From movies in the park to immersive art installations, the spectacle of an enormous image can strike deep, emotional chords in an audience

What we see has a huge impact on what we think and feel. Phrases like “point of view” and “worldview” indicate the close link between how we see things and how we understand and interpret them. Perhaps that’s why images, especially on a grand scale, captivate us. From the ethereal glow of the aurora borealis to the wonder of the cinema screen, spectacle has united humans for ages.

If you’ve got an event coming up, you can tap into that love of spectacle with a large venue projector. Here are some ways these tools have helped unite audiences around the world.

Key features in a large venue projector

Most consumer projectors are designed for use in small, dark rooms. The images they display are at the right scale for a living room, but they're often too dark, too low resolution, or simply too small to work for bigger spaces. If you want a projector for events, look for the following features.

• Brightness: Projecting in a larger space often means competing with more light, which means the projector will need to produce more lumens. The best large venue projector for most use cases will put out at least 6,000 lumens.
• Display size: The larger your space — and the more viewers — the larger the image you'll need to project. Look for a display range of at least 100".
• Image resolution: High-definition projectors should provide a resolution of at least 1920x1080 to keep the picture crisp and detailed.
• Contrast ratio: Higher contrast ratios produce more vivid colors and prevent details from washing out. Look for a ratio of 3000:1 or higher.

Did You Know?:The PJ WUL6690 can blend the projection of two units simultaneously, allowing you to double the size of your projection without special software or hardware. Click here to learn more.

Inspiring ways to use a large venue projector

Movies in the park

One of the best uses for an auditorium projector takes place outside the auditorium. As families around the United States can tell you, there are few evenings as exciting as a movie in the park. With a powerful large venue projector, you can bring your neighbors together for a little movie magic.

For parents, park movie nights are a chance to relax with their kids (which is especially rare with very young children). They also get to see friends and meet other members of their communities. For kids, the benefits are similar. They get to marvel at a movie on a huge screen and then, once it ends, relate to their friends through it. That’s community building at its finest.

Wedding montages

Nothing brings the house down at a wedding like an adorable photo montage. Baby pictures of the happy couple, photos from early in their relationship, all the way through engagement photos — put these on a big screen and friends and family go wild. For some weddings, a normal projector can get the job done. But depending on the couple, a private wedding can be just as big as a public event.

That’s where a large venue projector comes in handy. If you want to make sure Grandma and Grandpa can see the photos no matter where they’re sitting, there’s no replacement for a bright, high-resolution projector. That way, the entire party can unite in celebrating the life and love of those tying the knot.

Theater and dance performances

Theaters are always looking for ways to spice up their presentations. Projectors have long played a part, but the art is always advancing. Think of animated backdrops that show forest trees swaying in the wind, or lightning storms crackling behind the cast. But the possibilities don’t end there. Why stick to realism when you can project beautiful, abstract visuals for dancers to perform in front of?

For that matter, why stick to the backdrop? Projectors can transform the appearance of the stage’s surface itself. They can let performers walk on water, dance over geometric patterns, or seem to float in space. Plus, with projection mapping, they can even bring built objects to life. Place an enormous sphere onstage to turn it into the moon, the sun, or a riot of kaleidoscopic effects.

Concerts

Many of the same stage decorating techniques can be used at concerts to raise the event’s visual impact. That’s especially important at stadium-size venues, where individual performers can be hard to see. Projectors provide large-scale spectacles that fans can appreciate whether they’re in row 1 or row 1,000.

Projectors can also make the concert experience more interactive. Project song lyrics above the performers and you can get every fan in the room singing along together. There are few feelings as powerful as singing your heart out side by side with a stranger. The memories forged deepens attendees’ connection not just with the artist, but with their fellow fans.

Art installations

Artists have used projectors for creative installations since the advent of the technology. Large venue projectors amplify their creativity on a stunning scale. That works whether you’re displaying mammoth photographs or splitting the projector image into tiny fragments spread over a wide surface area.

Large venue projectors also enable one of the hottest trends in art: the immersive experience. With these installations, art fans can now step inside the vision of their favorite artists. Here’s how it works: Take famous paintings by the likes of Vincent Van Gogh and animate them. Then, project your animations onto the walls, floor, and ceiling of a room. The result is an almost overwhelming display of beauty that each visitor shares with the people around them. By entering the painting themselves, they can feel like a part of it.

Did You Know?:The PJ WUL6690 uses a WUXGA chip to project crisp, high-definition images at up to 9,600 lumens. Click here to learn more.

Our recommendation: RICOH Projector PJ WUL6690

Ready to tap into the power of the large venue projector? Set yourself up for success with the RICOH PJ WUL6690. Clocking in at 9,600 lumens and a crystal-clear 1920x1080 resolution, the PJ WUL6690 redefines visual excellence. That lets it project images up to 300 inches in size, even when it's competing with ambient lighting. The PJ WUL6690 also uses an innovative laser light source, so you can expect up to 20,000 hours of virtually maintenance-free operation. Click here to learn more or shop the rest of our projector line.

Note: Information and external links are provided for your convenience and for educational purposes only, and shall not be construed, or relied upon, as legal or financial advice. PFU America, Inc. makes no representations about the contents, features, or specifications on such third-party sites, software, and/or offerings (collectively “Third-Party Offerings”) and shall not be responsible for any loss or damage that may arise from your use of such Third-Party Offerings. Please consult with a licensed professional regarding your specific situation as regulations may be subject to change.