The Beginner's Guide to Holiday Projection Mapping

Holiday projection mapping turns the flat front of your house into a moving canvas. Instead of stringing thousands of lights, you point a projector at your facade and play content — snowfall, dancing characters, spooky scenes — that's been lined up to your windows, doors, and rooflines.

At its simplest you need three things: a projector bright enough for outdoor use, content to play, and a way to play it (a media player or mini PC). Everything else — enclosures, masking, multi-projector blending — is an upgrade you grow into.

The single biggest beginner mistake is buying a projector that's too dim. Ambient light from streetlights and your own decorations fights the image. We'll always steer you toward lumens first, resolution second.

Start small: one projector, one pre-made content loop, projected onto a flat garage door. Get that working, then add masking and a second projector once you're comfortable. This guide and the free Projector Calculator will get you to that first show fast.