How to find a Projector for Art ■ Tracing Masterpieces

Let's look for the best projectors for art. There are five features I look for when searching for an art projector. You can find a great deal if you are patient and browse around. I'll show you how to do this in this video.
Look for DLP technology, which should allow the projector to work at closer distances than normal projectors. Most projectors are designed to be positioned far back away from the surface. The throw distance can also provide you information on the range at which the projector can focus.
Check if the projector has a micro sd card slot so that you can transfer images to it. The projector should be able to display images from the card and not rely on a cable such as an hdmi cord, otherwise it would limit where you can place the projector.
Also look for portability, so it should have an internal battery. This way it won't be tethered to the wall, since you will want to place it more conveniently over your artwork or canvas.
Make sure it has a tripod socket so that you can mount it to equipment such as a tripod or articulating arm. Surprisingly, not all projectors have this, because they expect you to just sit it down on a table.
Lastly, make sure it has physical buttons, because otherwise you'd have to use a remote, which could get lost, broken, or have batteries that need to be replaced. Buttons on the projector make it easier to work with because there are less parts involved that you have to deal with.
There are affordable projectors, but you may need to be patient in order to grab a good deal. Check amazon and ebay regularly to see if there are any new listings, but always be mindful of potential scams and listings that don't seem quite right. Check the reviews and ratings of the products as well as the sellers. Ask questions, and do research!
If you'd like to check out my other art projector videos, check out my playlist:
• Art Projectors

[@lilypad6967]

Thank you for this review! This was very helpful!

[@hanatekaste6449]

Thank you for doing all the work for us. Very grateful.

[@raysmith2940]

very informative review. Thank you very much. You certainly got a deal with yours!

[@zinkadu]

It would be very helpful if you could make a list of the projectors you have found to be good

[@bellac8049]

Thank you so much for your help, you knowledge is appreciated.

[@Vazhaspa]

The only video that gives perfect guidance to painters looking for the best proper projector to trace an art work on any canvas/ paper size. Alternatively one may use Da Vinci Eye application along with iPhone.

[@bbjo787]

always great videos!

[@cathylau459]

Very useful. After I first watched your KZbin I have kept an eye on the dlp projector.. new ones very very expensive from Amazon uk still do not see any 2nd hand in ebay yet.

[@raysmith2940]

I was looking too. In fact, Ebay are expensive too. Even if you find one, you never will know how many of those ' 3000 hours' are left. I took the plunge and bought one based on this review. It is beautiful and works a treat. FYI : otha mini portable projector - at the time of writing £199 amazon.

[@marcelchenier]

Hi, because this excellent video is a bit on the old side can you recommend any modern DLP portable projectors that supports 1080p (or better)? Thank you, and thank you for the informative content. Subscribed!

[@lisavento7474]

a MILLION...ok, maybe a DOZEN considerations for an artist and not just for resolution and lumens but also for a THROW DISTANCE, needing a shorter one if you're going to project onto it from over your board or such. Getting a smaller image than 30" is rough!

[@sopihasmith8104]

Very helpfull, thank you

[@theaverstijlen181]

Thank you for this Video. I am looking for a cheap projector just for tracing simple drawings like Donald Duck or a smurf. Just small drawings. Can you give me advice please? I already bought the Kodak luma 75 (Amazon) and I am very happy with it.

[@starda01]

I have a Sony HDR PJ10 Handycam, which is about 2011. It has a projector, SD card slot, internal memory, battery powered, DC in, and DLP technology. Might be used ones on y he market.

[@kkatzvegankitchen]

Thanks for the video ...I am just curious which brand do you have.

[@aserodriguez1425]

Hey your videos are AWESOME and honestly the best OT there, what I want to know is which projector would you get for under $90.... It's for tracing images onto canvas. What do you recommend?

[@alkatebalsiasy8080]

Hi: All I need is a digital projector with which I can draw portraits of various sizes, without the need for sound, I just need it for drawing. Can you direct me towards that? Please.

[@eddiebeltran-sh3db]

Like your video very much whated maybe advice,looking at autograph flare450 what you advise or something similar first time projector user....tha k you

[@jaytandel50]

I am not able to buy it from the sit you have mentioned.

[@dollycatlin5077]

also just need simple!! I phone to canvas small and large projection. I am not tech advanced so easy to use!

[@maggiejordan3417]

Would hdmi be good for hooking up for movies?

[@23trololol]

What do you think about the resolution features? I found one in my budget that checks every box but it only puts out 360p. Considering that Im only interested in tracing a static image it probably does not make any difference. Either way, I'd really appreciate your input before I pull the trigger. Thanks so much for this video series, I cant wait to start practicing on embroidery!

[@tracingmasterpieces]

I think my projector is 854 x 480, if I remember correctly. The lower the resolution, the more pixelated the image will become. So it really depends on how detailed the images you are using are, and if you need to trace the finer details. You can get an idea as to the amount of detail that is lost by resizing an image in an image editor to the resolution of the projector, and then zooming in on the pixels/detail to see if it still looks good enough to trace.. That way it will give you an idea as to how it will project the images.

