Before we close out our Understanding Projector Technology series on the blog, we have a few loose ends to wrap up. One is a discussion of brightness. At Experience Audio Video, we know that brightness is a critically important factor in the projector buying decision process. If you make the wrong choice on brightness, you’ll have a perpetually frustrating experience using your projector. And there won’t be any way to fix it without replacing the entire projector.
So let’s jump in and explain how brightness is measured as well as the recommended brightness for typical business applications.
How Brightness Is Measured
Projector brightness is measured in lumens. It’s the same measurement system that’s used for lightbulbs and really any light source you can imagine.
On the surface, lumen measurement is fairly simple. Higher numbers mean higher brightness. But when you dig into the details, you’ll actually see two measurements: a white brightness rating and a color brightness rating.
Think of white brightness as a measure of the total possible brightness output of the projector. Color brightness, on the other hand, measures how bright individual colors can be.
How to Choose the Right Brightness
In most business settings, you want a fairly bright projector. If you intend to use the projector in a well-lit space, you need a high lumen output to compete with the ambient light. And if you’re hoping to use a projector in an outdoor space, you need exceedingly high lumen output, like what’s available from laser projectors.
However, brightest isn’t always best. If you’re buying a projector for use in more theater-like conditions where the ambient light is low or nonexistent, too many lumens will wash out the picture and irritate your viewers.
Let an Expert Calibrate Your Space
Because every space and use case is unique, the best way to pick the perfect brightness is to work with a professional. Contact us today for a free consultation and rest assured that you’ll be satisfied with your choice.