If you’re using a projector for your outdoor cinema events, it is essential to keep your projector’s lens clean. The lens is the final checkpoint for your projected image, and it’s where the final image is magnified, sharpened, and then bounced onto the screen for your entertainment. A smudged, dusty, or otherwise dirty lens can ruin your entire outdoor cinema experience. In this blog post, we’ll provide you with some tips and tricks on how to clean your projector’s lens.
Firstly, it’s important to understand that the lens for your projector is not like a pair of cheap sunglasses that you can clean off with the bottom of your t-shirt. The kind of glass used for your projector lens is very sensitive to even the most minor of abrasions. The coarse cotton fibers on common everyday clothes would leave tiny scratches on the lens glass. Therefore, you’ll want to visit a photography supply store and get a lens cloth. It won’t be that expensive, and it will be soft enough to clean your projector’s lens. Make sure to keep that cloth dry and lint-free.
You’ll also need a non-abrasive lens cleaner solution. Be sure that it’s non-abrasive as some liquids are actually abrasive to glass. Remember that when it comes to cleaning solution, less is more. You only need a small amount of solution, and anything too excessive is just going to make it harder to get the lens clean and streak-free. Also, be sure to never spray the solution directly onto the lens itself. Instead, spray the solution onto your lens cloth, and wipe the lens gently in a circular motion until it appears to be clean. Be sure to put the lens cap back on when you’re finished, unless you’re going to use your projector right then.
If your lens is more dusty than dirty, you don’t need to break out the cloth and solution. Instead, grab a can of compressed air and blow the dust away from the lens. Wiping the lens with a cloth when there’s dust or loose dirt on it will only cause micro abrasions on the lens, which will affect the overall picture quality. Remember to hold the compressed air at least seven inches away from the lens when you’re spraying.
As a projectionist, keeping your lenses clean is going to be absolutely vital, particularly if you’re going to be putting on a lot of outdoor cinema events. You should make cleaning your lenses part of your regular setup and strike routines. If you do so, it will be a long time before you need to buy a replacement.
In conclusion, keeping your projector’s lens clean is essential for a great outdoor cinema experience. Use a lens cloth, non-abrasive lens cleaner solution, and compressed air to clean your lens gently. Remember to hold the compressed air at least seven inches away from the lens when you’re spraying. Make cleaning your lenses part of your regular setup and strike routines, and it will pay off in the long run.