For professional artists and hobby artists, using a projector when tracing, sketching or planning is becoming more and more popular since it allows you to blow up your artwork and spot mistakes. 

Since most projectors are geared towards movie playing and streaming, finding one for the purpose of art isn't as easy as you think.

So to help you out, we've rounded up some of the best art projectors for tracing on the market and reviewed them one by one.

The Best Art Projectors Reviews & Buying Guide

Our Top Art Projector For Drawing - The Artograph AR-225-446 Black Projector

Let's start with our favourite choice, the Artograph projector, this black projector comes with a prism Episcopal design and can enlarge artwork and 3D objects up to 20 times the size. 

Two 250-watt bulbs come in the projector for artists for better lighting and it has an 18x18cm copy window so it can keep documents stable and secure during the tracing process. 

A fan and thermal protection are included to keep the projector cool during usage, making it the perfect choice for long art projects.

Downfalls of the Artograph projector for artists are its image focus which has been said to project images blurry sometimes, some users have also stated that the magnification of the projector is very poor.

Pros 

• Two 250-watt bulbs. 
• 18x18 cm copy window for holding documents. 
• Fan and thermal protection. 
• Affordable.
• Enlarge 3D images up to 20 times.

Cons 

• Magnification is poor. 
• Can project images blurry.

Artograph Flare 450 Digital Art Projector 

The Artograph Flare digital art projector is a more expensive version of art projectors and comes with vertical keystone adjustment for accurate sharp images as well as a 12-grid pattern. 

This projector for artists can project a digital image up to 120 inches away which can then be focused with a scrolling wheel to create a focused image and avoid a blurry image.

In terms of resolution, the digital art project displays a full HD image, and the LED bulbs in the projector lamp have up to 420 Lux of brightness and can last up to 30,000 hours. The battery lasts up to 150 minutes when used in eco mode and can be used as a portable projector. 

Some notable negatives of these digital art projectors are their remote control which is said to have bad connectivity. The lens of the model of the digital projector is also reported not to focus properly.

Pros 

• Displays full HD image. 
• 420 LUX of brightness. 
• Battery life of up to 150 minutes. 
• Lifespan of 30,000 hours. 
• Scroller for focus. 
• Vertical keystone adjustment.

Cons 

• Remote control does not connect properly. 
• The lens does not focus properly.

Artograph Tracer Projector

As an affordable option, the Artograph tracer projector is a good choice, this digital projector's model can enlarge flat artwork and even 3D artwork from up to two times to 14 times away as long as it's on a vertical surface. 

The 23-watt fluorescent bulb included with this projector helps to create bright and sharp images for extra detail when tracing. 

Disadvantages of this projector for beginners is its inability to make images smaller, only bigger, some users have also said the projector is complicated to use and focus, so it might be suited to children instead who are looking to become artists.

Pros 

• Can enlarge flat artwork and 3D artwork up to 14 times away. 
• 23-watt bulb for a bright environment.
• Horizontal display.

Cons 

• Cannot make images smaller. 
• Complicated to use. 
• Suited to children.

Which Is The Best Projector For Art Tracing?

To round up our top three reviews of the best projectors for art tracing and drawing, our number one choice has to be The Artograph AR-225-446 Black Projector. 

This art projector has a prism Episcopal design and can display artwork up to 20 times away, making it a great projector for professionals.

It's also one of the only projectors which have a copy window and thermal protection to help it last longer.

What To Look For In A Projector For Artists (Buying Guide)

Now we have reviewed our top three projectors for digital art we can move on to our buying guide which will discuss the different types of art projectors, what you can use them for in art, the important features to watch out for and some tips for using one. 

What Are The Different Types Of Art Projectors? 

When looking at art projectors, you will likely come across four main types; digital projectors, opaque projectors, overhead projectors and slide projectors. 

Each kind of art projector has its drawbacks and benefits when being used for art, we've listed them below to help you out.

Opaque Projectors 

Opaque projectors can be a good projector for creatives if you're doing a large-scale painting or tracing. They work by shining a light into an opaque object and then reflecting it onto a screen. 

Since these projectors are not digital you will have to scan any sketches or drawings manually which can be slightly time-consuming.

It's also worth noting that opaque projectors have to be used in the dark which is not convenient and often use bulbs which means they do not last as long.

Digital Projectors 

Digital projectors are the same as what we reviewed above in our top three, you can find normal digital generic projectors which are often used for home movies and fancy projectors models which are specifically used for art.

These projectors allow you to project an image from a digital source this could be an image file or even a memory card. For the purpose of image enlargement, you could just use a LED digital projector which tends to last longer than bulb generic projectors. 

This projector for professionals is also ideal since they tend to be more portable allowing you to move on the go.

