How to project laptop screen to wall without projector? Projectors have appeared in our world quite recently. The world’s first film projector, the cinematograph, was created back in 1895 by the Lumiere brothers.
Today it is more popular than ever. We use these devices in many aspects of life. In educational institutions, this is done to facilitate the learning process by visualizing information that is difficult to present. But the projector can be used not only for training. Watching movies at the cinema or at home with the help of such a device brings a lot of fun.
Just imagine: you are preparing for a very important meeting with friends or a significant other and want to show something from a laptop screen on the wall and realize that the projector you need is out of order. There is always a way out – go and buy a new one. But sometimes you may not be able to afford it. How to project laptop screen to wall without projector?
We have a couple of ideas on how to save your event on our own – do-it-yourself projector.
Contents
Different types of projectors
- A slide projector is based on the passage of a light stream through a transparent medium. The figure below shows a diagram of such a device.
- Epiprojectors work by reflecting the light flux from opaque objects.
- Movie projectors transmit video information from moving film slides when a light stream passes through them.
- DLP projectors broadcast video information by reflecting the light flux from a special chip. The flow itself in them is formed by a color logic matrix. Such devices produce high image clarity and color accuracy.
- LCD projectors realize image transmission by passing light through a transparent LCD panel. Unlike DLP technology, liquid crystal projectors give bright, lively, and saturated colors at the output.
The projectors can be also of these types:
- Long-focus. Models that project an image at a great distance from a wall or screen. At the same time, the projection angle can often be adjusted.
- Short-focus. Such equipment provides a large picture at a distance of 3,2-6,5 ft from the projection surface.
- Ultra-short focus. Multimedia projectors that are located very close to the screen, at a distance of up to 0.9 ft. Such models are useful during performances when there is a risk of accidentally blocking the lens or casting a shadow on the screen.
The principle of projection technology
The principle of transferring an image from any carrier to a vertical surface from a laptop screen is based on the laws of optics. When different carriers interact with the light stream, the rays are refracted, the spectrum changes, and then displayed on the screen.
Each pixel projected onto the screen increases in size.
The image quality depends on the number of pixels and the more of them, the better it will be.
The simplest method is that you can put your laptop inside a specially equipped box and use this design with the usual ease to play videos and photos on the wall without a projector.
Needed materials
To get out of such a difficult situation and make a DIY projector, you do not need a large amount of inventory. But, this idea is much more economical and cheaper than buying a new one.
Before you get to work, make sure that everything you need is at your disposal to project laptop screen to the wall:
- Laptop or desktop computer;
- A knife or scissors;
- Smartphone;
- Tape;
- Black matte paper;
- Pencil;
- Glue stick;
- Cardboard box;
- Magnifying lens or fresnel lens (or a mirror and a magnifying glass).
Step #1: Find an outer box of a proper size
You need to find a suitable box for the size of your laptop screen. They must be of the same size. Look, maybe somewhere in your house, there is a nice box of shoes. It should be preferably a long box. From the magnifying glass, you pass the light source from the box through this glass.
Such a box allows you to precisely adjust the distance between the laptop and the lens.
It creates an adjustable focus for your laptop screen projector.
Place the mirror in the middle of the narrow side of the box and circle it in shape with a pencil.
Step #2: The inner surface of the box should be darkened
To create a darkened effect, you can use thick black paper or black matte paper.
Before covering the inside with paper, make sure that it fits tightly to the inner surface and fix it with glue.
The black paper does not allow the inner walls of the box to reflect light. And as a result, you get a good image on your wall without a projector. Physics works amazingly, doesn’t it?
If you do not have black paper at hand, you can do even easier and paint the inner surface with black paint.
Thanks to this manipulation, the light source is more noticeable.
Be sure to make sure that it is completely dry before proceeding to further action!
Step #3: The magnifying lens makes magic
The hole and the magnifying glass should be the same size. In another case, you get a distorted image and do not be satisfied with its quality at all.
It is necessary to fix the lens into the hole using duct tape or hot glue or silicone.
Step #4: Cut a hole
You need a second box, smaller in size. It should fit freely inside the first one.
Measure the length and width of your laptop screen and cut a rectangle of the appropriate size in the wall of a small box.
Step #5: Tidy up the appearance of the boxes
Make sure that the second box does not contain shiny elements or is not covered with glossy paper – this will interfere with image transmission. You also need to cut off all the extra components of the boxes, possible handles, and lids. Therefore cut the box’s edge.
