Additionally, overhead projectors are easy to use and require minimal setup time, making them a popular choice for educators and presenters who need to quickly and easily project images onto a screen or wall.īenefits and Drawbacks of Using an Overhead Projector One of the advantages of an overhead projector is that it can project images onto a large surface, making it ideal for use in classrooms or boardrooms. The light shines through the plastic sheet or film and is projected onto the mirror, which reflects the image onto a screen or wall. The plastic sheet or film is placed on a flat, glass surface called the stage, which has a light source underneath it. In this article, we’ll explore the inner workings of an overhead projector and explain how it projects images onto a screen or wall, as well as the benefits and drawbacks of using an overhead projector compared to modern digital projectors.Īn overhead projector works by shining light through a transparent plastic sheet or film onto a mirror that reflects the image onto a screen or wall. Although they have largely been replaced by digital projectors in recent years, overhead projectors were once an essential tool for educators and presenters alike. An overhead projector is a device that projects images and text onto a screen or wall.