[@ellonysman]

Which has the brightest light for detail tracing? Cant wait to try this.

[@tracingmasterpieces]

I think anything around 100 or more lumens would be good enough. I would be suspicious of anything that claims 1000s of lumens. Small size projectors will have smaller lights, so the output will be as expected for a small device, especially if it runs on battery. If you're working at a close distance, it should be fine for tracing.

[@barda1915]

Do you have a list of favorites?

[@andronikino673]

Thank you very much for your video. I work as a graphic designer and I paint walls. I would like a projector to project my drawing lines in daylight. Is this projector you have, right for my needs? I would really appreciate it if you would answer me. Thanks a lot.

[@tracingmasterpieces]

It won't be visible in direct sunlight- the sunlight is too bright for it. I have tried displaying it outside in the day and it's very difficult to see.

[@CASSIUSleedy]

Can someone link these? Having trouble finding them

[@dollycatlin5077]

I just found your You Tube. Can you tell me the best for tracing from my camera photos, and THE least expensive. Please!

[@getfrankieco]

Which one are you using?

[@juljos9343]

Is there anything cheaper. It seems lot to pay for a projector. And the Elecwave cant be found on Ebay

[@tracingmasterpieces]

Sometimes you can find cheaper ones, but they seem scarce- they pop up every once in a while if you keep looking.

[@reggievaughan6516]

Question? Do you know of an artist projector with DLP (the five things it must have)that works exceptionally well with an apple iPhone? Everything I find is Android specific. I’ve looked at all your recommendations but the iPhone seems to be non-compatible even with the lightening to HDMI adapter that a customer wrote in about. What I need is a projection of 7” to whatever.” I need help, please.

[@tracingmasterpieces]

I don't own any mobile phones, so I'm not that knowledgeable in that area.

[@reggievaughan6516]

Tracing Masterpieces thank you for the reply. You still helped me in understanding what I need and what I do not need from previous videos.

[@PAchiefman]

Can you identify the clamp on boom used to hold your cube camera?

[@masterpiecetools131]

It looks like a manfrotto magic arm, and there is a related Super Clamp. There are good rip off versions for cheap on ebay, but getting a large enough one might be tough.

[@masterpiecetools131]

Like on ebay "20Inch Adjustable Articulating Friction Magic Arm with Hot Shoe Mount for B1C9"

[@mariadecat]

have you heard about XGIMI MoGo Pro? do you think it would work well for art?

[@tracingmasterpieces]

I haven't heard of it, but I briefly looked into it. It seems fully capable of working. However, I can't find any information on how close it can get to a surface. Most people are just concerned with moving it away from the surface to get a large screen. You could maybe email the company and ask about that. Other things to keep in mind is that you'll have to use their remote, and you'll maybe need a usb stick to transfer images (it has a usb port for that).

[@mariadecat]

Tracing Masterpieces it says 30 to 100+ inches on their website. I'm just wondering if I could get the picture smaller than 30". my other options would be Anker Nebula Apollo Mini or Apeman M4 Mini. these are not native 1080 resolution though

[@vpmmotors.7568]

What do think about the kodak luma 150?

[@tracingmasterpieces]

I've heard some people get that, and they liked it. Based on the specs, it seems okay to me. It may not be the brightest, but if you're using it for close-range stuff, it will be just fine.

[@emadrodin8313]

What do you think about aaxa p5

[@tracingmasterpieces]

It looks like a good one. It has everything I would want.

[@andrewn735]

I just want a projector to allow me to enlarge a drawing. Can you recommend anything? All I find are overpriced Artograph Tracers that are just $100 boxes with mirrors and a lightbulb.

[@tracingmasterpieces]

There is a kodak luma 150 projector that is pretty decent. I know of a few people who have bought that one. Most of these small dlp projectors will perform the same, so you just have to look at the specs and how to transfer the files and operating system and compatibility, etc..

[@andrewn735]

@@tracingmasterpieces Doesn't that require me to scan the image first and project a PNG file?

[@r10rgh]

Hi, I live in the UK and have just watched your videos and have now purchased the kodak, I cant seem to find a selfie-stick with a 1/4 inch hole to attach to the tripod as you show in one of you vids, is there any chance you remember the make and model of your, kind regards, Richard

[@tracingmasterpieces]

Hi, the selfie stick I have is the Yi action selfie stick. It has a handstrap that can be screwed into the bottom, but you can unscrew that. I've seen other selfie sticks with 1/4 inch sockets, so I know they are available, you just have to look closely at the product images.

[@r10rgh]

@@tracingmasterpieces thank you, cant wait for my projector to arrive, i found your vids really usefull, please keep up the good work.

