10 Best Art Projectors for Tracing & Drawing

Arek Dvornechuck
Ebaqdesign™
Published in
9 min readDec 25, 2021

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If you’re looking for the best projector to use for tracing, drawing, and mural arts — Here’s my list of top 10 art projectors for digital creatives.

When other people hear the word “projector,” they are most likely to think about movies or presentations.

But for digital artists, art projectors are a must-have tool for you to have a better view of the artwork that you are doing.

What is the best art projector for tracing and drawing?

Since there are a lot of projectors available on the market today, it becomes difficult to know which one best suits your needs as an artist.

We want to have a digital projector that can enlarge and project the artwork that we are working with so that we are able to work seamlessly.

This reason became an inspiration for me to create this list of the top 10 best art projectors for tracing, drawing, and mural arts.

Regardless of whether you’re a beginner or a professional artist, I’ve got something to suggest to you.

To give you an idea, the XGIMI Horizon Pro is a great option for creatives that are looking for the best digital art projector.

On the other hand, if you’re creative on the go, the PVO Mini Projector is an ideal option since it is best for travel.

The Artograph EZ Projector is a must-have too, especially if you’re on a limited budget and want to buy the best budget art projector.

Please note: as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.‍

10 Best Art Projectors for Digital Artists

  1. XGIMI Horizon Pro — Best for professionals
  2. PVO Mini Projector — Best portable
  3. KODAK Luma 350 — Best value
  4. Anker Nebula Capsule — Best Android
  5. Artograph Tracer — Best for beginners
  6. ViewSonic M1 Mini — Most compact
  7. Artograph EZ Projector — Most affordable
  8. DBPOWER L12 Mini — Best for drawing
  9. LG HU80KA 4K — Best for mural art
  10. Optoma HD39HDR — Best for tracing

How to choose an art projector?

In choosing an art projector to use for your creative work, there are factors that must be considered.

Things to consider when buying art projector

For you to have an idea on choosing the best digital projector for you, here’s a buying guide for projectors.

  1. Projector Type
  2. Contrast Ratio
  3. Resolution
  4. Color Reproduction
  5. Portability

These things must be put into consideration for every artist, and here’s why:

Projector Type

When it comes to art projectors, there are two popular types to choose from — digital projectors and opaque projectors.

A digital projector is a simpler sort of projector that is frequently used for showing videos and animations.

It is more modern and versatile, making it an excellent choice for graphic designers and video editors.

Opaque projectors, on the other hand, are superior for enlarging or enhancing a photo or sketch onto a wall or canvas.

It is also simple to maintain and repair, making it an excellent choice for artists who want to get right to work on their drawings.

However, if the price is being talked about, the digital projector is much more expensive than the opaque projector.

Which of the two you choose is simply a matter of personal preference and financial constraints.

Contrast Ratio

In art projectors, the contrast ratio is a major factor to consider since it is the one responsible for complementing brightness.

Contrast is the ratio of an image’s black and white areas.

Whiter whites and blacker blacks are produced by high contrast ratios.

Even if a projector has a high lumen rating, if the contrast ratio is poor, your image will appear washed out.

A contrast ratio of at least 1,500:1 in a darkened room is considered good, but 2,000:1 or greater is considered exceptional.

Resolution

The resolution of the projector is a crucial consideration when selecting the proper equipment for your needs.

The number of pixels that may be displayed on a given space determines how clear a projected image will be.

Choosing the correct resolution for your projector is critical to making the most of your investment.

You must remember that the higher the resolution, the sharper and clearer the image will appear.

It can make it easier to work on art with greater clarity or to properly trace.

Color Reproduction

Another key element to consider is color reproduction.

Check for natural flesh tones and color depth, and how colors appear in the brightest and darkest sections of the image.

Also, the degree of color consistency from input to input, as well as being acquainted with the various picture settings available on digital projectors.

Everyone has a tiny variance in color vision and what appears appealing to them, so you must choose wisely.

Portability

Portability is necessary not just for moving or traveling with your projector, but also for simplifying installation and setup.

It also makes it simpler to experiment with different screen sizes, distances, and rooms to determine which layout works best.

It is preferable for digital artists to choose one of the most portable projectors available on the market if they want to take it with them anywhere.

It will allow you to do your creative work without being bothered by having to bring a heavy projector.

1. XGIMI Horizon Pro 4K Projector

The XGIMI Horizon Pro is an all-in-one projector that is not only stylish but also supports 4K and HDR content.

The best art projector for professionals.

It provides a plug-and-play user interface and may be installed practically anywhere.

XGIMI Horizon Pro 4K Projector

The best thing about this projector is that the screen sizes adjusts automatically to fit your space, eliminating the need to move the projector constantly.

It also includes a remarkable HDR display that uses HDR 10 technology to create a great image with the optimal contrast ratio in both bright and dim lighting.

The XGIMI Horizon Pro features MEMC frame interpolation technology, which actively reduces image flutter and tailing when displaying dynamic material.

Given that, you’re guaranteed a sharp, clean display when doing your creative work.

