You are having a movie night with your friends but the projector broke down. There are different prices of projectors online but most are expensive. Worry not, because you can still watch even without an actual projector. Our experts listed the methods on how you project your laptop on a wall without the use of a projector.
Making an Easy DIY Projector
Projectors have been used widely as they can easily project your laptop screen on a bigger display. They are usually used for watching movies because they display an image of high quality on a big screen. However, most will need to connect it with external speakers for audio output.
They have been making their way to home theaters, slowly replacing TVs. Buying a good-quality projector can be expensive though. Hence, doing a DIY mobile projector can be the key to lessen the expense.
Tools & Materials
Before starting the process of how to project a laptop screen to a wall without a projector, you need to prepare all the materials first. Here are the items you have to prepare for your inexpensive do-it-yourself projector.
- Tape
- Pencil
- Laptop
- Glue stick
- Smartphone
- Precision knife
- Cardboard box
- Black matte paper
- Magnifying lens, preferably a large one
These are all common household items. If some materials are not available, you can replace some of them with any materials at home that will do the same job. This method will give you a DIY laptop or a cardboard phone projector. So once everything is available, you can start with your project.
Don’t worry as you don’t have to be a creative person here. You just have to follow the cost-effective method of how to project a laptop screen to a wall without a projector. Your decision-making will just be needed when looking for a replacement for the listed materials above.
Step #1: Check the Size of the Box and Mirror
The first thing to do is to decide the size of the box you are going to use. It should be large enough to fit your laptop or mobile phone and have a magnifying glass. A light source will be used to line the inside of the container and pass through the magnifying glass.
Ensure that you use the right box size, preferably a long box. It allows you to adjust the distance of the laptop and the lens nicely. This will create an adjustable focus for your projector. If you are using a laptop, use a lens as big as your screen.
Place the lens in the middle of the narrow side of the box and trace the shape using a pencil. If you want a brighter and better image quality, then you have to use a light source that can provide more light ray.
Step #2: Dim the Interior
Using the precision knife, cut open the outer box starting from a single corner. This is better done in the box’s edge in order not to damage the box walls. Cover the interior of the container with thick black paper or black matte paper. Don’t forget to apply glue to the paper so that it will maintain its position.
The black paper will prevent the interior walls of the box from reflecting the light, hence making it dimmer. This will then provide the ideal image which will be projected on the large screen.
Another option is to use black paint. Just apply a black color to the interior of the box then let the paint dry. Just make sure that all adjacent sides are painted black.
Step #3: Add the Lens
Slice the box according to the trace you made of the lens. Our experts suggest that the hole and the lens should be of the same size in order to project images properly. Once done, install the lens into the hole that you made.
Step #4: Make a Hole for the Phone
On this part, you will need to make a manual, adjustable focus designed for your phone screen. This step will entail you making and using a second box that needs to be complementary to the first box.
Take a small box that will fit inside the big box. Then cut out one side of the box that has the same dimensions as your mobile screen. You also have to make sure that the second box does not have any shiny material to avoid interrupting the projector.
Step #5: Adjust the Other Parts
Now that the projector is done, you can now adjust the fine details of the project. If you are using a shoebox, you may have to cut out part of the lid so it will not cover any part of the magnifying lens.
Step #6: Set Up the Laptop or Phone
Once everything is ready, you can place the laptop inside the box. Start watching a movie and watch the picture size get boosted to the wall. However, without changing any settings, the projected image will be upside down.
To make this right, search for the video editor 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.
The next image that will be displayed on your laptop screen will be upside down but it will be the correct orientation when projected on the wall. To save time, Windows 10 users can just search for display settings and hit enter.
When using a mobile phone, disable the auto-rotation mode and position the phone upside down. This will provide the same results the same using the laptop.
Adjusting the Focus
Now test your projector. Play a movie and test the image quality. If the quality is not very good, then adjust the focus by moving the laptop off the phone. Adjust it until you achieve your desired image.
For the sound, you might need an external speaker to achieve a loud sound since the laptop or the phone will need to be inside a container. This will make the sound trapped inside. If your speaker has a VGA port, then use the VGA cable to connect the devices.
If VGA cable is not available, check for RCA or HDMI cable compatibility.
(To know more about VGAs, we have a dedicated page for VGA max resolution here)
Using Flashlight as Projector
Our experts suggest another fun way on how to project a laptop screen to a wall without a projector. You will be using a Fresnel lens [1] and a flashlight on this.
Using the abovementioned lens, have the flashlight point to the wall so it will act as a magnifier. You will have to adjust the aim of the lens until the projected image is to your liking.
By doing these DIY projectors, you no longer need to decide on which projectors you have to buy. You can have an enjoyable viewing experience during movie time or even during birthday parties.
Much to the viewer’s utter delight, these DIY projectors will also work for outdoor viewing but with lower quality than the commercial ones.
FAQ
What are the other alternatives for a projector?
There are other alternatives to a projector if you want to project an image. You can use a DIY projector box with a lens and a flashlight to display enlarged images on the wall. You can also use a fresnel lens with the same effect.
What programs can I use to set up my phone as a projector?
There are programs that you can use to set up your phone as a projector. The following programs are specifically designed for mobile devices running on Android OS. It includes MultiPresenter, ClickShare, Epson iProjection, and Panasonic Wireless Projector
Conclusion
Watching movies even without a projector is possible. Our experts have compiled the methods you can follow on how to project a laptop screen to a wall without a projector. You can DIY your own by using a box, lens, and your laptop or mobile device. This will display an enlarged image much like what your projector does.
If you are looking for projectors for your everyday needs, you can see our list below:
