To use the projector, it must be installed and configured. If you unpacked the device and immediately directed its lens to a white sheet, the image will have poor quality. It is necessary to calculate the distance, hang the screen, choose the size of the picture, calibrate the colors, set the brightness and contrast. You can call the master, who will do all this for a decent fee. But figuring out how to set up a projector is easy enough.

You can set up the projector yourself

Installation

Before installing the product, be sure to read the documents attached to it. Each model of projection equipment has its own nuances. If you received it not from the "box" and you do not have instructions, it can be found on the official website of the manufacturer.

You should not put devices with high resolution in a small room. The product has characteristics that must be considered before purchasing. Setting up the projector begins with choosing a place for it. It is better to look after the entire set of projection equipment in advance and measure the room to which you are going to deliver it. To calculate everything. Use the information on the manufacturer's website. Or see the documentation for the device. It shows the optimal distance to the wall and the recommended screen size.

Modern projector - this is not filmscopes for filmstrips, which could be seen on the “white sheet”. Although nothing prevents you from using the old proven method. But to get a high-quality picture and to fully experience the effect of presence, you need a special screen. How it is installed and how to set up projection equipment depends on its size.

On the manufacturer's website should be a calculator. There you must specify the characteristics of the screen and device model. And get the recommended distance from the projector to the wall. These are approximate values ​​- it is not necessary to verify the length down to the millimeter.

To calculate yourself, you need a projection device ratio, horizontal and vertical offset. These parameters are in the characteristics of the equipment. On them it is possible to calculate where to put it.

If you have a standard room with a sofa and a couple of chairs (and not a theater room with several rows of chairs), then the screen should be hung at a height of 61-92 cm from the floor

If the projection ratio is 3: 1 (three to one), and the screen size is 200 centimeters, then the distance between the product and the wall should be 3 × 200 (multiply the projection ratio by size). This is the recommended value. Focus more on your perception. If the picture does not suit you, move the projector.

The height at which the projection equipment should be located depends on the vertical offset. This parameter is indicated as a percentage. Someone puts the playback device on the floor, someone - on the bedside table, someone - hangs from the ceiling. If the vertical offset is with a plus sign (for example, + 90%), the picture will be higher than the device. If with a minus sign (-91%) - below. In some models, you can rotate the lens.

Proper installation of the screen is also an important point. Of course, this largely depends on the situation in the room. Projection equipment should be so that you can watch movies with comfort. But still need to follow some recommendations.

• Do not broadcast the screen on the wall, which falls direct light. Even a good and properly tuned projector will not show well if the room is very bright.
• There should be no foreign objects between the lens of the device and the wall. If you decide to put the product behind the audience, keep in mind that their heads can cover part of the frame.
• The closer the lens is to the wall, the brighter the image. But this decreases the clarity. Turn on the projection equipment to see how the picture will look like. Without such a test, it is impossible to choose the resolution, projector contrast and other parameters.
• Find a position so that the projection falls directly on the screen. If necessary, set the device higher or lower. Sit on the place from which you will watch the video. Check to see if everything is visible, whether shadows from objects or glare interfere.
• If you hang the device under the ceiling, use a special mount.
• Decide in advance where the wires will be and whether their length is enough.

Connection

To computer

The projector can be connected to a computer as a second monitor or instead of it. So video from PC will be played on the big screen. And you can customize settings with the mouse and keyboard.

Projection equipment and displays typically use a single video adapter port - VGA. And to connect them simultaneously, you need a VGA-DVI cable. For the monitor, leave the main video output. And connect the projector to the DVI slot via an adapter. If the video card has several VGA ports, no additional wires are needed. Use the ones that come with the device (are in the box with it). Some models of projection equipment work via HDMI and even via USB. If these slots are not available, you will also need an adapter.

After connecting the computer must determine the presence of the projector. If the driver came with it, install it. Or, in the settings of the projection equipment, find the “Signal Source” and specify the port to which the cable goes.

To interact with two video devices:

• Start - Control Panel.
• Screen icon. He is in the "Design".
• Item "Screen Resolution" or "Screen Settings". They are on the left.

Screen resolution

• If the PC “sees” the projection equipment, then two desktops will be available in the menu.
• Also there will appear a drop-down list of "Multiple screens".
• You can choose one main display. And then switch.
• Or the line “Duplicate”, so that everything on the monitor and projection is the same.
• Or the option "Expand Screens". Then one device will be a continuation of the other. If you drag an object beyond the “borders” of the monitor, it will appear in the projection.

With a computer, it is easy to figure out how to turn the image on the projector:

1. Open the screen options. This is where you worked with the two displays.
2. Highlight the desktop device.
3. Pay attention to the item "Orientation". There you can select the "Album", "Portrait" and "Inverted" options.

Setting screen orientation in Windows 7

When connected to a PC on the projector, an error like “Signal not recognized” may appear. This does not mean that the equipment is incompatible. Just the device does not support the resolution that is installed on the computer. Look in the instructions for the product, what size of the picture is suitable for him. The same information is on the official website of the manufacturer. Set the desired resolution in the display settings.

If you use the device instead of the main monitor, the final setup of the projector will have to be done on the big screen. This is not very convenient. Especially when the computer is far away and you don’t see the projection.

