One of the most basic elements of worship is the use of a projector screen. This piece of equipment is often taken for granted, but it helps churches reach the pinnacle of spiritual communication. In this way, the congregation can follow the service, watch videos, check out advertisements, and check out the texts.
So you’ve seen all the mega churches and their huge lyrics and verses projected from behind the pastor. You have decided that the same technology could benefit your community, but you don’t know where to start. We are here to help!
Unfortunately, the answer to that question is “It depends”. There are a variety of factors to consider when deciding exactly which projector and screen to use in a church setting. We’ve broken everything down for you in simple terms below, so let’s take a look at exactly what to consider when shopping and installing your church projector and screen.
Which Aspect Ratio Is Best For Projector Screen?
It is important to format the aspect ratio of your projector to a format that matches your projection screen. Church applications can use a 16: 9 aspect ratio for video, or if it is for laptop and PowerPoint presentations, a 16:10 aspect ratio would be better.
Buying A Church Projector Screen
Here are some tips to keep in mind when purchasing a projector for church. Of course, every space is different and every organization has unique needs. Check out the buying guide below
Brightness Rating
One of the most important factors to consider when purchasing a church projector is its brightness. The projectors are available with different brightness levels. A projector’s brightness rating determines how bright the images it projects are.
Since church projectors are primarily used to display text, they need a higher level of brightness. The higher the brightness rating of a projector, the lower the influence of ambient lighting on your images. The text is displayed sharper and more legible even with projectors with a high brightness index.
The brightness rating of a projector is given in ANSI lumens. It is recommended that a church projector have a brightness of at least 4,000 ANSI lumens. Churches with a large seating capacity may consider projectors rated at 5,000 or even 6,000 ANSI lumens.
Churches in which environmental lighting can be controlled with window blinds or other means can opt for a projector of 2,500 to 3,000 ASI lumens.
Resolution
The second point to consider when choosing a church projector is its resolution. The resolution of a projector affects the level of detail in the projected images. Images projected at a lower resolution will not appear as sharp as images projected at a higher resolution.
For church projectors, we generally recommend projectors with an XGA resolution (1024 x 768). This conventional resolution is perfect for displaying large pieces of text such as Bible verses or song lyrics.
However, if you are using widescreen content, a WXGA (1280 x 800) or HD (1920 x 1080) resolution projector may be your best option.
Distance From The Projector Screen – Throw Ratio
Another factor to consider when purchasing a church projector is the distance it will be installed from the screen.
A projector’s throw ratio determines the size of the image a projector can project when installed a certain distance from the screen. Projectors can be divided into three different categories based on their projection ratio.
- Projectors with an ultra-short throw ratio (0.4 or less) are designed to be installed near the screen and can project large images a few inches away from the screen.
- The projectors with the short-throw ratio (0.4 to 1.0) are designed to be installed within a few feet of the screen.
- Projectors with a standard throw ratio (greater than 1.0) are ideally installed several feet from the screen. These projectors produce large images when placed far away.
Therefore, it is important to consider the distance that the projector will be installed from the screen. Churches that have small venues and can only place a projector near the screen can opt for ultra-short-throw projectors. You can choose projectors with a throw ratio that suits your needs.
The Right Projector Screen
When choosing a church projector, it is also important to pair a projector with the correct screen. Churches, especially those with large facilities, require a screen with wide viewing angles.
Images on a screen with narrow angles are great when viewed from the front, but do not appear as bright or sharp when viewed from the side.
Therefore, churches should consider a projection screen due to their seating arrangements. The screen must have sufficient viewing angles so that the projected images are clearly visible from all seats.
Mounting or Standing
If your church would fit with what most of us picture in our minds as an old-fashioned church building, you might want to look at a custom mounting solution or a portable projector. High ceilings can make some standard mounts more difficult or inaccessible. The taller your ceiling and higher your mounting position, the more likely you are to have to find a specialized mounting for your specific drop.
In those cases, it actually may be more prudent and cost-effective to purchase a high-end portable projector that can be placed on a pedestal and directed to your screen. Portable screens are also a must if your church rents space for its worship services or if you plan on using the projector in multiple rooms.