Step #6: Set up the laptop
You did everything wonderful! And now you are ready for the last step – put your laptop into the miracle device you have made. It’s better to place the laptop’s screen where it can pass more light rays.
Have you noticed something strange? The image is turned upside down.
Search for the video editor or display settings on your laptop. Start a new project, then rename this project. Import the video and select it from the Projects library. Press on “Ctrl” + “R” to rotate the screen until it is upside down. Save the video.
Now the image on the large wall screen will be turned upside down, but on the wall, the result will be expected to be excellent and everything is ready for you to enjoy watching the movie.
In the end, you need to turn off the light in the room with the DIY projector.
Flashlight for help
There is also a workaround to find an image output on the wall without a projector. You can watch your favorite movie with a regular flashlight!
- Put the plastic wrap on one end of the toilet roll;
- Secure it with an elastic band;
- Place the sticker in the middle of the plastic wrapper.
- Turn off the lights!
- Shine the flashlight into the open end of the roll and point the projector at the wall or ceiling.
Use your mobile phone to make a cardboard phone projector
Many applications for the phone help you display the image from the phone’s screen in theory. If you open Google Play and search for “Projector”, you see a wide range of applications that offer to turn your smartphone into a projector.
The developers of these projects claim that it is the camera that acts as a DIY-mobile-projector, projecting the image from the phone screen onto the wall through a matrix.
If you open the reviews for any of these applications, you see that not a single user has received what the developer promised: they couldn’t project laptop screen to wall.
It seems logical that no smartphone without a built-in projector can work as a homemade projector.
How to customize the image and sound?
Many people may encounter the following problem: the DIY projector is working, but displays a very fuzzy image from a laptop screen on the wall. What should I do in this case? First of all, you need an adjustable focus.
The brightness of the laptop installed in the box should be at the maximum. Also, if possible, it is necessary to adjust the contrast of the image to the maximum value;
It is better to set the image three or four meters away from the viewer. The distance from the phone to the lens needs to be adjusted until the image is clearly displayed. To do this, you need to move the device forward or backward in the box.
If the sound fails you, then you need to find another external media, because the laptop must be in a box that can easily absorb all the sound.
If your speaker has a VGA port, then use the VGA cable to connect the devices. If a VGA cable is not available, check for RCA or HDMI cable compatibility.
Some more projector alternatives
Don’t worry if you didn’t manage to build a DIY projector handy.
We offer you the following options to project your laptop screen on the wall without a projector:
- Large format displays.
- Interactive whiteboards. This is a touch-screen panel that connects to a computer.
- LED walls. A large screen made of light-emitting diodes that display visual content like videos, images, text, and other forms of graphics.
- Smart TV is a large screen, a technological fusion of computers, televisions, and digital media players.
- A portable screen is a thin and light display of a small diagonal, from 13 to 16 inches. Such monitors work without connecting to the mains, and they receive power from a USB port.
- A laser TV is a projector screen based on color laser technology.
READ ALSO: A Comprehensive Guide on How to Take a Screenshot on Gateway Laptop
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I project my laptop to a screen?
If you come up with such a thing, be prepared that a successful result takes you a certain amount of time and effort. How to project laptop screen to wall without projector? Follow the following instructions to project a laptop screen on the wall:
1. Find a box of the proper size;
2. The inner surface of the box should be darkened;
3. Add the lens;
4. Cut a hole in your laptop;
5. Tidy up the appearance of the boxes;
6. Set up the laptop.
Can you project screen on wall?
Yes, it’s definitely possible to project your laptop screen on the wall without a projector.
Your needed tools to create a DIY projector are:
• Laptop;
• A knife or scissors;
• Smartphone;
• Tape;
• Black matte paper;
• Pencil;
• Glue stick;
• Cardboard box;
• Magnifying lens (or a mirror and a magnifying glass).
You need two boxes: one is larger, and the second should fit into it. Do not forget to lay black paper inside a large box, so you are sure that the rays do not be refracted. Cut a suitable hole for the lens in one box and for the laptop screen in the second.
Final thoughts
The own projector allows you to watch movies and play on the big screen. You can even project an image onto a wall — you don’t have to buy a special canvas. In addition, the projector is much more mobile than a TV — you can take it with you on trips.
Nothing can compare to watching a movie on the big screen. However, it is not always possible to go to the cinema to watch a movie. However, everyone can create a cinema at home, using a minimum of costs and tools. Just time and diligence are the secret ingredients of success in this business!
Such a DIY projector may not provide the same image quality as the usual store-bought projector. You still need to have some knowledge of physics to understand how this homemade mechanism works.