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How To Use A Projector Outside In Daytime

What is better than setting up the outdoor home theater to make family time more memorable in summer evenings?

It is hard to use a smartphone in daylight, likewise, it is very challenging to view a projecting screen. Therefore, getting the best viewing results from a projector in daylight demands some smartness. With a few hacks, you can get the most pleasant outdoor movie experience even on a sunny day. The things you should work on are viewing angle, projector lumens, display screen, and the right location to set up the console.

You may also like to know: Best Projector for Outdoor Movies

This article will describe all the pain points and after reading it you will have a clear idea about how to use projectors outside. Continue reading to remove all the doubts regarding how to use the projector in daylight to get the most joy out of summer evenings.

Getting Right Projector

Lumens are modern unit that measures the brightness of certain light. The brightness of the projector can be measured by counting its lumens. For an outdoor theater, you will have to get a projector that can produce at least 3000 lumens. But if you want to throw a party, you can consider the projector with up to at least 5500 lumens to get a better viewing experience. It is important very important to use a projector that is very bright with a high number of lumens. Although the projectors with high lumens that can cater to the sunlight are expensive, it is a cost-effective and cheaper choice compared to large outdoor television screens

Getting the Right Projector Screen

People often use a regular piece of cloth or an empty wall as a projecting screen. However, indoors, doing so will just work fine, but a high-quality projector screen can produce impact. These high-quality projecting screens will cost you some pennies, but the money spent will be well worth it.

Also cleaning the screen before mounting it on your patio’s wall will work. Because after years of wear and tear the screen can become unclear and develop a patina. You can use lukewarm water to clean the screen. Moreover, you can also treat it with a mild, alcohol-free, and neutral pH-cleaner to get it back in shape.

Getting the Right Projector Location

The decision of where to set up your console is another pain point regarding how to use projectors outside. No matter if you got a high-power projector or a reflective display screen. You can always give it a little more help to get the best quality of the movie you’re about to watch.

Whether you have a large lawn, patio, or small balcony, studying the sun’s position will help you to find the right location for your setup. Following are the best location practices to set up your projector screen.

  • Adjust the projector screen by keeping the sun on one of the sides
  • Display looks perfect when the sun is located behind the projector.
  • Also, keeping the sun at the back of the audience can significantly lower the display quality.

 Keeping the sun on your side is far the safest bet. However, you might still face problems if the sunlight is brighter and your projector is of low power.

Creating Shade in the Garden

If you’re not successful in locating the best place to set up your console, you might find the perfect corner by creating shade in your garden. You can also go for the options like a veranda and waterproof gazebos for an ideal and long-lasting solution to your outdoor projector location.

Choosing the Right Time

The best time to use projectors in the daytime is late in the afternoon. In the evening time, a couple of hours before sunset. If you’re a morning lark and want to enjoy nature then early mornings will be the second-best choice to use your outdoor projector. This is the right time because of the lesser intensity of sunlight during these intervals.

But if you want to watch a football match that might be at the sunniest or hottest time of the day, you might need to create shade in the garden.

Avoid Adverse Weather

It is advised to avoid extremely rainy or windy days to be on the safer side. Because wind can cause severe damage to the projector screen. Consequently, rain and water can cause your projector to break down.

On the other hand, a cloudy day with calm sun and a slow wind is an ideal condition to watch your favorite stuff in the garden.

Bonus Resources:

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What do you need for a projector setup?

All you need for a projector setup is an auxiliary input, a projector with built-in bluetooth, an external bluetooth transmitter, and powerful speakers. Some projectors have high-quality built-in speakers, hence providing the perfect audio for a home theater. 

How do you host a backyard movie night?

 A backyard movie night can be hosted by managing the following things

  • Preparation of the backyard for the movie night.
  • Setting up a large clear projecting screen.
  • Addition of comfortable seating and decor according to the movie theme.
  • Arrangement of snacks for a delicious touch.

Can you see a movie on a projector in daylight?

Yes, you can see the clear result on a projector in daylight by using a projector with high lumens; almost above 5500. A sunny day drenches us in almost 100,000 lux. So, to outdo natural sunlight, a high-powered projector is required.

Final Thoughts

The outdoors is a great place to have a movie night. But, setting up a projector outside isn’t that easy. Having a backyard cinema is a great idea for summer, but it’s not as simple as connecting a projector to a television. We hope this blog post has helped you set up your own backyard cinema.

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