How To You can build a projector out of cardboard.
It's easy to make your own cardboard projector out of the things you already have.You just need a few things.You will be able to host your own showings of movies and slideshows from the comfort of your home before you know it.
Step 1: A lid that fits well is what you should choose.
The size of the container will be used for this project.If you want the least amount of light to get through, try to pick a shoebox that still has its original lid.The best quality picture won't come from a box with shaky sides or tears.The box doesn't matter.The inside of the box will be painted black and the outside will not affect the picture.
Step 2: To make the box stable, reinforce shaky sides with school glue.
The flaps on the shoebox help it hold its shape.The box can start to fall apart when some of the flaps come loose.Attach any loose areas with glue.Hold the sections together until they're dry, or use binder clips to hold them together while you work on the rest of the project.
Step 3: Black paint the inside of the shoebox.
acrylic paint will dry much faster than other types of paint.To apply a thick layer over the entire interior of the box, use a paintbrush.The inside of the lid should be painted as well.
Step 4: Let the paint and glue dry before you do anything else.
The paint or glue should be dry when you touch it.It needs more time to dry if it's still tacky.Depending on the thickness of the paint, you may need to wait for up to 3 hours.
Step 5: The magnifying glass has a handle.
Choose a magnifying glass that will fit on the side of your car.The project won't work if the lens is bigger than the side.You can use a hacksaw to remove the handle, or find a magnifying glass with a handle that screws off so you don't have to worry about using a sharp tool.Be careful if you use a hacksaw.If you're not old enough to use your own, ask a parent to do this part for you.
Step 6: The cardboard box has a lens on it.
The longer side of the box is better for the magnifying glass.Place the magnifying glass in the center of the cardboard box.Use a pen or marker to trace it.The best place to center the lens is in the middle of the box.If you don't want to look at it, use a ruler.
Step 7: To cut out the tracing from the cardboard box, use an X-ACTO knife.
Attach the X-ACTO knife to a compass to make sure your cut is perfect all the way around.Make the cuts smooth so that they don't have ragged edges.Don't cut toward yourself when cutting the hole.The blade is moving away from your body when you hold the box and knife in such a way.
Step 8: Attach the magnifying glass to the hole with hot glue.
The magnifying glass should be placed in the hole you just cut so that half of its width is on the inside of the box.The box and magnifying glass can be seen on both the inside and outside of the box.The hot glue will make sure the magnifying glass stays put.There is a chance that the lens could fall out if you skip this step.
Step 9: If the lid doesn't fit around the magnifying lens, cut it off.
Put the lid on the box after the lens is in place.The part that overlaps the lens should be trimmed if the lid hits it.To cut away the part of the lens that intersects with the lid, use a marker and a knife.The lid needs to fit firmly on the box so that no light can get inside.
Step 10: Measure a piece of foam board to make sure it's big enough to fit in the box.
The base of your phone stand will be made of foam.It should be about 3 to 4 inches long when you cut it out.Keep in mind that you may need to slide it back and forth, so don't make it too tight.
Step 11: The piece of foam board is almost the same height as the box.
This piece of foam is what the phone stand is made of.It should be as wide as the base and be about 1 inch shorter than the top of the box.It's important that you have a phone stand because you can play with the positioning of your phone in the projector.The quality of the picture can be affected by the distance the phone is from the lens.
Step 12: To create a stand, glue the 2 pieces of foam board together.
Attach the stand to the base using a hot glue gun so that the phone won't fall off.Hold the pieces together until they are dry.You don't want to get hot glue on your phone, so keep it away from the stand.
Step 13: The stand should be put away from the magnifying glass.
Before moving forward with the rest of the project, try out your stand.It should be easy to slide it back and forth in the box.You are almost ready to use your projector.There are a few things you can do to get everything ready.
Step 14: The phone's brightness should be turned up as far as possible.
The picture on your phone needs to be bright for the best results.Make sure your phone is fully charged before you use it in your projector because it takes a bit more battery than low-light.In the middle of a movie, you don't want your phone to die.You can adjust the brightness level on your phone.
Step 15: When the phone is in the box, the image won't flip if the screen is locked.
You'll need to play the video upside-down if you want it to appear on the screen.If you lock your screen, the image won't automatically right itself.If you want to lock the screen on your phone, you have to do it from your home screen.There is a lock with an arrow circling it.To lock the screen, go to settings, tap accessibility, and then tap on the auto-rotate screen.
Step 16: The box should be placed in front of the flat surface.
If you want the best results, use a wall that doesn't have anything on it.Before you use the projector, take the pictures down.You could hang up a sheet or make a screen to project the image onto.The picture will be hard to see if there are things in the way.If you put the box on a flat surface, it won't be set at a weird angle.The size of the screen affects the distance the projector should be from it.Place the projector about 9 feet away from the screen for a bigger one.Place the projector 5 to 6 feet away from the smaller screen.To get the right clarity, you may need to play with the distance.
Step 17: Put your phone at the back of the box.
Put the phone on the stand and then put the box on it.Check the image on the wall.You can make changes if it's blurry by moving the phone closer to the lens.It may take a few tries, but you will be able to use your projector in no time at all.You can use your projector to play a lot of content.