how to use an art projector

An art projector is a handy tool for artists of all skill levels. Photorealist painters traditionally used an art projector to enlarge and transfer the image from their small photo onto a large canvas. In addition to projectors, there are also 2 other methods you can use: the grid method and transfer paper. How do you decide which of these 3 methods is easiest for you? Read through these pages to compare and contrast the different methods and processes, starting with the almighty projector.

opaque projector

If you plan to do a large scale painting, your best bet is to use a really good projector, also known as an opaque projector, which will enlarge your image so that you can trace the outline.

You will need a small paper copy of your photograph, between 5 sq inches and 7 sq inches, depending on the size of your projector's opening. Place the image in the opening, turn on the machine and turn off the lights in the room. Make sure you have enough space to be able to pull the machine far back if you need to make a really big version. The projected image will appear on the wall, so you'll need to position your canvas securely on the wall, and arrange the projector so that the enlarged image fits correctly within the size of the canvas. This might take some fiddling to get it just right. Double-check that the canvas is perfectly straight and flat against the wall, and that the projector rests perfectly flat upon its surface - otherwise the picture will turn out slightly distorted. You can see the illustration below for an idea of how it all works.

You'll need to make sure that the projector stays in place the entire time as you are drawing the image. Keep the dogs, cats and tiny children out of the room. The slightest nudge of the projector will knock the projection out of alignment, and it may or may not be easy to realign the projection with your previous tracings. You don't want to take any chances! For the same reason, make sure you have enough time to trace the whole thing in one go.

Projectors cost anywhere between $50 for a basic one up to $525 for a really professional one. You do get what you pay for - the cheaper ones will not be able to project as much detail or with as much clarity as the more expensive models. The more expensive projectors will produce an image that is bright and sharp and easy to trace. Keep this in mind, as it is important - it can be frustrating not being able to see all the tiny details if you need to. I've used a projector of average quality and price (I think it was around $125-150), and I enlarged an image to 16" x 20", and still some areas were blurry and needed to be pencilled in later using good old-fashioned hand and eye coordination. I suppose that if I had enlarged the image a lot more, to 30" x 40" or so, there would have less tiny detail and then perhaps the projector would have suited my needs better.

Artograph makes an excellent range of opaque projectors specifically with artists in mind. The Artograph MC250 Professional Opaque Projector is their top-of-the-line offering. Trace-Master Projectors offers affordable alternatives.

Artograph MC250 Professional Opaque Projector

Trace-Master Projectors

slide projector

The original photorealists of the late 1960s and 70s commonly used slide projectors to enlarge their images. They would have slides made of their photographs, insert the slide into a slide projector and trace the enlarged image onto their canvas. The process is basically the same as using an opaque projector, only you will need to have a slide made of your photo. In the US, Slides.com is a convenient and inexpensive way to get slides from digital files.

You will also need a slide projector. You can acquire a used slide projector on Ebay for around $30, which is a lot cheaper than an opaque projector. You can get a new one for $100-200. Although I haven't used a slide projector myself for the purpose of tracing the enlarged image, I imagine that a crisp, clear slide inside a good slide projector should make a really accurate enlargement that would be easier to trace than the projection you would get from of a middle-range opaque projector.

Kopykake K-35 Single-Slide Art Projector  

LCD projector or DLP projector

For those of you who are adventurous and handy with tools, here is a link to building your own LCD projector: http://lumenlab.com/projectors.

overhead projector

I remember when I was a student in school, all the teachers used overhead projectors to project their lessons onto the wall, and the images were always quite crisp and clear. This makes them an excellent candidate for enlarging reference photos!

To use an overhead projector, you will need a transparency of your reference photo. These days you can get inkjet transparencies that go through your home printer, so you can quickly and easily print them off yourself. The downside is that overhead projectors do cost a few hundred smackeroos, and there's a good chance that you may not get much use out of them, other than to enlarge your photos. This is fine if you'll be enlarging all the time, but mostly you'll be spending your time painting! I would suggest only investing in one if you would use it also for school or work purposes. On that note, if you have one at your school or workplace, see if you can borrow it to enlarge your image!

Apollo Ventura 4000 Portable Overhead Projector	Apollo Concept 3000 Lumen Overhead Projector

Any questions about art projectors or photorealist painting in general? Drop me a line here.

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Read a current and historical overview of Photorealist painting techniques and methods. It is beneficial to familarize yourself with this information before you embark on your own journey to create photorealistic paintings.

Familiarize yourself with the Photorealist art movement by reading my overview of Photorealism.

Check out some of these excellent books on Photorealism and Photorealist artists.