Video Projection Mapping 101
When done right, projection mapping brings a whole new level of experience. Still these days projection mapping on buildings and indoors feels like magic. This gets people's attention.
OUTDOOR
What's working great?
#Bright Buildings
Light-colored facades reflect more light — white and light-grey buildings make the projection look brighter and more vivid.
#Architecturally Interesting Spaces
Buildings with interesting shapes, columns, balconies, and arcades will always look better than a flat wall.
#Combination of Physical and Digital World
The magic happens when content follows the real architecture — edges, windows, and ornaments become part of the show.
#Light Design
Thoughtful light design around the projection area makes the show stand out instead of competing with street lighting.
#Storytelling vs. Technical Mapping
Bringing storytelling elevates content and immerses the audience.
#Engage Artist Community
Involving local artists brings fresh content, press attention, and a community that feels ownership of the installation.
#Dark Projection Area
The darker the surroundings, the more contrast you get — a dark projection area makes even smaller projectors look spectacular.
#Community Engagement
A nightly show becomes a gathering point — it drives foot traffic and gives people a reason to keep coming back.
Projects that got it right
The ART on the MART
The largest permanent digital art projection in the world. Great example of engaging artists from around the world to submit content.
This was a massive installation costing a couple million dollars — in the center of Chicago, IL.
artonthemart.com →Kalamazoo, MI
No distraction during the day, amazing light show during the night. A digital mural can be used where a conventional mural can't be placed.
The whole project was done for less than $100k USD, without content — by our own team.
Digital Mural →
DOOH
The DOOH market is only expected to grow — globally $31.7 billion USD by 2025. This remotely controlled digital screen can be used for advertising or for sharing what's happening with the community.
Two outdoor projectors — the most common use case for DOOH — cost less than $50k USD.
lm3x.com/dooh →The Villa, CZ
Great example of storytelling and technical mapping — a 10-minute video-mapping show made to celebrate the hometown's anniversary. Part of the show is a tribute to local artist Zdeněk Burian, who is well-known for his mesmerizing paintings of realistic dinosaurs.
Equipment approx. $50k USD, content $47k USD.
Case study →
What's not going to work?
- #Projecting on glass and other see-through surfaces — unless you use projection foil, which is not the cheapest. But then it really gets magical.
- #Places with plenty of ambient light
- #Poor Content Quality — you should expect to spend at least the same amount of money on content that you spend on the equipment.
- #Projection without sound or music
- #Really tall buildings — it's better to go wide than tall.
INDOOR
What's working great?
#Light-Reflective Surface
Matte, light-colored surfaces give the brightest, sharpest image — avoid glossy finishes that mirror the projector beam.
#Immersive Experience
With projection mapping you can create truly immersive experiences that will catch everyone's attention.
#Combination of Physical and Digital World
Project onto real objects — exhibits, sculptures, textured walls — so the digital layer elevates the physical space.
#Light Design
Control the ambient light — dimmed, well-designed lighting lets the projection carry the room.
#Interactivity
There are plentiful ways to engage your viewer these days — from motion tracking to app-controlled games and content creation.
#Engage Artist Community
Local artists and students can keep an installation fresh with rotating content and openings that draw a crowd.
#Dark Projection Area
Indoors you control the light — keep the projection zone dark and the image will pop.
#Community Engagement
Interactive projection gives visitors something to play with and share — and a reason to return.
Projects that got it right
Mammoth Tusk, CZ
Permanent installation for a museum in Ostrava, CZ. The audiovisual layer of projection tells the story of how the tusk was found in a river in 2017.
lightside.cz →Bravo Media
Experiential marketing from concept to execution. Their LinkedIn feed is full of great indoor projects.
bravomedia.com →Visual Feeder
Create captivating experiences on digital windows using projection technology — reach your target audience everywhere. They have great concepts for store windows and plenty of project examples on their webpage.
visualfeeder.com →Lightside.cz
This company branched out from Lumitrix. They have a really strong animation team with storytelling skills — the creative director teaches animation and film at UMPRUM in Prague.
Very competitive with pricing and excellent with quality, with solid project examples on their website and very impressive projects currently in the works.
lightside.cz →What's not going to work?
- #Projecting on glass and other see-through surfaces — unless you use projection foil, which is not the cheapest. But then it really gets magical.
- #Places with plenty of ambient light
- #Poor Content Quality — you should expect to spend at least the same amount of money on content that you spend on the equipment.
- #Projection without sound or music
- #Really tall buildings — it's better to go wide than tall.
- #Daylight Projection — unless you use projection foil.
