How Bright Should the Projector Be?
There is no single best level for brightness, and brighter isn’t always better. For a home theater projector you plan to use in a dark room, for example, 1,000 to 1,200 lumens can easily give you a large, bright image, while 2,000 lumens may be so bright that it’s hard on the eyes. On the other hand, for a portable data projector you expect to use in a well-lit location, 2,000 to 3,000 lumens is the right range. And for large rooms, you may want something even brighter.
Ambient Light
The best level of brightness depends on the amount of ambient light, the size of the image, and even the material in the screen you’re using. If you’re setting up a projector for permanent installation, whether at home or in your office, your best bet is to buy from a knowledgeable source that can help you match the brightness to the lighting conditions and screen in the room.
Lumens—2,000 Vs 2,200
If you’re trying to choose between two models, keep in mind that a small percentage difference in lumens—2,000 versus 2,200, for example—isn’t terribly significant. The perception of brightness is nonlinear, which means you need far more than twice as many lumens for a projector to appear twice as bright. Also, a projector’s true brightness tends to be a little less than its rated brightness.
