Best Projectors For Artists 2020 - Reviews & Buyer's Guide

Digital projectors are used by artists to produce sharp and high contrast images. These peojectors save spending too much time on screen. Our team sorted top 38 products, tested and evaluated them for good 126 hours to get to the list of best projectors for artists. Artograph Impression 1400 is our editor’s pick as it is perfect in projecting high quality images for drawing or tracing.

Top Picks

Best Projectors For Artists

Product	Type	Check Price
Artograph Impression 1400	Digital	Check Price
ViewSonic PJD7720HD	Digital	Check Price
Artograph Flare150	Digital	Check Price
Artograph Tracer Projector	Non-digital	Check Price
Artograph EZ Tracer	Non-digital	Check Price
Kopykake 300XK	Opaque	Check Price

1. Artograph Impression 1400 Projector – Best For Large Scale Murals

Artograph Impression 1400

Features 1400 lumens of full HD brightness at 1920 x 1080 resolution
Projects a sharp projection image with a projection range of 30 - 120 inches / 762 - 3048mm
22 built-in grids plus geometric shapes and patterns for composition and layout

Artograph 1400 is by far the top projector for drawing and tracing. We selected it as it focuses to increase brightness and provide greater resolution. You can project photos or sketches for tracing, scaling, designing, or viewing for a faster speed and accuracy.

The product features 1400 lumen of HD brightness at 1920 x 1080 resolution which makes sure the image is more sharper and brighter every time. You can operate it from your laptop/PC, tablet, flash drive, smartphone to operate the saved images. No only this you can also project the live images from your phone’s camera too. What artists prefers the most in this device is the custom grid patterns. Our team was fascinated to see how these grid patterns can be used alone or super imposed on the projected image for a better layout and design control. Moreover, you also get a bonus set of border and geometric patterns along with the product.

The other amazing features include the better image and color controls. For accuracy you can change the color to black and white, flip, reverse, skew, or rotate any projected image. Lastly, the company also gives you a free lifetime technical support. Customer review it as the best after support team.

Things We Like

Compatible with all the devices like mobile, laptop, tablet, flash drive, etc.
Images can be adjusted
Can create a customized grid patter for better layout
High resolution
Can project live photos too

Things We Don't Like

We didn’t find any

Bottom Line

An excellent projector for large scale murals, paintings, intricate designs, presentations, or for lit-area projection. Buy it if you are looking for a device that can change the appearance of a projected image

2. ViewSonic PJD7720HD Projector – Best Multipurpose Projector For Art

ViewSonic PJD7720HD Projector

BIG SCREEN HOME THEATER: Immersive theater-like experience in Full HD (1920x1080p) on a screen up to 300-inches in 3200...
CINEMATIC COLORS: Exclusive Super Color technology offers a wide color gamut for beautiful image production in nearly...
PREMIUM AUDIO: Two built-in 10W speakers deliver room-filling audio to compliment your home theater experience

If you are looking for a versatile device then this can be a good choice. It is yet another excellent product for drawing, tracing, or for watching your favorite move because of its high lumen intensity. It uses its exclusive super color technology to offer a wide color range from true to artistic image projection in any light. Further, you can use this best projectors for artists to watch movies or play son as it also comes with a powerful 10W speaker for incredible sound.

While testing what mesmerized us the most was its 3200 lumen and is ability to project on a screen of up to 300 inches. No other competitors can do so. Moving on to its projection quality, it is significant to give you the balanced brightness and color for easy tracing, designing, or drawing. You can change its picture quality with its 5 unique view modes. Further, it uses the latest SuperColor IPSMatch technology to combine color coating, optics, and chromatic adjustments for a high performance and realistic projection. The device can be connected to a variety of other devices like media players, Mac, PC, USB, HDMI, and smart phone.

Customer review it as a projector for artists with an extra long life. Testing suggests that its eco-mode allows the lamp to shine for 10,000hours accounting to years performances. Last but not the least, it comes with a handy remote to allow wireless operations from far.

Things We Like

Uses latest technology
Excellent color display
Comes with a remote
Can be used for projecting images or for watching movies
Can project on big size screens too

Things We Don't Like

Image adjustments is not much
No grid pattern feature

Bottom Line

A multipurpose projector for art, designing, tracing, or for entertainment. Comes with a handy remote and stnadard image adjustment features.

