WALL

EYE

Build your own opaque projector. By Steve Lodefink

Magnify and project artwork in books and computer printouts.

What’s an opaque projector? You know, one of those contraptions that takes flat, reflective subjects such as printed pages, leaves, or coins, and projects them onto a screen or wall. Opaque projectors were common classroom presentation tools during most of the 20th century.

Although made largely obsolete by the use of find one of the majestic 1,000-watt giants from video cameras coupled to video displays, opaque yesteryear at a swap meet, then consider yourself projectors are still being made and sold. Marketed charmed. I was not so lucky. today mainly to art students and hobbyists for use While searching for a projector to buy, I did hap-as drawing enlargers, entry-level models tend to be pen upon a free PDF download of an old Edmund dim little plastic toys that can only accommodate Scientific DIY booklet called “How to Build Opaque puny 3" or 4" originals, and have to be used in a Projectors.” Just 20 pages long, the pamphlet is totally darkened room due to their small apertures packed full of projector theory, useful tables and and weak light sources. If you’re lucky enough to formulas, design considerations, lighting and lens

Photograph by Robyn Twomey

74 Make: Volume 14