photo projectors

[t88d]

I'm a traditional painter and I wish to project photo images from my computer onto my canvas. What I picture is an "old school" arrangement, where the canvas sits flat under a projector on a stand and the projector is connected to the CPU. The last time I used a projector for this purpose is in the pre-computer days. Can anyone tell me what these are now called and where I can shop (if they exist)?

[Muz]

Just get a standard video projector. Go anywhere that stocks tvs and shizz
The upside is you can watch movies with it as well.

But why do you want to do that btw? You might as well buy a paint by numbers kit.... Its cheaper.

[Elwell]

But why do you want to do that btw? You might as well buy a paint by numbers kit.... Its cheaper.
:nohope:

[Muz]

Well forgive my ignorance but what's the worth in tracing a photo off of a projector to paint?

[Flake]

Cheap solution = grid it up.

Worked very well for hundreds of years.

[t88d]

Once you're confident of your drawing skills, why would you put yourself through endless drawing and redrawing? That's what technology is for. If one or all of you wish to ignore the use of photography and draw with your brush or a grid, you're welcome to it. If we eliminated all of the artists in history, who weren't great draftsmen, it would be our loss. Ignoring photography for drawing is adoring a false god and if using photography was truly "paint by numbers" all great paintings would have been complete, when the drawing was finished.

I expect many angry responses and won't answer. This is an old and tired argument. Learn to draw and use photography (and all available tools) and get over it.

[Derek the Usurper]

Once you're confident of your drawing skills, why would you put yourself through endless drawing and redrawing? That's what technology is for. If one or all of you wish to ignore the use of photography and draw with your brush or a grid, you're welcome to it. If we eliminated all of the artists in history, who weren't great draftsmen, it would be our loss. Ignoring photography for drawing is adoring a false god and if using photography was truly "paint by numbers" all great paintings would have been complete, when the drawing was finished.

I expect many angry responses and won't answer. This is an old and tired argument. Learn to draw and use photography (and all available tools) and get over it.

Every single drawing you do is practice. When you start looking for ways to get out of drawing, your skills in that area can only stagnate. I "put myself through endless drawing and redrawing" because I love drawing. It seems like you hate it.

[dbclemons]

All the digital projectors I've seen are designed to shoot horizontally at a wall several feet away (>4 feet.) If you found one with a shorter focal range lens (or build a tall stand) you could rig it to shoot downwards. You might also look at digital enlargers; although, they would be expensive. I've also seen redisigned "lucy" projectors that shot up on a semi-transparent glass plate, like a large light table, but I've never seen a digital one.

Edit: FYI, one of the latest gimmicks for hand held cameras is a built-in projector. Nikon (http://www.nikonusa.com/Find-Your-Nikon/Product/Digital-Camera/26186/COOLPIX-S1000pj.html)is coming out with one. I don't know how well it would work, but it might be worth checking out.

[Bill]

Every single drawing you do is practice. When you start looking for ways to get out of drawing, your skills in that area can only stagnate. I "put myself through endless drawing and redrawing" because I love drawing. It seems like you hate it.

Using a projector to transfer, and especially enlarge, a drawing is perfectly sensible. That this is being derided in a forum dominated by digital painters, as if it's a shortcut, is funny.

[Derek the Usurper]

Using a projector to transfer, and especially enlarge, a drawing is perfectly sensible. That this is being derided in a forum dominated by digital painters, as if it's a shortcut, is funny.

t88d said nothing of the sort. He was very clear in specifically finding ways to get out of drawing, and defending the merit of artists who are not good at drawing. Your scenario requires that you draw, his does not.

[Elwell]

It was a perfectly reasonable question, and didn't warrant the response it got. This is like someone going on a food site and asking about the best way to cook a steak, only to be yelled at for not being a vegetarian.

[alesoun]

http://www.idealo.co.uk/cat/3772/overhead-projectors.html

Try this...

Oh, noes! I'm going to be accused of being a lazy artist again!

Ah, Hell! I can live with that! ;) I don't own one (but I wouldn't turn one down!) ;)

[Irishdrunk]

It was a perfectly reasonable question, and didn't warrant the response it got. This is like someone going on a food site and asking about the best way to cook a steak, only to be yelled at for not being a vegetarian.

lol, I think a better analogy would be the argument of one chef using a pre-made crust vs. making the dough to bake a pie. (hopefully cinnamon apple! :D )

Some like the adventure of making the pie. While others just want to eat it.

Just don't call it a homemade pie if you paid for pre-made filling.

[Bill]

If it's his own photos that he's reproducing then his Pie is as homeade as any other.

[Arshes Nei]

If I had seen this sooner I would have posted the 1/2 coupons from Jo-Ann's (if he was in the States) the problem is the projectors I believe were not for computer hookups iirc. However, if you're in the states try Fry's for some deals, look on Amazon or Ebay.

[Jason Ross]

Really all you can do with projecting is get a blank line drawing that you have to draw over or the line drawing gets completely covered up by paint anyway. Projecting doesn't help you with Value or Color it's just a tool to get accurate proportions.

[TASmith]

And there's a time and place for everything. Sure, if you brought a camera and projector to your figure drawing class, your professor would object.

But when you're painting a mural, or something else large scale, or there's certain other factors, then sure, go for it. Some works have a lot to do wtih showing your skill, like David Kassan's portraits. Some works are more about the message than the process.

[Elwell]

lol, I think a better analogy would be the argument of one chef using a pre-made crust vs. making the dough to bake a pie. (hopefully cinnamon apple! :D )
Yes, but that doesn't have quite the sense of moral superiority.

[Noah Bradley]

Yes, but that doesn't have quite the sense of moral superiority.

But it does have pie.

[Elwell]

I love pie.

[Qitsune]

I guess a regular video projector would work. I have never seen a digital projector specifically made for art.

I never quite did it this way, I print what I need to transfer and put it under me el cheapo artograph, which sucks. If I had to buy a new one, I'd sure buy a better one with sharper focus and a stand.

Maybe B&H photo has something that could help you, they have loads of specialised equipment (and wacoms)
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/browse/A-V-Presentation/ci/3644/N/4294546288

I find it funny that people assume that a projector is used to transfer a photo straight up. My own process can be quite long and involved and doesn't ever imclude copying a straight photo. It's different everytime but it often involves sketching on paper, shooting refs, , assembling bits of refs over the scanned sketch, painting on top of that in PS to make it come together, transfer the result on canvas or watercolor paper, painting, scanning or photographing the painting and finishing up in PS.

[TASmith]

Slovaks don't have pie... :(

[CCThrom]

My avatar demands that I join this discussion!

[Kamber Parrk]

OMG!

CCThrom's avatar is "projecting" a pie!

[Muz]

I now realize that i was a being a douche and i regretful of saying that, so t88d i sincerely apologize.

(kind of sad it took a mods intervention for me to realize that though.)