The 8 Best Art Projectors
This wiki has been updated 20 times since it was first published in November of 2018. Learning to draw or paint can be challenging for artists of all ages. Tracing is a useful way to acquire the muscle memory and fine motor skills necessary to make your own original masterpieces. Art projectors make this fun and easy. These tabletop devices project an image directly onto your paper, canvas, or other surface, so all you have to do is color in the lines. When users buy our independently chosen editorial recommendations, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
1. CiBest W13
2. Xiaoya SD-0113
3. PVO YG300 Pro
Editor's Notes
March 01, 2021:
It was a busy round of updates. While the Little Treasures 3-in-1 and Disney Frozen Tracing – two models geared toward juvenile artists – were removed due to availability issues, and we also eliminated three options from Artograph — the Impression 1400, Inspire 1000 and Flare 150.
While we aren’t entirely sure what the reasons behind these widespread absences are, we did notice that the company’s website made no noticeable mention of digital projectors whatsoever, leading us to wonder whether Artograph has pulled out of the digital projector space altogether, choosing instead to focus on its line of light pads and art tables, as well as its opaque art projectors, like the Artograph Super Prism, which houses two 250-watt bulbs and was one of our new additions this time around.
Our other fresh inclusions consist of the PVO YG300 Pro – an affordably priced, portable model that can project images as large as 152 inches – as well as the CiBest W13 and Xiaoya SD-0113 — two digital models that may not be designed specifically for art, but still lend themselves well to the practice, given their lists of abilities and wallet-friendly costs. If neither of those models is doing the trick for you, perhaps you’ll find something more enticing on our separately maintained list of budget projectors.
For more advanced projecting needs, we also keep current on laser projectors and 4K projectors.
For further artist gear, considering checking out our lists of backpacks for artists, art easels and drawing tablets.
December 09, 2018:
Made sure to include options for young children as well as models that are good for adults. Looked for a variety of types: some work with slides, others with physical images, others with digital files.
Special Honors
LG CineBeam HU80KA If you're a serious artist looking for a capable model for mural work, consider the HU80KA. It's handle and onboard cord storage both help enhance its portability, and it works well in daylight, so you won't be restricted to working the graveyard shift on your next project. lg.com
4. Artograph Super Prism
5. Smart Sketcher
6. Ingenio Smart
7. Artograph EZ Tracer
8. Alex Art Draw Like a Pro
After deciding that the pen was mightier than the pliers, Canadian electrical contractor William Rhoda abandoned his career and headed back to college, where he majored in marketing and advertising and won a scholarship along the way to earning a diploma in creative communications. His past career landed him a depth of knowledge in tools and hardware, while his current career schooled him in audio, video and camera equipment. During his leisure time, he’s learned lots about outdoor gear, and years of tiresome backyard maintenance have taught him all about pools and hot tubs. His recreational pursuits include rest, relaxation and revolutionary action, and his roommate’s a hairless cat.