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- DIY OUTDOOR SCREENS AND BACKYARD PRIVACY IDEAS HOW TO
- DIY OUTDOOR SCREENS AND BACKYARD PRIVACY IDEAS MOVIE
- DIY OUTDOOR SCREENS AND BACKYARD PRIVACY IDEAS PORTABLE
- DIY OUTDOOR SCREENS AND BACKYARD PRIVACY IDEAS BLUETOOTH
If you want the best image out of whatever projector you choose, you should get an actual outdoor screen.
DIY OUTDOOR SCREENS AND BACKYARD PRIVACY IDEAS MOVIE
We got surprisingly good performance from these Target sheets when we tested them for our guide to outdoor movie screens. Even a slight breeze will cause your screen to move, though, so for the best, least-distracting experience, you’ll want to pull the material as taut as possible when attaching it to a wall or homemade frame. The texture issue mentioned above can still be a concern, but it’s less so if you keep the sheet wrinkle free. This option is certainly simple (and free), but you can do better.Ī big white sheet is the most affordable solution that can still give you a decent image. The film’s colors will also shift with those of the wall. The same is true with stucco, or any other surface. So if you’ve got wood shingles, you’ll see those shingles all colorfully lit by your movie. You’ll be able to see the texture and surface of the “screen” material no matter how bright the projector is. There’s a reason why movie screens are so smooth. The simplest way to watch an outdoor movie is, of course, to just shine the projected image on a wall of your house, but we don’t recommend this approach. There are less expensive projectors on the market that will do for the occasional outdoor movie night, but understand that they may not be as bright or they may just have worse image quality than our picks-so they aren’t going to look as good when showing movies on a large screen.
DIY OUTDOOR SCREENS AND BACKYARD PRIVACY IDEAS PORTABLE
But if you’re looking for the simplest option, the GS50 is your best bet.Ī portable mini projector won’t perform as well as a good TV or home-theater projector, but Xgimi’s MoGo 2 Series ably blends performance and convenience. While it’s fairly bright for a portable projector, the GS50 is significantly dimmer than the other BenQ projectors, which means you won’t be able to get nearly as large of an image-and the overall image contrast isn't as good.
DIY OUTDOOR SCREENS AND BACKYARD PRIVACY IDEAS BLUETOOTH
It has a decent built-in speaker, supports Bluetooth audio output, and even comes with some built-in streaming apps, so there’s no need to attach a separate media player. This little projector is designed for outdoor use: It is splash- and drop-resistant, it has a USB-C port to directly connect a mobile device for media playback, and it has a built-in battery with a longer life than the other portable mini projectors we’ve tested.
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If you want something a little smaller, with a more rugged and portable design, we like the BenQ GS50. If your backyard is shaped or sized in a way that this won’t work, the BenQ HT2150ST uses a short-throw lens that lets you place it as close as 4.9 feet away from your screen to create a 100-inch image. The one thing to think about with the HT2060 is that you’ll need at least 10 feet of space between the projector and the screen to create a 100-inch image.
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Consider first our top pick, the BenQ HT2060, which has good light output, wonderfully accurate color, and a respectably robust built-in speaker. Want a 100-inch-diagonal screen? No problem. You don’t want to leave any electronics outside that aren’t designed to live there.) They’re small and light enough to carry outside and set on a small table, yet they put out enough light to produce a large image. Most of the projector recommendations from our guide to the best budget projector for a home theater will also work in an outdoor setting. Modern home theater projectors offer excellent picture quality, and usually a far brighter image than you’d expect-not bright enough to watch outside during the day, mind you, but ample for a movie night under the stars. Though it’s possible to haul your TV outside for the occasional movie night, it’s not going to have the “wow” factor of a big-screen projection system.
DIY OUTDOOR SCREENS AND BACKYARD PRIVACY IDEAS HOW TO
Here’s a look at what products you’ll need for your outdoor theater, along with some tips on how to make everything work together. Why not enjoy the best of both worlds by creating your own cinema experience in the comfort and privacy of your backyard, if you have one.īuilding your own outdoor movie theater is far easier than it sounds, and can be easily scaled to suit your budget-from a simple projector/sheet combo to a full-fledged theater, with a big outdoor screen and speakers to really up the video and audio quality. There’s nothing quite like watching a movie on a big screen, but it’s a shame to squander those glorious summer evenings hanging out indoors.
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