The Five Best Digital Art Projectors for 2024 - Artists Review

In the modern world, there is no profession that is not being influenced by the surge of technology, and artists can’t claim differently. From 3D sculptures to animation to digital painting, digital art has seen a significant growth lately. It’s a common misconception that digital art simply means graphic designing. It’s a very diverse medium. Accordingly, art projectors are very useful tools for artists to create diverse and unique work.

If you’re a digital artist, you need the perfect HD projector. Luckily, we’ve listed some of our top picks for the best art projectors in the market.

However, we do recommend checking out our art projector (below) buying guide before going into our reviews.

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

• Best Art Projectors - The Buying Guide
• Top 5 Best Art Projector for 2020
• FAQs

Best Digital Art Projectors - The Buying Guide

Once you’ve gone through our list, you may be wondering: what art projector is the best for me? To answer this, we’ve come up with a helpful buying guide. Every smart consumer knows to research before making a purchase. This is why consulting buying guides is important.

Uses for a Digital Art Projector

Firstly, what can you do with an art projector? Let’s list some of these to give you an idea about the different uses for an art projector.

There are many ways to get creative, including:

• Displaying digital art
• Making an interactive art piece
• Painting murals
• Making a laser-light display
• Creating optical illusions
• Creating animated art
• Making 3D art/film

These are just some examples. As artists, you have complete freedom to do whatever you want and create more innovative methods for digital art.

Things to Consider When Buying an Art Projector

Now, what are the things you should be looking at? Firstly, consider your budget i.e. how much are you willing to spend. If you need a projector for a one-time project, you may want a cheaper option.

However, for long-term use, think about a long-term investment. Compromise on the price for better quality (and consequently, durability).

Other things to consider are:

Type of Projector

There are many types of projectors, including digital, LED, and opaque. Digital projectors are the most versatile and easy to use. LED and opaque projectors are meant for specific purposes. For example, opaque projectors are only used for large-scale images.

Think about what you’re going to use the projector for. For the above-mentioned uses, a digital projector is more than enough.

Overhead vs Portable Projector

For artists, flexibility is usually the most important thing. Therefore, portable projectors such as the PIQO 1080p Mini are more desirable. However, again, this depends on what type of project you’re doing.

For moving visuals such as animation, overhead projectors are the best. However, if you look around, people are now giving more importance to compact and portable products - trending portable washer is another example.

Level of Brightness

Where are you planning on setting up the projector? Usually, you don’t need high levels of brightness unless you’re working outside. However, most projectors work best inside, so take that into account when planning your digital art project.

Size (of Art Studio)

The physical size of your art studio makes a big difference. For example, the iDGLAX has a throw distance of a minimum of 49.2 inches and a maximum of 157.48 inches. The length and width of your art studio (or other working areas) must be bigger than 157.48 inches.

In essence, you need to know what type of area you’ll work in beforehand.

Top 5 Best Digital Art Projector for 2020.

Before we get into our list, let’s name the contenders. We’ve picked each product based on picture quality, versatility, portability, and of course, user recommendations.

Here are the best projectors for artists in the coming year.

You’ve had an overview. Let’s dig a little deeper now. Our list for the best art projectors for digital art includes some great, easy-to-use items. However, as mentioned above, our number one pick is the PIQO mini art projector. It’s certainly the most well-rounded and versatile product in the market.

Not convinced? Check out the review:

PIQO 1080p Portable Projector

With more than 50 years of experience, the founders of PIQO aim to combine high-quality with innovation through their products. They have a global client base, with offices all over Asia, North America, and Europe. The PIQO 1080p Mini Projector is their exclusive, multi-functional projector.

It’s our number one pick because it’s a very compact and versatile product. You can use at home, work, or outdoors. As it’s easy to transport, you can use this device for multiple art projects and even personal use.

As for performance, the 1080p portable projector is fast and high-quality. The DLP technology delivers amazing image quality, and a brightness range up to 200 Lumens. Moreover, the projector has fast, universal compatibility. It’s perfect for any Windows, Android, or iOS device.

Also, it comes with USB, HDMI, WiFi, and Bluetooth 5.0 connection features. You can use the projector for up to five hours on a single charge. Additionally, it’s fast-charging, so you don’t need to wait around for it to charge. 15 minutes of charging will give you one hour of run time.

As artists, you may not need a big screen, but what you do need is control.

Consequently, what makes this a perfect art projector is the Keystone Angle Correction. These are gravity sensors that let you adjust the display to your liking. You can control it manually or pick automatic settings.

Pros:

• Lightweight (less than 210 grams)
• Touch screen
• Offline storage available
• High-quality Hi-Fi speakers

Cons:

• The brightness range is a bit small
• Relatively expensive

ViewSonic 1080p Projector

ViewSonic is an American and Taiwanese brand, based in Brea, California. Founded in 1986 by current CEO James Chu, the company is focused on delivering affordable yet high-performance visual display products to consumers all over the world. The ViewSonic 1080p Projector is no exception to this mission statement.

With its HD screen resolution, the ViewSonic gives you bright, immersive image quality. It has a wide color range, making it an ideal projector for artists. You can take full advantage of the shade range and display colorful digital art.

Moreover, this 1080p portable projector has reduced input latency, which means the image quality never wavers. For example, if you’re playing a video or audio, the accompanying images won’t get stuck, ruining your entire sequence.