[@ginab6434]

Okay...so I understand if you want to limit the money, you'll want to find a projector on Ebay or shop around, but what if you had the money and could choose whatever you wanted. What would you choose then? Would you add to your list of 5 necessary things? I will most def need the DLP for small close-range art work. Also, I tend to work with mostly hyper-realistic portraits, so the placement of fine details is very important to me.

[@tracingmasterpieces]

If money wasn't an issue, I'd have a higher "native resolution" as that would allow more detail to be projected. I'd also look at a higher brightness, although with small projectors I believe their brightness generally is limited based on it working from battery and being small in size (small light). So it might be difficult to find a super bright projector in a compact size. So I think the main thing I would look for is a high native resolution in addition to those other 5 things.. I don't have a specific list of projectors I would get as I haven't looked at them in a while.

[@ginab6434]

@@tracingmasterpieces Thank you for such a prompt reply! That's very helpful.

[@sacredrose5477]

@@ginab6434 I have personally been looking at the Axaa P6X and the Axaa M5 the only problem for the M5 is that it is discontinued so you usually can't get a return.

[@Jkw211]

I can only watch this on my phone so it’s a bit tough to follow right now. But that’s my fault not yours:) Anything you can recommend for $250 max that can give me a good 80” detailed image? Mostly for figure/portrait work. And suitable for showing/projecting finished paintings. Any suggestions would me greatly appreciated

[@tracingmasterpieces]

Thanks for the question. I mentioned in my other reply that you can find a Kodak version of the projector that I use for $200.. But if you need a 80" projected image, the room would need to be somewhat dark because the projector would have to be set about 2 meters away from the surface. So I might suggest something else if you intend to use a projector for larger sizes like that. I unfortunately don't have the luxury to spend a lot of money on projectors to test them out for art purposes, etc. So it's difficult for me to suggest the best solution for that case. If using a dark room is fine, then I think the projector I suggested in my other videos would be fine, but these aren't top of the line- there are other projectors out there that provide more detailed images, but cost more. Sorry if this isn't that helpful. I'll try to keep this in mind as I do more videos and maybe I can discover some solutions.

[@Jkw211]

Tracing Masterpieces thanks for the replies. A dark room is not an issue at all.. I understand you haven’t actually tested a lot of these projectors , that’s ok too! But you’ve obviously done a lot of research and I respect that tremendously. I’d love it if you could simply tell my what projector you would buy rn with a budget about of $250 . I tend to drown myself in overthinking and research for weeks before I buy anything (!) But these vids are a great help, I’ll check check them out too

[@tracingmasterpieces]

@@Jkw211 I'll need some time to consider which projector to get for $250. I haven't approached my search with a specific price in mind, so I'll try to make another video that focuses on that range. Maybe I can have that done within a week. Thanks!

[@Jkw211]

Tracing Masterpieces ok thanks, I appreciate that. The $250 (give or take) is only max price btw- anything that can project a decent “full length portrait” image will work for me.

[@tracingmasterpieces]

@@Jkw211 Okay, understood. You've given me a good framework to work within. I'll try to explore all this and create a useful video.

[@consciouscoma85]

well as long as you do not plan on making paintings on your camping trip any other projector will do just fine. any way to project an image is what you need.

[@aserodriguez1425]

It Seems like you only really like one particular kind and it's the one you have, whether that's the DP or the TENKER one you basically only really look to really recommend that one kind

[@tracingmasterpieces]

You have to look at the specs of the projector you are interested in and decide what features you want it to have and also how you want it to operate. I like the DLP technology, because it can focus close to the surface. A lot of projectors are designed to sit far back and can't focus up close, so you need to make sure it can project the size images you plan on making. I haven't been looking much at projectors lately, so I don't know what is available. I got mine off of ebay, so it's possible to get a deal, but you have to be patient and make sure to check reviews and check if the seller seems reliable.

[@ArsPraestigium]

The Kodak Cube ads claim they connect wirelessly to Apple devices. If that's true, why would you need an SD card?

[@tracingmasterpieces]

If it's true and you have an apple device, then you probably wouldn't need an SD card.. But I don't know all the technical details for that- maybe you apple device needs to have a specific version of something- there's probably some more specific details about it somewhere.

[@ArsPraestigium]

@@tracingmasterpieces I just ordered the Kodak version. Thanks!

[@kishanchandsagar614]

Sir Give Me Art tracing Projector purchase pl. name the projector how many price i am india ,delhi

[@comendadorfrancis]

@@tracingmasterpieces , hi! could you also email me the kodak one you showed? [e-mail]. Thanks!

[@brittsyartstudio8961]

TY sounds like DLP is the key

[@Leearna_Art]

the prices for said items have skyrocked sadly

[@Polecat54941]

The rif6 cube does have sd card and is DLP

[@einarjungmann273]

I checked Amazon reviews and to be honest, it's tragedy to read all mini DLP projectors...waste of money, only expensive paperweight as they mentioned...

[@dollycatlin5077]

also no sound needed