Projector specifications can read like a foreign language. This guide translates the terms that matter most when the screen is in your garden rather than a darkened living room. It is general information only: Club Giardino sells nothing, names no brands and quotes no prices.
Brightness
Brightness is usually given in lumens. Outdoors, it is the single most important figure, because you are competing with sky glow, streetlights, neighbors' windows and your own patio lights. More brightness lets you use a bigger screen or start before full darkness. Be aware that figures are not always measured the same way, so compare like with like and read independent reviews where you can.
Contrast
Contrast is the difference between the darkest black and the brightest white the projector can show. Indoors, high contrast gives rich, deep scenes. Outdoors, ambient light lifts the blacks anyway, so contrast matters less than it does in a dedicated room, and brightness often matters more.
Resolution
Resolution is the number of pixels in the image. Higher resolution looks sharper, especially on a large screen viewed from close up. For a casual garden screening, where guests sit some distance back, a moderate resolution can look very good. Match the resolution to how big your screen is and how close the front row sits.
Throw ratio
The throw ratio tells you how far back the projector must sit for a given picture width. A standard-throw model needs more distance; a short-throw model makes a big picture from close range, useful on a narrow patio. Measure your yard before choosing, and see the placement notes on our Backyard Cinema page.
Aspect ratio
Most modern projectors use a widescreen shape that suits films and television. If your screen has a different shape, part of it will go unused. Choose a screen that matches your projector's native aspect ratio.
Light source
Older and some current projectors use a lamp, which dims over time and eventually needs replacing. Many newer designs use LED or laser light, which generally lasts longer and turns on and off more quickly. Both can work outdoors; consider how often you will watch and how easy replacement parts are to find.
Fan noise and heat
Projectors need cooling, and fans make noise. In a quiet garden that hum may be noticeable, so place the projector behind the audience and give it space to breathe. Our page on caring for a projector outdoors covers heat, dust and dew, and Sources and Sound explains how to connect a film and speakers.