Typically expressed in lumens or ANSI lumens, the brightness specification is an important reference point when selecting a projector. However, the practical meaning of projector brightness and how to choose a projector for your specific installation needs can be confusing. The following information will help you understand the relationship between brightness and projection outcomes, as well as the application of brightness in projector technology.
To illustrate this complicated idea clearly, let’s compare projection brightness to the lumen ratings of automobile headlights and consider the viewing effect in different ambient lighting situations. When a car is in dark environments, you can observe its luminous intensity immediately when you turn on the headlights. On the other hand, when it is midday with strong sunlight, it’s very hard to perceive headlight brightness even when high beams on the highest lumen output are used. The same relationship exists between projector brightness and ambient lighting.
If you need ambient lighting when using the projector, then a model with higher lumens will produce better results.