Despite the fact that it is pricey, the XGIMI Horizon Pro is still the best overall art projector for professionals.

Specifications

Product Dimensions: ‎8.1 x 8.5 x 5.3 inches
Display Size Range: 30 to 300 inches
Display Technology: DLP
Resolution: 4K UHD
Type: Digital Projector

Pros

  1. Portable
  2. Great resolution
  3. Great audio quality

Cons

  1. Expensive
  2. No optical zoom
  3. Missing shadow detail

Buy XGIMI Horizon Pro 4K Projector on Amazon

2. PVO Portable Projector

The PVO Mini Projector is a must-have art projector if you’re looking for great portability.

The best portable art projector for creatives.

It is very compact and easy to carry, so you can work anywhere without being hassled.

PVO Portable Projector

This projector has improved brightness and color saturation, which makes the design or picture appear clearer.

It is ideal to use when you’re doing your creative work in a dark room.

The PVO Mini Projector can also be easily connected to your devices since it has multiple ports available.

Thanks to its unique features, you can do tracing and drawing in the most comfortable way possible.

The PVO Portable Projector is an ideal choice for creatives that are looking for a convenient-to-use art projector for artists.

Specifications

Product Dimensions: 5.51 x 3.78 x 2.13 inches
Display Size Range: 152 Inches
Display Technology: LED
Resolution: 800 x 480
Type: Digital Projector

Pros

  1. Portable
  2. Affordable
  3. Easy to set up

Cons

  1. Isn’t bright
  2. Cheap quality

Buy PVO Portable Projector on Amazon

3. KODAK Luma 350 Portable Projector

If you’re looking for the best value projector to use as a digital artist, the Kodak Luma 350 is a great option for you.

The best value digital projector for creatives.

This projector has a very compact size, which allows you to take it with you no matter where you have to go.

KODAK Luma 350 Portable Projector

You can enjoy a wider view of the design that you are drawing, which makes it easier for you to draw and trace.

It is also easy to set up, so you can freely start to do your creative work hassle-free.

What is more exciting about the KODAK Luma 350 is that you can easily connect it to your devices wirelessly.

It has built-in WiFi, which allows you to draw and trace illustrations online.

By using this digital projector, you can be sure that you’re spending your money wisely and you’ll be getting the best view of your artwork.

The Kodak Luma 350 is a perfect option for those artists who are looking for a premium art projector for tracing and drawing.

Specifications

Product Dimensions: ‎‎4.4 x 4.4 x 0.89 inches
Display Size Range: 200 Inches
Display Technology: DLP
Resolution: 854 x 480
Type: Digital Projector

Pros

  1. Compact
  2. Easy to use
  3. Quality Picture

Cons

  1. Loud fan
  2. Quite expensive

Buy KODAK Luma 350 Portable Projector on Amazon

4. Anker Nebula Capsule Mini Projector

If you’re looking for the best overall digital projector for tracing and drawing, the Anker Nebula Capsule is perfect for you.

The best Android art projector for tracing & drawing.

This projector allows you to have the best viewing experience of your illustrations.

Anker Nebula Capsule Mini Projector

The good thing about this projector is that it can be connected to your smartphone and controlled through an app.

The Anker Nebula Capsule is an ideal option if you want to buy the best mini art projector for your Android devices.

It can seamlessly display your artwork for a better drawing and tracing experience.

It also offers the best combination of price, portability, and performance.

Additionally, Anker Nebula Capsule can be used for up to 4 hours so you can be sure that you won’t be interrupted in doing your creative work.

This art projector also has a wide range of compatibility, so you can use it regardless of the device that you have.

Specifications

Product Dimensions: ‎2.68 x 2.68 x 4.72 inches
Display Size Range: 100 Inches
Display Technology: DLP
Resolution: 854x480
Type: Digital Projector

Pros

  1. Well Built
  2. Small enough
  3. Runs Android 7

Cons

  1. Expensive
  2. Isn’t very bright

Buy Anker Nebula Capsule Mini Projector on Amazon

5. Artograph Tracer Opaque Art Projector

If you’re a beginner digital artist and are looking for the best art projector to use for tracing, then the Artograph Tracer is the perfect choice for you.

The best projector for beginners and hobbyists.

This projector is ideal for viewing images in a dark environment.

Artograph Tracer Opaque Art Projector

Its best features include the enlargement of flat printed images from 2x-14x onto any vertical surface.

It is also simple to use, lightweight and portable and operates quietly.

The Artograph Tracer is an excellent choice for those who are looking for an easy-to-use digital art projector.

It’s also fantastic for art sketches, outlines, posters, signage, miniature murals, house wall decorations, quilt patterns, and other projects.

And since it doesn’t require a complicated set-up, it is convenient to use and definitely a great choice even for non-professional digital artists.

Specifications

Product Dimensions: ‎13.7 x 9.7 x 5.9 inches
Display Size Range: 2x-14x
Type: Opaque Projector

Pros

  1. Affordable
  2. Easy to use
  3. Lightweight

Cons

  1. Blurry image
  2. Lack of image detail

Buy Artograph Tracer Opaque Art Projector on Amazon

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