Slide Projectors 

Slide projectors are similar to opaque projects except you will need to insert your image into a slide unlike regular projectors so that it can be enlarged. 

Just make sure your slide is crisp and clear so that the image can be projected in detail, do be aware this will take more time than regular projectors which use digital files.

Overhead Projectors

Overhead projectors are often used in classrooms for studying, however, you will need to ensure that you have printable transparencies for these projectors, these just simply print on top of your normal art. 

The biggest downfall to overhead projectors is that they cost a lot of money.

Does The Throw Distance Of Art Projectors Matter?

When looking at the best art projector for creatives, you might have come across something called the throwing distance and wondered if it's important when choosing a projector for art students. 

The throwing distance of quality projectors is very important since it determines how close you can have types of projectors to a screen while still displaying a full-sized image. 

For artists, the throwing distance of a projector needs to be small since you will likely be in a smaller working space, a massive throw distance might only be needed if you were teaching an art class for example. 

What You Can Use Projectors For In Art 

Many people wonder if it's beneficial to invest in a projector for art students, but a mini projector (we have reviews on mini projectors here) or digital art projector could be a great choice for many different art projects. 

We've listed some uses of projectors in art below.

• Projecting an image on a wall as a guide, this could be like a mural. 
• Displaying photographs. 
• Mood lighting. 
• Working on animations. 
• Displaying art. 
• Copying on a large scale. 
• Creating multi-media art projects.

Can I Use A Regular Projector As An Art Projector?

When looking at recommended art projectors, you will likely see them advertised as regular projectors and art projectors and wonder if there is a huge difference between the two? 

Well, no, in fact, they are exactly the same, regular projectors can be used as art projectors in the same way and they often cost less too, they will allow you to put memory cards in the device and enlarge images just the same way as a standard art project would with perfect colors!

Important Features To Consider In A Projector For Artists

To get the most value out of your projector, you need to be considering all the important features in your model to make sure it's right for you and the kind of artwork you want to be doing. 

• The type of projector - Projectors come in different types according to the system inside for projecting your image. The most popular kind of projectors are DLP projectors, however, LED projectors are also a great choice and are often more affordable, they don't create as sharp of an image though, laser projectors are more expensive (we have some reviews of the here).
• Brightness - For proper color accuracy, you need to ensure your projector has enough lumens, the higher the lumens, the brighter the image. You also need to consider brightness if you're trying to display images in a large room, around 1000 ANSI is the most desirable.
• Portability - If you're moving from studio to studio, the portability of your art projector is very important, it should be lightweight and have a handle for ease of use, LED projectors are often very portable.
• Ports for connectivity - If you're displaying images from your projector then you want to ensure that your must-have art projector has the right ports. Consider if you want HDMI ports for connecting to laptops, memory card slots or wireless connectivity and Bluetooth so that you can connect to your smartphone.
• Contrast ratio - For displaying artwork clearly, the contrast ratio of your projector choice for artists is very important, the higher the contrast ratio then the more pleasing colors your image will have and will produce a brighter image.
• Resolution - Most digital art projectors will be able to display an image in 4K or 1080p, the most desired resolution is 4K however, just for enlarging images, 1080P can also be suitable in a projector and are often more affordable projector models, for picture quality, full HD will be enough.
• Warranty - Having a one or two-year warranty on your projector is important, some art digital projectors can be very expensive, and having a warranty can give you peace of mind over any faulty parts.

Tips For Using Art Projectors 

If it's your first time using an art projector while working, you might be curious as to how to get the most out of your art projector and have the best results. 

We've listed some tips for using these types of art projectors below to help you out. 

• Make sure the projector stays stable - Ensure that your projector is set up in such a way that it will not get knocked over or moved, this can ruin your work and put you off your guide.
• Dim lights as much as you can - We know dimming lights can make it difficult to do artwork, however, it will help the brightness of your projector and bring out the detail of your sharp image. 
• Use a tripod - Rather than leaning your projector against an object, we recommend using a tripod which will offer much more stability to the projector, it also makes it easier to adjust the height.
• Consider the size - If you're tracing, you will be working from a considerably larger piece of artwork than normal, make sure to take breaks when you can to check your work.
• Use projection grids - Projection grids are essential for making sure your artwork is placed evenly in your grid and that you're copying correctly into the lines with the proper measurements.

Frequently Asked Questions About The Best Art Projectors 

Our Number One Art Projector For Tracing & Drawing 

To conclude, our number one art projector is The Artograph AR-225-446 Black Projector, this is thanks to it's prism design and 250W bulbs which help give off a realistic color due to the extra brightness. 

The Artograph projector also has thermal protection and a fan to stop the projector from overheating which can save you money in the long run when having to replace the bulbs.