Factors to Consider When Renting a Projector

Before you rent your next digital projector, a little research and homework should be done beforehand. When it comes to borrrowing the right digital projector for you, answering a few questions first will make the process more efficient.

How many viewers will be watching at once?

The answer to this question will help to determine the size of the image being projected so everyone can see the image clearly and easily. The more people watching (or a few people spread out in a wider area), the larger the image will need to be. As the image size increases, the light being projected will extend across a larger area, which lowers the projector’s apparent brightness.

Brightness is measured in Lumens when it comes to projectors. As the number of people watching increases, so does the number of Lumens. The majority of projectors rented in our store feature anywhere between 1500 to 3000 Lumens. More professional-grade projectors (3600 and up) are much brighter and produce a sharper image.

Knowing how many people will be viewing the image will help you establish how many Lumens are required, as well as the best screen size for the image being shown.

Consider the following rule of thumb when it comes to renting a projector based on your specific lighting scenarios:

• No ambient light - 1,000 to 1,400 Lumens
• Dimmed ambient light  - 1,500 to 2,000 Lumens
• Normal ambient light - 2,100 to 3,500 Lumens

If you choose to have your presentation take place outdoors, it’s recommended to have your screen totally shaded.

• Large text or images with less detail - SVGA resolution projectors (800 x 600)
• Displaying detailed PowerPoint slides, and normal-sized font - XGA resolution projectors (1024 x 768)
• Displaying digital photography, HD applications or other highly technical images - SXGA (1280 x 1024), SXGA+ (1400 x 1050) or (1920x 1080)
• Watching DVDs in low light conditions - Optoma MovieTime Projector

At the end of the day, the ideal projector resolution is the computer’s resolution that you’ll be using with it.

Checking Your Computer’s Resolution

Windows OS:

• Click START button in the lower left
• Click CONTROL PANEL
• Click DISPLAY
• Click SETTINGS tab in the "Display Properties" window
• The computer's resolution will be shown in a slide ruler area with the title "Screen Resolution"

Windows Vista:

• Click START icon in the lower left
• Click CONTROL PANEL
• Click ADJUST SCREEN RESOLUTION under "Appearance and Personalization"
• The computer's resolution will be shown in a slide ruler area with the title "Resolution"

Mac OS:

• Select "Control Panels" from the Apple Menu
• Double click "Monitors" from Control Panels
• Click "Options" from the Monitors window
• A new window will show up highlighting the current resolution

This guide should give you some insight when it comes to renting the right projector for your needs.