Projector Contrast, Brightness and Optical Resolution

When choosing a projector, you should carefully consider several parameters. For the image to be truly high-quality, the device must create a luminous flux of sufficient brightness. Equally important is the contrast of the projector and its resolution. Each of these characteristics is discussed in detail in the presented material.

Contrast

The brightness of the projector and overall image quality are largely related to the contrast ratio. It can be defined as the brightness of light that reflects from a pure white screen to the brightness that reflects from a pure black screen. Simply put, the contrast of a projector is how many times the white rays will be brighter than the black ones.

If the model description states that the contrast is 2000:1, this means that the white image is 2000 times brighter than the black image. The higher this indicator, the easier it is to distinguish image details. This is especially important for items such as:

• text;
• formulas;
• Images;
• schedule.

If we talk specifically about what is the best projector contrast, it is best to choose devices with an indicator of 1000:1. Moreover, it is not necessary to strive for very high values, for example, 5000-10000:1.

In fact, even the highest contrast reduces the lighting in the room. If you turn off the overhead light source, the image will be of high quality, even if the projector's luminous flux corresponds to a contrast ratio of 1000:1.

Brightness

An equally important role is played by such a characteristic as the color brightness of the projector.It can be defined as the amount of color in an image or the intensity of lighting. It is this indicator that affects the perception of different colors by the eyes. So, the higher the brightness, the lighter the picture will be, and the lower it is, the darker it will be. For the image to be truly high-quality, the brightness level, as well as the contrast ratio of the projector, must be balanced.

The brightness parameter is measured in lumens (denoted by lm, ANSI Lumen or ANSI Lm). You should select a projector based on this criterion, taking into account the diagonal and screen type:

1. For a white matte canvas with a diagonal of 3.5 m, 200-500 lm is sufficient.
2. In small rooms you can use devices with 400-600 lm.
3. If you need to watch movies in high quality in a darkened room, you should select devices with 700-800 lm.
4. If viewing is planned to be carried out in daylight, select models with an indicator of 900-1500 lm.
5. Brightness from 1200 lm provides high quality for watching movies in a home theater.
6. If the room is large (classroom), you should select models with 2500 lm.
7. Finally, for very large screens, projectors with a rating of 3,000 to 12,000 lumens are suitable.

Optical resolution

Finally, the image quality is also affected by such an important parameter as the optical resolution of the projector. It is defined as the number of pixels (dots) that create images. It is quite obvious that the higher the indicator, the better. There are 3 main options:

1. 1280*720 pixels – the most popular ratio that ensures high-quality video display in 720p format.
2. 1280*768 pixels Ideal for 16:9 video.
3. 1920*1080 pixels – maximum resolution, 1080p format. Provides high quality video with excellent color reproduction and clear images.

Also, when choosing a projector, take into account the types of connectors, lamp performance, manufacturer brand, price-quality ratio. It is recommended to study customer reviews on different portals and compare average ratings. Thanks to this, you can purchase a truly high-quality model at a reasonable cost.