Projecting from a laptop is super easy but what happens if you do not have a screen?
Screens are designed to give you a clear and sharp image but you may not always have one handy.
If you need to project but do not have a screen, a wall is the next best thing. With your laptop and projector, you can easily project images onto a wall.
We will give you a step by step guide to help you get the best results when projecting on a wall. Let’s get started.
Quick Navigation
Assemble Your Equipment
You will need the following:
- Laptop
- Projector
- Projector remote
- A laptop power cord
- A VGA / HDMI / USB cable
- A smooth neutral wall surface (white is preferable)
Connect Your Projector to the Laptop
- Start by ensuring that your laptop is fully charged. You do not want your laptop shutting down while you are projecting.
- If your laptop is not fully charged, connect it to the power cord and plug it into a power source. If you are projecting far from a power source, get a power strip with multiple outlets to use.
- Power on your laptop and login as you would normally. Once your laptop is up and running you can now connect your VGA / HDMI cable to the laptop.
- Next, position your projector facing the wall that you will be projecting onto. The projector needs to be close enough to the laptop so that your VGA cable can reach the projector from the laptop.
- Once you have identified the appropriate position, you can now plug your projector into the power source.
- Power your projector on. It may take a few minutes for it to power on.
- Once your projector is on, connect it to the laptop using the VGA / HDMI cable. Make sure the cable is securely attached to both the laptop and the projector.
- If you do not have a VGA or HDMI cable, you can use a USB cable to connect your projector to the laptop.
- Your projector should detect your laptop automatically at this point. You should see the image of your laptop home screen projected onto the wall.
- If there is no image, check the display options on your laptop. You can do this by clicking on Control Panel > Displays > Settings and click “Identify.” You will get options of available displays. Click on a projector option.
Start Viewing
Once you can see an image projected on the wall, your setup is ready. Find the presentation, image or video that you want to project.
Just scroll through your laptop until you find your presentation or image and press view or play. Make sure you set the display to full-screen mode.
When projecting on a wall from a laptop, there are two things that will affect the clarity of your images:
1. The color of the wall
If you are projecting on a dark wall, the surface will not be reflective enough to provide clear images.
To get the best images you need to project onto a light-colored wall. A white wall is usually the best option.
2. The texture of the wall
When projecting, a smooth surface is essential for a clear and sharp image. A bumpy or cracked wall will give you blurry images.
Use the smoothest wall you can find to project onto if you want to get the best images possible.
Always remember to keep the ambient light in the room as low as possible to get the best viewing experience.
Turn off any overhead lights so that the only light reflecting on your projection wall is coming from the projector.
Pros and Cons of Projecting on a Wall
Projecting on a wall may have its drawbacks but it also has its advantages:
Pros
- You do not have to buy a screen
- You can set up anywhere including outdoors
- Your image size is not restricted to a particular screen size so you can project giant images.
Cons
As flexible as projecting on a wall is there are a few cons you will have to deal with.
- You can get a decent image projecting on a wall but screens are better in terms of picture quality. Screens are designed to absorb ambient light so they have a better reflective quality.
- Projecting on a wall means you have to find a wall that is appropriate for the task. With a screen, you can set up anywhere but with a wall, the color of paint and texture may restrict your options.
Tips for Projecting on a Wall From Your Laptop
Color correct
Some projectors have settings to correct to the background color. This can help to sharpen the images and give you better clarity.
Pitch dark for dark walls
In some cases, you may not have a white or light-colored wall. If you only have dark walls to work with, ensure you eliminate all ambient light in the room.
In pitch darkness, your projected images will be brighter and will stand out against the dark background.
White walls are best
If you are projecting onto a white wall, you do not need to do it in pitch blackness. White walls are more reflective. This means you can have some ambient lighting in the room. Just make sure it’s not too bright.
Projector screen paint
Depending on how often you plan on projecting onto a wall, projector screen paint may come in handy. Projector paint is a good alternative if you want a more permanent solution for projecting without a screen.
Adjust display settings on your laptop
To get the best image quality possible, adjust the display options on your laptop. You can play around with the brightness, contrast, and sharpness options.
The best settings for projecting on your wall may differ from those on your laptop screen. Adjust your settings to get the best picture quality possible.
Conclusion
A wall is a quick fix when you need to project from your laptop without a screen.
When you are projecting on a wall, you are not restricted in terms of image size or location. This flexibility means you can project from your laptop almost anywhere.
Just follow the simple steps and tips outlined above for a quick and easy setup.
Vance is a dad, former software engineer, and tech lover. Knowing how a computer works becomes handy when he builds Pointer Clicker. His quest is to make tech more accessible for non-techie users. When not working with his team, you can find him caring for his son and gaming.