3. Artograph Flare 150 Art Projector – Best Budget-Friendly Projector For Tracing And Designing

Artograph Flare 150 Art

Compact led digital art projector from the popular Artograph digital art projector line
Battery or electrical operation, light-weight, compact, portable
One-touch grayscale, keystone adjust, rotate, and magnify images: Jpg, png, bmp, pdf

For starters or even for artists who are in their mediocre level and are looking for a best tracer projector to get the accuracy in their art skills this is the one. Atrograph Flare 150 not only know for its bright images but also for its reasonable pricing.

While it is not the brightest digital projector for art but it has a good brightness rate at 150 lumens. It has a resolution of 120*720 HD which is good for almost all kind of artists work from layout to designing or tracing. The projector comes with built-in grid to positions the image correctly and make the artwork more precise and accurate. Further, it also give you the leisure to change the color to gray scale, adjust keystones, rotate, and magnify the projected images.Moving on to its flexible connectivity. It has an HDMI port and USB port to deliver the contents on the screen.

The thing what delights the most is its long battery life. In one full charge, the product can operate for good 3 hours. This battery time is far more than its competitors.

Things We Like

Affordable
Inbuilt-grid pattern
Image adjustments possible
Compact in size
Portable
Good battery life

Things We Don't Like

Won’t give the brightest quality image

Bottom Line

A good tracer projector for the upcoming artists who want a quality product in a budget-friendly price.

4. Artograph Tracer Projector – Best For Signs And Murals

Artograph Tracer

Great for signs and murals
Projection range: 2-inch by 14-inch
Copy Size: 5-inch by 5-inch

If you are someone who is always in to drawing those intricate signs and murals then this can be a good option. It is a standard product to project images the way they are.

This one from Artograph is known by its beginners as the best entry level product in the market. You can use this one even for the small budding artists who are trying to get the hang of designing and layout positioning. Our testing suggests that it projects a quality image which is clear but not very crisp. However, if you use this projector in low lighting area you can solve the issue of brightness. The projector range is 2 inch by 14 inch which is good for the emerging artists as they tend to start with smaller images for better accuracy.

Our team suggest to go through the buying guide and try out various calibrations for projecting the images. Initially, you might struggle with projection on large screens but with practice you will get the hang of it. The only glitch side we found in this is the overheated bulb. To get rid of this issue try not using it at one long stretch.

Things We Like

Entry level projector
Can help with layout and designing
Good for tracing signs, murals, and banners
Image quality is decent

Things We Don't Like

Bulbs heat a lot
No image adjustment feature

Bottom Line

A classy device for beginner artists who are learning to get the hang of layout, designing, and intricacy.

5. Artograph EZ Tracer Projector – Best For Flat Artwork

Artograph EZ Tracer

Enlarges flat artwork and small 3-D objects to any vertical surface
163mm lens enlarges up to 2.5 to 5 times original size
Lightweight, portable, silent operation

It is yet another affordable projector for murals, paintings, signs, and banners. Although it is not meant for expert artists or professionals.

EZ tracer is a non-digital art device for young artists who are trying to try their hands on arts and crafts. While testing, we found that it is more off an enlarger. It can enlarge 2 up to 10 times on any flat surface. You have to just simply place any printed art work, photo, signs, or mural on the projector to enlarge it on to a wall or easel. we suggest you to not place the device and display screen at a long distance as otherwise the image blurs up. Further, for focus you can always pull the lens inward or outward. The projected image is less bright than the digital projectors which is obvious for its price and technology used.

You don’t need to assemble it or connect it to any smart device for projection. Placing the art work infront of it does the job. The only downside is that it comes without a bulb. We suggest you to look for a 100watt LED light bulb or 23 watt CFL for best experience.

Things We Like

Good for enlarging images
Works best for flat art work
Easy to use
Zero assembly or connectivity
Light in weight

Things We Don't Like

Image quality is poor
You need a hard copy of the image to project

Bottom Line

A good device for flat art work like paintings or banners. Although the image quality is not good but the product works decent to trace or get an idea of the layout.

6. Kopykake 300XK Opaque – Best Drawing Projectors

Kopykake 300XK Opaque

The Kopykake 300XK Opaque Art Projector is the most versatile and best selling drawing projectors ever produced offers...
The 300XK Art Projector is very simple of use, and it is a terrific tool for artists, decorative painters, architects,...
Projector includes one 250w ECA color corrected photolamp which provides a clear image even in normal lighting...

