Video Projectors - Your Questions Answered

Installing a projection system is always a major undertaking for any congregation. This page has been designed to help fill in the gaps for those bewildered by the technology.

Portable or Installed?

Some churches use portable data projectors which can be used in different locations, whilst others have projectors permanently installed. Obviously, it's handy to be able to move your projector out of the sanctuary, to use in another location or lock away for safe keeping. However, the design of many sanctuaries leaves no option other than to have a projector permanently installed. The advantages of a permanent setup are that the system is ready to go every time and does not need focused or adjusted, and there is less disruption caused by people "borrowing" the projector!

When a permanent installation is looking like an option, we will usually visit your church to assess what possibilities are available and what equipment might suit your requirements.

Brightness

Image brightness is a key factor in evaluating any projectors performance. The normal measure of brightness is ANSI Lumens - this is an American standard which most manufacturers adhere to.

As a general guide, 1000 lumens is usually considered adequate for small portable screens, classrooms, and some smaller venues. In anything from a medium sized church upwards, projectors of 2000 lumens and upward are the norm. The brightness you require in practice is determined by the size of screen and level of background light. We will be able to recommend a suitable specification of projector for your building.

Resolution

In simple terms, the picture you get from a projector is made up of pixels, and the greater the number of pictures the better the quality and clarity of the projected image. SVGA resolution (800 x 600 pixels) is considered the basic standard, although most new projectors feature XGA resolution (1024 x 768 pixels). This higher resolution is a definite bonus if you are showing detailed material, and also gives smoother looking images on larger screens.

Screens

A wide range of projection screens are available, and we can advise on what models might best suit your requirements. The biggest distinction is between portable and permanent screens.

Most permanent screens are retractable, so the screen surface can be hidden from sight when it is not in use. This can either be done manually, or electrically using a motorised screen. As you might expect, motorised screens are more expensive.

All modern projectors can be configured for either front or rear projection. Projecting from the rear of the screen requires special fabric, but can often be a tidier solution as the projector is out of the way. Some portable screens can come with screen surfaces for front and rear projection and you simply attach the surface that you need to use on each occasion.

Cabling

All projectors need cabling in order to work - a mains supply, data connection from the computer, and a video line for VCRs, DVDs etc. We have a range of solutions available to suit even the most complicated configuration!