There are several possible causes of projected images appearing less than optimal. Image issues can relate to the projector's internal settings, power source, cable connections and positioning.
Color
The color of the projected image may seem vivid, yet inaccurate. An over-saturated image can look unnatural. Accessing the on-screen display menu and then adjusting the brightness, contrast or color functions should help.
Some digital light processing (DLP) projectors produce artifacting or a "rainbow effect" that shows colors where they should not appear. Newer technology that includes a faster color wheel for producing color or additional color filters can help reduce artifacting.
A color calibration system can calibrate the color for optimum image quality. Please note that the display controls mentioned above produce little effect on the grayscale and color. Color calibration will adjust the primary colors, producing advantages such as better shadow detail in dark areas.
Lens
The surface of the projector lens needs to be clean in order to direct the light rays for a clear, crisp image. A photographic lens-cleaning solution applied to a soft cloth, such as micro-fiber, and wiped in a circular motion outwards can reduce the impact of an unclean lens. Do not use a cloth that isn't designed specifically for cleaning lenses.
Power
If no image appears, the digital projector needs a power check. If the projector has power, then there ought to be a few indicator lights illuminated on the projector. Check the sources to ensure correct cable connections, such as to the computer or DVD player.
Projector Lamp
If the projector lamp does not produce an image, the ventilation around the projector may need checking. Overheating may cause the projector to switch off by itself.
Projector lamps can emit a strong light, yet not always a durable one. Some projector lamps explode shortly after the warranty expires, well within the lifespan. A blown projector lamp can be expensive to replace.
Proportions
If the edges of the projected image form a trapezoid with only one pair of parallel lines rather than a rectangle with two pairs of parallel lines, then the problem is that the projector is casting the image at an angle onto the screen instead of straight on. For less advanced projectors, you'll need to change the position of the projector so that it's pointing straight toward the screen in order to correct the distortion. But some projectors can be adjusted to to fix this problem without your having to reposition the machine itself. Check the menu for ways to correct the trapezoidal image.
Note that as the image size increases, the brightness decreases. Larger images require more light.
Flickering Image
If the projected image flickers, there may be a problem with the DLP projector's color wheel that contains the red, green and blue filters and other segments. Changing the settings to a lower resolution may help. According to the Digital Photography website, interlaced scanning, a projection method that merges two fields into one frame, can cause image flickering.
Tags: projected image, cable connections, color wheel, parallel lines, projector lamp