If you’ve got the space and want a fixed projector, you can also consider a rear projection unit. This will require some additional space on a wall behind your screen but maybe a way to have a hidden unit. Rear-projection setups also tend to do better in places with more light. However, we will note that rear-projection units can be more expensive than their front-projection counterparts.
Why Do Churches Need A Projector And Screen?
A church projection screen can be used in various ways in church services. You can display hymns and lyrics to make it easier to praise God together with one voice. Pastors and priests can underline the message of their sermons with pictures and excerpts from the Bible, better to keep your flock’s attention.
The power of a church projection screen is of course not limited to services and ceremonies. Projectors and screens are great investments in places of worship.
You can help display information about fundraisers to help raise better charity money. Church screens can even help children in Sunday school learn about Christ through visual participation.
How Big A Projector Screen Do I Need For Church
The basic rule of thumb when it comes to selecting projector screen sizing is that the viewing audience should be seated between 2-8 times the screen height. This provides the most comfortable view for your audience.
Projectors we recommend for churches will typically range from 2,500 to 8,000 lumens, based on the lighting scenario and how many people your church fits. For small churches — those of 100 people or fewer — in a bright room, you should start with a projector at 2,500 lumens.
Church Projector Screen Size Viewing Distance
I have spent much time researching the issue to determine the ideal and minimum sizes of screens for use in worship. Here’s the bottom line on the research, including my thoughts:
As a general standard, the maximum viewing distance should be between 3x and 6x the width of the screen. That is, if the seat furthest from the screen is 75 feet, the recommended screen width is a maximum of 25 feet (3x) and a minimum of 12.5 feet (6x).
Assuming you switch or continue with an aspect ratio of 16: 9, your diagonal for those sizes are 344 “(3x) and 172” (6x), which is probably a lot bigger than you thought.
In my experience, these numbers can be modified a bit, especially when fine details are not shown on the screen (like spreadsheets). Most churches display song lyrics, videos, and pictures so you can get away with smaller screens that would otherwise not be recommended.
Of course, some churches want that huge screen impact factor, but if you just ask how big screens should be. You know that the way to get to the right stadium is to keep measuring the distance from the screen to the furthest viewing seat and divide by 6 to get the recommended width of the screen.
For a smaller church with a flat room, you can probably get away with dividing by 8, but you don’t want to go beyond that. A quick way to check your numbers is to take a painter’s tape and measure the horizontal line on the wall where you want your display to go.
Then get up or sit in the furthest seat and see what you think. In general, you will find that even a 75-inch TV will not work, despite being so cheap these days.
How To Roll Up A Pull-Down Projector Screen
If you currently use a manual pull-down screen to display media and you want to roll it up, you can do so manually. Rolling up the pull-down screen allows you to store the screen in small, compact areas.
- Step 1:
Grasp the handle on the bottom of the projector screen. If the projector screen uses a stand instead of the wall, the handle may be on the top of the screen.
- Step 2:
Pull the projector screen handle down until you can no longer move the screen. Pull up the handle for the screen on a stand.
- Step 3:
Stop pulling down and let the screen roll up automatically. If the display is on a stand, the screen will roll down.
How Much Does A Church Projector Screen Cost?
Like everyone else, religious organizations always strive to get the most out of their money. It is no different with displays.
Some may be tempted to buy a cheap church projector screen, but these inexpensive screens are just that; if you don’t get a well-done display, you will end up with degraded picture quality preventing your congregants from fully enjoying your interaction with your chapel.
When it comes to quality items, you can expect a church projection screen to cost anywhere from $ 800 to $ 20,000. This price range is reduced to the needs of the church. If you need a bigger screen with higher gain and a wider viewing angle, it will cost more. When you need a smaller screen for a Sunday school classroom, you can spend less.
To save money, we recommend calling one of our projection experts, who will guide you to the most cost-effective options and can often offer you special discounts for projector screens in places of worship.
Church Projectors Screen – FAQs
Conclusion
When you put projection screens in strategic locations in your church, there is no limit to the amount of information you can share. You can project scriptures and verses. The congregation could read regardless of the preacher.
There is also something about joining the choir in a beautiful choir. You can view the lyrics of the performances on the projection screen. The church may project information and details about upcoming programs. Rest assured that no one will miss the details.
It can be a bit disappointing to get a projector that is not suitable for your intended use. I hope this article helped you to avoid making this mistake.
