The short answer
Connect your laptop to the projector with HDMI, set the laptop to duplicate its display, open your TacBoard gallery in Chrome, click Display Live and go full screen. For a bright room, use a projector rated at 3,000 lumens or more, and dim the lights near the screen.
- Difficulty
- Easy, about five minutes
- Runs on
- A laptop in Chrome. The TV or projector is the display.
What you need
- A projector with an HDMI input (many venues have one)
- A screen, a light-colored wall or a pulled-tight white sheet
- An HDMI cable long enough to reach the laptop, or the venue's AV hookup
- The laptop's charger
Before you start
- A laptop (Windows or Mac) with Chrome. Safari and Edge also work, but Chrome is recommended. Close other tabs.
- Your own laptop, not a work-issued one. Company and school laptops often block the screen sharing and sites you need.
- Reliable internet for the laptop: venue Wi-Fi or a phone hotspot. Weak Wi-Fi is the most common reason photos are slow to appear.
- Cell signal for guests if they will text photos. Test both at the venue with Try TacBoard.
- Your gallery open in Live mode. Log in at tacboard.com, open your gallery and click Display Live.
Step by step: projector
- 1
Place the projector and screen
Put the screen where guests gather but away from windows. Set the projector so the picture fills the screen, then use its focus and keystone controls to square it up.
- 2
Connect the laptop
Plug HDMI from the laptop (with an adapter if needed) into the projector or the venue's AV wall plate.
- 3
Duplicate the display
On Windows press Windows+P and choose Duplicate. On a Mac, mirror the built-in display in System Settings > Displays.
- 4
Open the live stream and go full screen
Log in at tacboard.com, open your gallery, click Display Live, then press F11 (Windows) or Control+Command+F (Mac).
- 5
Test from the back of the room
Send a test photo and check that it is readable from the farthest table. Adjust the zoom if needed.
Projector tips for events
- Brightness: daytime or brightly lit rooms need 3,000+ lumens. After sunset, almost any projector works.
- Ask your DJ or AV company. Many already bring a projector and screen and can plug your laptop into it.
- Sharing with a presentation: run the stream before and after the program, then switch the projector input to the presentation laptop for speeches or awards. The stream keeps collecting photos while it is off screen.
- Outdoors: wait until dusk and shield the laptop from dew and drinks.
Troubleshooting
| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
| Photos take a long time to appear | The laptop's internet is weak. Move closer to the router or switch to a phone hotspot. |
| The stream stops scrolling at the bottom instead of looping | Change the browser zoom: Ctrl and + or - on Windows, Command and + or - on Mac. Some screen sizes need 110%. |
| The TV shows "No signal" | Select the right HDMI input with the TV remote's Input or Source button. |
| The picture does not fill the screen | Enter full screen in Chrome (F11 on Windows, Control+Command+F on Mac), and set the display to Duplicate or Mirror. |
| The laptop goes to sleep | Plug in the charger and turn off sleep and the screen saver for the event. |
Other displays
Frequently asked questions
Is a TV or a projector better?
Either works. Use whichever the venue has. Projectors give a bigger picture, and TVs are easier in bright rooms.
Can I project onto a wall?
Yes. A smooth, light-colored wall works well. A pulled-tight white sheet is fine for barns and outdoor events.
Will TacBoard set up the projector for us?
No. TacBoard does not provide or set up equipment, but most DJs and AV vendors can connect a laptop for you.
Can I run the live stream on my phone or iPad?
No. The live stream runs on a laptop browser. Connect the laptop to the TV or projector, by HDMI or by casting or mirroring from the laptop.
Why do photos take a while to appear on the screen?
Almost always a weak Wi-Fi signal on the laptop. Move it closer to the router or switch to a phone hotspot. Guests also need cell signal to text photos.
Do I need Wi-Fi at the venue?
The laptop running the stream needs internet: venue Wi-Fi or a hotspot. Test it at the venue beforehand with Try TacBoard.
Last reviewed by the TacBoard team.