Make a Smartphone Projector for Only $5 | Make:

By Danny Osterweil and Photojojo
Time Required: 1–3 Hours 
Difficulty: Easy

Print this Project

Slide projectors are great, but outdated, and digital projectors cost a bundle. Fortunately, you can show off your mobile photos and your phone hack savvy by turning your phone into an inexpensive smartphone projector.

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Steps

Step #1: Prepare the projector box.

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If the inside of your shoe box is a bright color, paint it black or tape up some black paper for best image quality.
On a short side of the box, trace the outer edge of your magnifying glass and cut it out.
For extended use, cut a small hole at the back of your box for your phone’s power cord. Tape the magnifying lens securely in place, and make sure there are no holes to let light in.

Conclusion

Taking It Further

Other stand ideas include this ultra-portable Tiltpod, this handy dandy Gorillapod, or this super creative lego stand from this cool tutorial.
Use a large aperture camera lens with a focus ring for more flexibility with projection size and focus distance.
Use your magnifying glass to get an up-close perspective on your phones pixels.
Try using your computer screen instead of your phone as the display in a new projector project.
Check out this crazy sophisticated DIY digital projector that can create a 120″ HD screen!
This mini film projector fits in the palm of your hand and was made from an Altoids tin!
Leave it to the Japanese to do something this awesome with a projector. Hint: Samurai swords, shadow battles.

This project first appeared in MAKE Volume 36, page 127.

Danny Osterweil

Photojojo

Photojojo is on a mission to make photography more fun for everyone! It publishes an insanely great newsletter and carries only the most awesome photo gifts and gear for photographers. photojojo.com

4 Responses to $5 Smartphone Projector

Tessa Kummerer on December 3rd, 2013 at 3:57 pm said:

This is really cool. Now I need to go find a magnifying glass so I can bore my friends with my photos and movies.
mickey on November 19th, 2014 at 6:13 am said:

learned alot thanks
http://goo.gl/3yiF9j
- Steve on September 6th, 2017 at 9:18 am said:
  
  http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/2010/04/alot-is-better-than-you-at-everything.html
Chuck Amen on March 9th, 2017 at 9:50 am said:

thanks, photos of the actual project would be nice

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Make: Projects

$5 Smartphone Projector

Parts

Tools

Steps

Step #1: Prepare the projector box.

Step #2: Make a phone stand and flip your screen.

Step #3: Find your focus.

Conclusion

Taking It Further

Danny Osterweil

Photojojo

4 Responses to $5 Smartphone Projector

Make: Projects

$5 Smartphone Projector

Parts

Tools

Steps

Step #1: Prepare the projector box.

Step #2: Make a phone stand and flip your screen.

Step #3: Find your focus.

Conclusion

Taking It Further

Danny Osterweil

Photojojo

4 Responses to $5 Smartphone Projector

Awesome!