The product can support Wi-Fi. But to work on such a network, you need to create a DLNA server (multimedia). Another loophole - connect the projector to the PC, and the monitor to the projector. And you will have two screens.

To the player or console

The image shows the connection of the projector to the console and other equipment.

Projection equipment works in tandem with DVD players or set-top boxes if they have suitable ports. But then the choice of parameters depends on the menu of all used products. And it can vary greatly depending on the model.

The projector connects to the player like a normal monitor. After connecting, go to the settings and set the appropriate resolution. It is indicated in the characteristics of the projection equipment. Be sure to read the instructions for these devices. If it is inconvenient to “climb” on the big screen by the parameters in the search for the desired item, connect the set-top box to the monitor, reconfigure it, and then attach it to the projector.

Cameras, camcorders, Blue-Ray and game consoles can also be used. Look in the manual for which devices the projection equipment supports. After connecting, start searching for new gadgets on it or select the port in the Signal Sources menu.

To smartphone or tablet

Better to use Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. Because for a wired connection, you will need as many as two adapters that need to be purchased separately. The first - from the port of your phone to HDMI. The second is from HDMI to VGA.

There is a wireless connection of the projector to the phone using Wi-Fi

But there may be a problem. The HDMI cable will occupy the slot of the smartphone into which "charging" is inserted. And to play video on the projector you need a lot of energy. If the phone battery quickly sits down, look for a wire with a splitter, which has ports for HDMI and a charger.

The result is a rather complicated chain of cables. Run on the projector to search for new equipment. And you can enjoy the picture.

Through a wireless network, this is easier to do:

1. In the projector settings, go to "Signal Source". The name may differ. All available ports are listed there.
2. Select "DLNA" or "Wi-Fi". The network name and password will appear.
3. Activate "Wi-Fi" on the phone.
4. Find the network of the projector and enter the password to it.
5. Open the settings of your smartphone or tablet.
6. Item "Screen".
7. "Wireless Monitor" or "Wireless Projector".
8. Select a device and enable data transfer.
9. You can also pick up the brightness, contrast, and in some models even flip the image.

DLNA

To integrate all audio and video equipment into one multimedia network:

• Control Panel - Homegroup. If you are actively displaying by category, then go to the "Network and Internet" section.
• Click Create Group.
• Click "Next".
• Select the objects to which you want to provide network access. It will only be for devices in the group. The projector needs “Video”, “Music” and “Images”.

Selecting objects to share

• If you already have a home group, give it access to multimedia content.
• Confirm the changes.
• A password will appear, which must be entered when connecting new equipment to DLNA. It can be changed.
• Click Finish. The current group settings will be displayed.
• Click "Allow devices to play the shared content."
• Come up with a name for the multimedia library.
• When connecting the projector, give it access to the home group. And it will open files that are in the folders “C: \ Users \ Public” or “C: \ Users \ General”.

You can also download software for managing common graphic, audio and video data. For example, there are utilities “JRiver Media Center” and “Home Media Server”.

With a wireless connection, the functionality of the projection equipment is limited. It will not be possible to change the image parameters through a computer and figure out how to turn the screen on the projector. Only viewing content is available - you can open files from shared directories.

Picture setting

And the last stage of the setup is the picture itself. Brightness, gamma, saturation. They need to pick their own. The quality of the frame is influenced by many factors: the lighting in the room, the distance to the screen, the screen itself, the number of viewers, your personal preferences and perceptions, the situation (for example, watching a movie with your family or a presentation to colleagues). It is impossible to say unequivocally which contrast of the projector is better. This will have to determine "by eye".

Brightness is important for demonstration in the office. To all saw the screen. With a small number of viewers, it is better to focus on saturation and gamma. They increase clarity.

1. Take some reference image, which you will be guided by. It can be a frame from a movie or a photo.
2. The picture for adjusting the projector should include dark and light colors. The best option is black and white. It is desirable that there were small parts. And not just a monochrome "fill", but the texture of some material. For example, clothing, wallpaper.
3. We must choose the "method of scientific tyke." Assess at what values ​​of gamma and contrast you best see the transitions between colors.
4. Adjust the brightness so as not to lose image clarity.
5. Check the settings on other frames. See excerpt from the video. If you do not get tired eyes, you do not need to strain to see the details, the light does not blind you, it means that you have found the perfect parameters.

This can be done via PC.

• Control Panel - Screen.
• "Calibration of colors."

Calibrate colors in Windows 7

• Transfer the opened menu to the monitor (screen) that you want to configure.
• Click "Next" several times. Along the way, read the instructions that appear in the window.
• You will be given an example of a "good" and "bad" scale. Focus on him and on his perception.
• Set the value that suits you and “Next” again.
• When choosing the contrast and brightness, reference pictures with explanations will also appear.

Power point

Projectors are often used to present presentations. The Power Point program even has a separate tool.

1. In it, open the Slideshow tab (not the menu, but the tab).
2. Open the "Show on ..." list.
3. If everything is properly connected and configured, there will be a projector.
4. To change the size and quality of the frame, click on "Resolution".
5. You can use the option "speaker mode". So on the screen will display the buttons to control the presentation and notes.

Understand how the contrast and brightness of the projector is better, you can on personal experience. There are no universal options. For official presentations, the settings are one, for “home” viewing - others.