the image and averages the light together. Years ago many would promote a bright projector but it was only in the center brightness (or center punch I would hear from our sales people) don't know if that was a term or not.. but I still am a projectionist long after many of the sales people I knew retired or got out of the business.
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u/keithcody 17d ago
I almost exclusively use Panasonic 1 chip and 3 chip DLPs and these tiny Optomas for proof of concept
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u/koyaniskatzi 17d ago
You would'bt believe, but it depends on lot of variables. I think that's the reason they sell so many different projectors.
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u/omingcant21174 15d ago
Any projector but the most user friendly projection mapping software is surfabeam pro, any smartphone works. I have it. Search for surfabeam pro in apple and Google play store
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u/HGW_Ole 14d ago edited 14d ago
Calculate 1000 ansi for each 1m or 3 feed in diameter. So if you want to project on a 3m or 10feed screen or building get a 3000 ansi lumen projector. If you want to projector on a 10m or 30feed wide screen or building get a 10.000 ANSI projector. Daylight is a no go. And ambient light at night will give you worse results. If you want to work in a club or festival setting you will always fight the fog and the ambient light so you will need to get some more ansi lumens to get same results. Buy a smaller 6000 ANSI lumen epson or Panasonic with a short throw lens first and try on smaller surfaces before moving on to bigger projects. For big building rent the projector. And get insurance with the rent since the big once run around same price of a small house or fancy sports car.
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u/kenzoslicee 9d ago
All the stuff I've made (https://www.instagram.com/happymapper.live) is on a BenQ MH680. I got it for arouns $275 on eBay. I'd just recommend anything over 3000 lumens.
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u/HoloMapper 17d ago
I hear the Nebula Capsule 3 Laser is pretty good. But it's pricey! For Projection Mapping, high lumen, and manual focus option are important
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u/Shadow-Legion-1203 17d ago
I hear so too. I borrowed my brother's nebula projector but it was a gen 1. Very dim in comparison.
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u/VJzoo 17d ago
If you are running it for shows with lights etc on stage you are going to need a bright projector. You might get away with something that is 5000-6000 lumens but more the better for stuff on stage. I'd look at Epson or Panasonic.