Additionally, the maximum screen size is very big, which is perfect for outdoor events and large-scale art projects. It’s full HD, which means the picture comes in at 1920 by 1080p.

Pros:

• Three-year warranty (for limited parts) and one-year lamp coverage
• Universal compatibility
• Includes remote control, HDMI, and USB cable
• 15,000-long lamp life 

Cons:

• The screen size range is small
• Only suitable for larger-scale projects

BenQ MH535FHD 1080P Home Theater Projector

Based in Taipei, Taiwan, BenQ is a multinational electronics company that sells top-of-the-line projectors, monitors, lighting, and speakers. The brand has been working for customer satisfaction since 1984. The BenQ MH535FHD comes highly recommended.

If you’re looking for sharp image quality, this art projector has you covered. It has a 1080p 3D resolution, which gives you a highly immersive experience. Consequently, it’s a great projector for gaming and movies as well.

It works in any ambient or outdoor lighting with a maximum brightness of 3600 Lumens. This is a very high brightness range, making the projector ideal for outdoor spaces.

However, the best part is the 1.2 zoom, which allows you to easily correct the screen position. Therefore, installation (whether it’s fixed or not) becomes much simpler with the BenQ MH535FHD.

Also, the rainbow effect is completely wiped out with the projector’s contrast levels. Although, you’ll need to adjust the levels yourself until the effect is gone.

Pros:

• The sleek, white look
• Quiet cooling system
• Good brightness levels
• Highly versatile connectivity

Cons:

• The mounting holes are a bit off-center
• The menus aren’t intuitive

DBPOWER Upgraded Mini Projector

Another international company, DBPower is US-based and has been manufacturing high-tech consumer gadgets for over a decade. The brand aims to create innovative and high-performance gadgets that bring customers high value for money.

The DBPower Upgraded  Mini Projector is a new and improved version of their L12 Mini Projector. Unlike the older version, it has 70% more brightness and 50% more image resolution.

The cooling system (consisting of two noise-free fans) runs for more than 50 hours, giving you long use without overheating. The projector is highly energy-efficient and has a 50,000 long LED lamp life.

Moreover, the color contrast ratio is very sensitive at 2000:1. Each pixel displays 100% accurate colors and shades, doing justice to any artwork you want to display.

Pros:

• Smartphone compatible
• Good for drawing sketches
• High-quality Bluetooth speakers
• Easy to set up

Cons:

• Adjusting the focus is a bit difficult
• Not good in bright ambient lighting

iDGLAX iDG-787 Mini Portable Projector

Lastly, we have the iDGLAX iDG-787 Mini Portable Projector. iDGLAX or iDigital Galaxy is a Chinese company, based in Beijing, that’s been working on high-tech video products for 10 years. Their product range includes LCD projectors for home DVD, bars, sports, and even hotels.

The iDGLAX iDG-787 is a great projector for home theatre and art projects. The specifications are as follows:

• The native resolution is 640 to 480
• The aspect ratio is 16:9 and 4:3
• Lastly, the contrast ratio is 800:1

This gives you decent image quality in both dim and bright light settings. Moreover, the LED lamp has low-energy consumption, making it both sustainable and high-performance. According to the manufacturer, the LED bulb has an average life of 20,000 hours.

Since it’s portable, you can easily use it in different places. Also, the USB port allows an easy transference of data, including videos, pictures, multimedia presentations, and even music.

Lastly, the projector has a high-performance cooling system, with two ball-bearing fans built into it. The fans work with low-noise and fast-speed, so you don’t have to worry about either.

Pros:

• The manual’s available in 23 languages
• Adjustable screen size
• Remote control settings for more convenience
• High-value for the price

Cons:

• Doesn’t come with an HDMI adapter
• Only supports USB flash drive, not USB cord

FAQs

Lastly, here are some answers to your frequently-asked-questions about art projectors.

What’s the difference between an art projector and a normal projector?

Art projectors have helpful features for artists such as:

• Grids
• Adjustable screens
• High color resolution
• More sensitive grayscale
• Color temperature adjustments

Normal, home theatre projectors don’t have these features.

How do you paint with an art projector?

Simply display the image on the wall or canvas and trace over it. However, be mindful that you’ve adjusted the screen properly or you’ll have an inverted mural on your hands.

How do opaque projectors work?

Opaque projectors require dim or dark lighting to work properly. You have to shine a light on an opaque object (for example, a photograph) and use a series of mirrors and lenses to cast the image onto a wall or surface.

To emphasize, opaque projectors are more traditional. You need a physical copy of the image(s) you want to project. These are typically more expensive than other art projectors, so consider the pros and cons before purchasing.

If you want to learn more, you can find multiple comprehensive opaque projector guides online.

Conclusion

Simply put, art has become far more diverse and innovative with technology. Art projectors, in particular, are very useful devices for artists as they allow you to design a piece with more precision and accuracy. We hope our list was helpful and informative in your quest for a new art projector.

In essence, we highly recommend the PIQO 1080p Mini Projector as it’s the most innovative item on our list that gives you maximum control and creative freedom over your designs. 

PIQO Projector: Where Art Meets Technology. Exceptional Battery Life for Long Art Sessions. Elevate Your Artistic Presentation Today!