Home Design Sense - A Projector For Mural Work
- By H John Johnsen
- Published 03/7/2010
- Home Management
- Unrated
Murals can be very time consuming if you need to be exacting with your work. Unless you are a great artist and can draw your design on the wall freehand; you would be better off using the grid method.
The best way is to draw the mural on a piece of paper with a printed grid. The grid consists of small squares. Then you scale the grid and draw it on the wall. It is usually 1” = 1’ (one inch equals one foot). Then you transfer the drawing one square at a time to each corresponding grid on the wall. You can number the grid squares if it makes it easier for you. Now you just start painting your mural.
This is time consuming but will give you an accurate scaled drawing that you can fill in with your paints. Sort of a paint-by-numbers idea. However; there is a much easier way to transfer a drawing to a wall. Use a projector. Graphics projectors can be found online or at art supply stores. They range in price so be sure you will use it more than once if you plan to purchase high quality.
The fastest way to completing a mural is with a projector. Of course; this does not include the actual painting; but the most labor intensive part…the drawing of the art. With a projector there is no need to grid the wall and it makes it easier to scale the drawing. All you have to do is to move the p
roject closer or further from the wall or ceiling. If you go closer the image gets smaller or further away it gets larger. This gives you complete control over the size of your artwork.
Of course; you will have to do a drawing (unless you have an image). The drawing should just be a medium pencil weight outline. This is so it will show up when projected onto the wall. If you have a photo or image you will have to trace the outline the same way because the light has to go through the artwork.
The room will have to be very dark for the drawing to show up so you will have to draw the shade or curtains or even cover the window with craft paper. The darker the room the better and the easier to see the outlines.
Now you aim the projector where you want the image to appear. Here is the best part that you can’t do with a grid pattern. You can move the projector back and forth until you get the image o the exact size you want and you can always easily re-do the chalk drawing if it is not the right size. This is harder and much more time consuming to do with a grid.
Once it is the right size; you can use chalk to outline the image. Lead pencils may bleed through the paint if they are not completely removed a little at a time before painting. Now…fill in with paints and enjoy. It is a good idea that you take pictures of your progress to keep in a portfolio for other potential clients.
The best way is to draw the mural on a piece of paper with a printed grid. The grid consists of small squares. Then you scale the grid and draw it on the wall. It is usually 1” = 1’ (one inch equals one foot). Then you transfer the drawing one square at a time to each corresponding grid on the wall. You can number the grid squares if it makes it easier for you. Now you just start painting your mural.
This is time consuming but will give you an accurate scaled drawing that you can fill in with your paints. Sort of a paint-by-numbers idea. However; there is a much easier way to transfer a drawing to a wall. Use a projector. Graphics projectors can be found online or at art supply stores. They range in price so be sure you will use it more than once if you plan to purchase high quality.
The fastest way to completing a mural is with a projector. Of course; this does not include the actual painting; but the most labor intensive part…the drawing of the art. With a projector there is no need to grid the wall and it makes it easier to scale the drawing. All you have to do is to move the p
Of course; you will have to do a drawing (unless you have an image). The drawing should just be a medium pencil weight outline. This is so it will show up when projected onto the wall. If you have a photo or image you will have to trace the outline the same way because the light has to go through the artwork.
The room will have to be very dark for the drawing to show up so you will have to draw the shade or curtains or even cover the window with craft paper. The darker the room the better and the easier to see the outlines.
Now you aim the projector where you want the image to appear. Here is the best part that you can’t do with a grid pattern. You can move the projector back and forth until you get the image o the exact size you want and you can always easily re-do the chalk drawing if it is not the right size. This is harder and much more time consuming to do with a grid.
Once it is the right size; you can use chalk to outline the image. Lead pencils may bleed through the paint if they are not completely removed a little at a time before painting. Now…fill in with paints and enjoy. It is a good idea that you take pictures of your progress to keep in a portfolio for other potential clients.
H John Johnsen
H. John Johnsen is a Designer and Writer for Home Design Sense.com and other web sites. You can find more information on Home Staging at the Home Design Sense website.
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