Outdoor projectors for watching movies are quite different from those for indoor viewing. For outdoor use, you need to consider certain additional specifications for the projector as well as the screen. The most important projector specs are projector resolution, projector brightness, screen size and connectivity features. For daylight projector viewing you will need special screens that enhance image brightness. Additionally, you need to account for wind and other weather conditions when setting up an outdoor theater.
We discuss how to use a projector outside and other important factors so that you can enjoy your backyard projector and screen to the full.
What’s so different about Outdoor Movie Projectors?
An indoor home theater is set up keeping in mind the advantages of a controlled ambience. Lights can be turned off and windows can be covered. This means that, in low light, low brightness projectors with better contrast ratios give us images and colors that are vibrant and that have deeper blacks.
Outdoor projectors, on the other hand, have to fight off ambient light. If you plan to watch a movie in the daytime, sunlight falling on the screen interferes with the image and makes the picture look washed out and faded. This issue of image quality is less severe if you plan night-time viewing, but lights from windows, street lights or even the moonlight contribute to degrading the viewing experience.
The input source of your projector needs to be kept in mind. In your backyard, you will need a projector that provides the necessary connectivity to the device that transmits the video.
Furthermore, electrical connections are not a problem indoors because you will find a suitable and nearby outlet to plug in the power cable. Not so, for outdoors. An electrical outlet may be too far away requiring long lengths of cables – or other alternatives have to be considered.
Screens are part and parcel of the home theater set-up. Special screens for better images. In the outdoors, screens also have to be installed such that they can withstand even a light breeze. Therefore, additional screen installation aspects have to be considered for the outdoors compared to indoor setups.
Because you have considerable space outdoors, you might want to accommodate a larger gathering. A bigger screen will provide the best viewing experience. The projector’s ability to provide a large picture with the appropriate resolution and brightness becomes all the more important.
Not only your outdoor projector and screen but also the sound volume and quality also come into play. Here arises the question of whether to use built-in speakers vs external speakers.
You will find a lot of guidelines in our Projector Buying Guide Article here. But as you can see, enjoying your movie in the great outdoors (I’m only referring to your backyard) requires you to take into consideration a lot of important factors not needed for indoor home theaters.
Specs for Projector, Screen – How to Choose a Projector for Outdoor Use
As you read through this guide, you will find that when selecting a projector, there is an intertwining of the most important specifications regarding the projector, the screen, the space available in the backyard and the ambient conditions. One specification or requirement affects the rest. A holistic approach is required where all factors are considered simultaneously. You will, therefore, find that some specifications are grouped together in our discussions below.
Brightness Specs for Outdoor Projection
Ambient light is an important factor for projecting images outdoors. The amount of ambient light present can affect the visibility of the projection, and a high contrast ratio will make the projection more visible in brighter conditions.
Lumens are the unit of measure used to specify a projector’s brightness capabilities. The higher the lumen number, the higher the intensity of light or brightness that the projector throws out.
Indoor use requires projectors to provide a minimum of 1500 Lumens while around 3000 Lumens is a good value to aim for.
An outdoor projector in the daytime, however, requires higher brightness at a minimum of 4000 lumens. However, the minimum lumens for projecting outside will increase, the greater the distance between projector and screen. This would certainly be a factor in very large outdoor venues. As a general rule, a 7000 to 9000-lumen projector will cover most daylight scenarios as the recommended outdoor lumens. In the outdoors, the higher the projector brightness, the better.
For a detailed understanding of daytime projector use, you’ll find a lot of help and steps you can take to improve daylight projector viewing in our article on………
If you plan to restrict your viewing to nighttime only, 3000 to 6000 lumens are highly adequate.
Outdoor Projector Screen Size
A large outdoor screen can turn your backyard into a theater, while a smaller movie screen is perfect for a more intimate outdoor viewing experience.
A projector needs to be placed some distance from the screen so that a large enough image is projected. The closer the projector is to the screen, the smaller the image will be. You’ll want to make sure that you choose the right “throw ratio” specification for your projector.
The throw ratio is the relationship between the distance from the projector to the screen and the width of the image.
Standard projectors are long-throw projectors with a ratio of usually around 1.2:1 This means that for every foot of image width you wish to achieve, you need to place the projector 1.2 feet further away from the screen. So for an image 5 feet wide, a 1.2:1 throw ratio requires you to place the projector 6 feet away.
You can also purchase a short-throw projector if space is limited. Short throw projectors have a throw ratio that can go down to 0.5:1, meaning that for every foot of image width required, the projector need only be 0.5 feet away from the screen. With an image size and the distance of the projector from the screen, you will be able to decide upon the throw ratio of the projector you need.
While the screen size required relates to the projector position relative to the screen and the throw ratio, it also depends upon the audience’s seating distance. If you have a specific area and viewing distance in mind, simple rules-of-thumb can help you decide what screen size you may need to use.
