Measure the throw before you read any spec
Ask where the fixture will physically sit before asking what it should cost. On a custom glass gobo projector the throw distance sets the lens, the lens sets the image size, and only then does wattage become a meaningful question. Buyers who start with the power figure usually end up with a unit that is either wasted on a short throw or hopeless on a long one.
Match output to the ambient light
The wattage question is really an ambient light question. Daylight starts around 10,000 lux, a lit retail interior runs 300–500 lux, and a dim restaurant may sit under 100 lux. A custom glass gobo projector has to beat whatever is already falling on that surface, which is why the same model can look brilliant in a brand flagship and invisible in a trade fair stand.
- Existing illumination at the working hour
- Surface colour and finish
- Image size versus available output
- Hours of operation and duty cycle
Lens, zoom and focus
Zoom and focus are the two adjustments you will use ten times and the ones cheap units make hardest. A zoom range lets one custom glass gobo projector cover several mounting positions, which matters when the final bracket location is decided on site rather than on paper. Look for a lens that holds focus across the zoom travel, because a unit that has to be re-focused every time you zoom is a unit that will be left slightly out of focus.
Gobo material: glass or metal
Choose the gobo from the artwork file. Solid block logos survive etching into stainless steel and will outlast the projector, but anything with hairlines, grey levels or a photographic element has to go on glass. This is the decision that most often gets made backwards — the buyer orders a cheap metal gobo, sees the result on the wall, and reorders in glass two weeks later.
Ingress rating and mounting environment
Two things wear out before the electronics do: the gasket and the cable gland. Specify IP65 for a custom glass gobo projector going outdoors, but also ask about the finish on the bracket and whether the gland is included in the rating. Salt air near a trade fair stand will find the cheapest component in the assembly within two seasons.
- Is the position exposed to driving rain or only wind-blown moisture
- Whether the cable gland is rated with the housing
- UV exposure on painted finishes and plastic parts
- Salt or pollutant load in the air
What to send when you ask for a quote
The fastest quotes come from the most specific enquiries. Include the mounting height, the distance to the target surface, whether it is indoor or exposed, and the artwork in vector if you have it. A custom glass gobo projector specification built from those details can be quoted and shipped without a second round of clarification.