Kopykake 300XK are the best opaque art projectors in the market. In the makert they are reviewed as the best drawing projectors coming in an outstanding value for money pricing. They are good handy tool for artists, painters, architects, animators, wood burners, cake decorators, and t-shirt artists. You will find them with people who do small business that requires art work.

Testing suggests the lens is easy to achieve a wide projection. When projecting vertically it can enlarge up to 3 times the actual size. When projecting horizantally it can enlarge up to 25 times. Further, the images are in full color with its 250 watt ECA color corrected photolamp. We were pleases to see that the lamp works efficiently even in normal lighting conditions and best in dim lighting. This model includes a stand and table clamp for easy installation.You just need a 6by6 inch copy area with spring clips to hold up the art work.

In addition to all this, you will never face a problem of overheating of bulb as it has a noise-free fan. Last but not the least, you get a five years warranty which makes sure that the product is repaired for free in case of any defects.

Things We Like

Effective and efficient to use
Easy to operate
Good for drawing and detailing
Enlargement power is good
Noise-free and heat-free operation

Things We Don't Like

Not good for professionals

Bottom Line

The best drawing projector in the market for people who owns a small business and need to do some kind of art work on a daily basis.

Buying Guide – Things To Consider When Buying The Projector For Artists

The market has a variety of options differing in their technology and efficiency. To choose the one that fits one specific need can be a daunting task. So, to avoid the confusions the best thing to do its jot down your requirements. If you know what you need exactly then searching a matching product would be quiet easy. And now if you are boggling how to do it we have a buying guide. The buying guide will tell you about the prime considerations that you should look for in a projector. We will also help you relate it with your requirements. So, without further ado let’s start with it.

1. Brightness

This is one of the most important requisite when it comes to sort the best projectors for artists. The brightness is measured in lumen, it precisely measures the quantity of lights that is emitted by the device. The higher the lumen the better the image quality would be. You need higher lumen when projecting outdoors. Moreover, the higher the lumen the lesser the worry about the other light source altering the image quality. You device should not be less than 150 lumen as otherwise it won’t be clear. In this category the best products are Artograph Impression 1400, ViewSonic PJD7720HD Projector, and Artograph Flare 150 Art Projector.

2. Digital Vs. Opaque Projector

There are two main kinds in the market : digital and opaque.

Digital projectors are the ones that are to be connected with a phone or computer or a port and can anything at a much higher scale. They are known for their HD high quality clear and crisp image. They are used by professional and senior artists who are into intrinsic and advanced art work. In this category the best prodcuts are Artograph Impression 1400, ViewSonic PJD7720HD, and Artograph Flare 150 Art.

Opaque projectors are good for drawing or sketching work. They are the traditional tools and generally require a dark room to operate. They are good to enlarge pictures, paintings, illustrations, murals, and other 3D objects. They are also budget friendly and are a good choice for artists looking for the conventioanl way of art work. In this category the one is Kopykake 300XK Opaque and Artograph EZ Tracer Projector.

3. Connectivity

To display the image on the projector you need to connect it to a device or place in front of it.

The market has both the types. The digital ones can project image stored in your phone, laptop, computer, flash drive, USB port, HDMI port, or even the live image. They are much more convenient as you don’t need to get a hard copy of your desired image/painting.In this category the best products are Artograph Impression 1400, ViewSonic PJD7720HD, and Artograph Flare 150 Art.

On the other hand, a few need a hard copy of the image/painting to project on the screen. They are handy as they avoid the hassle of connection. In this category the one is Artograph Tracer , Kopykake 300XK Opaque and Artograph EZ Tracer.

4. Price

The price of might vary with the quality and technology. The non-digital ones start at a price of $50 and may go high up to a maximum of $3000. The digital onesa are on the pricey end starting with a price of $600 to $1700. You need to decided your budget and the features that you are looking for before choosing any one. Our list has the product that are good in quality irrespective of their marked price.

Final Talk

Projectors are always a handy tools that allow artists to do a number of things conveniently from using a soft copy image to customizing easy grid patterns. They are the best way to make the art work more precise and accurate. These convenient benefits comes only with the best projectors for artists as all of them don’t work the same. Therefore, take your time to find and buy the best. For the same you can always follow our buying guide and product list. Be rest assured only the top quality products are reviewed by us.