When viewing 1080 resolutions you will need to limit your seating distance to between 3 times to 5 times the height of the image. For 4K you can reduce the minimum viewing distance to a multiple of 1.5 times the image height.
In effect, you need to decide the screen size based on the gathering of family and friends you can accommodate or inversely decide upon the projector resolution based on the spacing. A large screen requires a high resolution and bright enough projector.
As we mentioned earlier, specifications are intertwined and here we just saw how screen size is affected by a combination of projector throw ratio, resolution and viewing distance.
Portability and Connectivity
A projector used outdoors cannot be installed on a fixed mounting. Projectors are not designed to withstand high or very low temperatures, outdoor dust or even humidity on a long-term basis. The components are too delicate. Therefore, you will always have to shift the projector indoors after use.
This means that both features of portability and connectivity – and their associated issues – become an important consideration.
Portability can mean a battery-powered projector. But unless you want to take your projector for a camping trip, battery-powered units are not recommended at all. Batteries do not last long enough and their lower power also means that projector brightness (and therefore image) is compromised. For backyard projector viewing, you should have enough brightness and enough length of power cable or extension cord to connect to an appropriate electrical outlet.
Wireless connectivity is thankfully available in most modern projectors together with HDMI ports.
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connections are the most popular means of wireless connectivity to allow you to stream Netflix from your mobile or other devices or connect a speaker using Bluetooth. HDMI ports allow connection with casting devices like Chromecast or Airplay. A USB port on the projector can be used to plug in a portable external drive that may contain the videos you wish to watch
To read more about wireless connection, find out more in our article ….. here.
Outdoor Projector Screen Types
An outdoor projector screen is a must-have. A bedsheet or a painted wall will not do at all and will only waste the investment you made on your projector. Two factors play an important role in screen selection – the screen type for image quality and the screen type for installation method.
Ambient Light Rejecting Screens for Image Quality
Ambient Light Rejecting (ALR) Screens are special screens that are highly useful in daytime viewing whether indoors or outdoors. ALR screens selectively reflect the projector image to the viewer as long as the projector is positioned in a particular way relative to the screen. Contrary to the projector light, ambient light falling from other directions is directed away from the viewer.
ALR screens are a special projector screen material with a special texture. They provide the advantage of being less affected by sunlight so that projectors with lower lumen brightness can be used to give sharper images with better color saturation. Consequently, ALR screens give a better outdoor movie experience and the lower projector lumens make the projector more versatile and suitable for indoor use as well. This ALR screen advantage should not be discounted.
Screen Gain for Image Quality
Screen Gain is an important parameter that affects the brightness of the image on the projector screen. The gain is a measure of how much light the screen reflects. The higher the gain, the brighter the image will be.
A gain value of 1.0 implies the screen reflects light at the same brightness at which it falls upon the screen. A gain higher than 1.0 means the reflected light is brighter than the original light. A gain lower than 1.0 implies light is absorbed by the screen material and the reflected light is less bright than the original light.
For standard projector screens, the gain is typically between 1.0 and 2.0. Once again, the higher the gain, the lower the lumens projector you can go for.
Screen Types based on Installation
Since even a light breeze can make screens unstable, proper installation measures should be made. Anchoring the screen is imperative. If the screen is set up next to a wall, the stability factor increases.
Overall, there are three main types of screens based on installation method: fixed, foldable and inflatable. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages.
Fixed screens are best if the movie nights are very frequent. They are more expensive, but they’re also more durable. Retractable screens are also available that have an electrical motor that rolls up the screen into a durable casing when not required.
Foldable screens are highly portable and come in unbelievably small pouches. The frame needs to be set up and the screen attached – a process that may not be very difficult if a good brand of foldable screen is opted for. Best used for temporary and infrequent use.
Inflatable screens are less expensive and easier to set up. An air pump is used to inflate the screen and the pump stays on if the screen is a bigger size. Unfortunately, these are not very durable as pin holes can easily form and if the air pump is constantly running, a low but possibly irritating sound will constantly be heard.
Speakers for Outdoor Projectors
For a smaller audience, the projector’s built-in speakers may suffice as some projectors have better quality speakers than others. You will have to do your research here. For larger gatherings, a higher-powered external speaker either hard-wired or connected through Bluetooth will become necessary. Of course, Bluetooth speakers are not limited in placement like wired speakers would be.
There’s more to think about regarding speaker placement. Outdoor speakers can be placed on the ground or on stands. Stands will give you more flexibility when it comes to placement, but they’re also more expensive. Ground speakers are less expensive and easier to install, but they don’t offer as much flexibility.
Conclusion
As you can see, there is a lot to consider before you set up your outdoor movie theater. Projector specs, type of screen and the space available all come into play and are discussed in this guide. Keep these things in mind before your purchase and you’ll be sure to find and build a perfect outdoor projector setup for your needs.