Projection Mapping for Beginners in 10 Minutes
Best Projector, Software & Complete Setup Guide
Learn VIRAL projection mapping in 10 minutes (beginner)
Quick Links:
Mad Mapper Software (use code “NICK26” for 20% off)
Disclosure: Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you buy through them, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It helps support my tutorials and my increasingly unnecessary projector collection.
Projection mapping looks like wizard shit.
You point light at a weird building, wall, or statue, make some visuals dance around it, and suddenly everyone thinks you’re a genius. The good news: you do not need a warehouse full of gear, a film crew, or a secret degree in projector science to get started.
You need a projector, some software, and something worth projecting onto. That’s it.
I made a full beginner projection mapping video tutorial that walks through the process. Watch that first, then come back here when you inevitably decide you need to buy more stuff.
The best beginner projector for projection mapping
For an affordable first setup, I recommend the XuanPad V18 mini projector.
Is it the projector I would use to map a professional project? Absolutely not. But for learning projection mapping at home, testing ideas on walls, furniture, sculptures, or whatever else is sitting around your apartment, it gets the job done. I have 2 of these because they are cheap, light, and I can beat them up.
Start small. Learn the process. Make something cool. Then spend irresponsible amounts of money on better gear later.
The projection mapping software I use
For actual mapping, I use MadMapper.
It lets you take your visuals (or the built in ones) and fit them onto basically any shape or surface without. It’s powerful, relatively approachable, and made for this exact job.
You can try MadMapper free before committing, and use code NICK26 for 20% off if you decide it’s your thing.
That’s the beginner setup: a projector, MadMapper, and a willingness to spend a few hours moving rectangles around until everything lines up. Good luck. It gets addicting fast.
Optional: animation software
Projection mapping software gets the visuals onto the thing. But first, you need visuals. You can use the ones built into Mad Mapper, or you can make them yourself.
I make mine in Adobe After Effects. It’s a (complex) program where you can create animations, loop scenes, add textures, make weird things move, and generally turn a normal projector into a much more expensive-feeling projector.
If you want to learn how to use Adobe After Effects, you can take my Motion Design Upgrade course.