Does a Projector mounted to the ceiling have to be dead center between the screen?

Question

Hello I have a Sharp XR30X projector. I have also bought a ceiling mount. I shoot the image onto a white King size bed sheet hung from my ceiling. Howvever, When I mounted the Projector I was not able to mount in center of screen as I do not have a stud in the center. So it is off to one side. Thought I would be able to compensate this offset by useing keystone. Appently I am wrong. Image looks straight on top, but on the bottom, One sie is higher than the other. If I tilt the projector to fix bottom then the top is off. is this because the projector is not dead center of the screen?

I am considering to get a 2 X 4 and paint it white, and run it across the ceiling from one stud to another and then mount projector on this 2 X 4 in the center. Please comment and let me know if there is an easier fix. i can not move the screen as it takes the whole space.

Thank you

Answer 1

Nope but the closer to it the better. Most Home Theater projectors have a thing in setup called "Keystone Correction" which allows you to correct somewhat from off angles to make the projector throw the proper shape on the screen. There is only so much adjustment you can do though so the closer to the center the better your image and the easier your setup will be.

Answer 2

You WANT it centered and also make sure it's set to the proper distance from your bed sheet to the lens of the projector.....I think most have a distance of 8 to 12 feet....

If you don't set it up like the manual shows you, you will never get a square and focused picture on it....

Then when you can afford it....get one of those DA-LITE glass bead screens....You will drop your jaw when you see how intense that picture becomes !!

Answer 3

Keystone correction is usually limited to vertical off-center correction.  I gather that your screen is left-right off center.  This is more difficult to correct.  Very few projectors have left-right lens shift or keystone correction.  (My Sharp HDTV projector does not.)

You could perhaps secure a wide board to the studs and mount the projector to that so that it is centered left-right.  I guess that is what you are considering in your last paragraph--that may be the only solution.