Laser Pointer for Presentations, Talks and Training

Red or green for a presentation?

For a projected slide or a TV screen in a normal room, a red laser pen is the classic choice: the dot is clear without being harsh, and everyone recognises it. In a large, bright hall, a barn, a marquee or outdoors in the evening, a green laser is easier to follow because the eye is far more sensitive to green. Violet is striking but faint in a lit room, so it is not our pick for presenting.

All our lasers are class 2, up to 1 mW – the class intended for sale to the public in the UK.

Our recommendations

• M1 red laser pen – 650 nm, slim, on AAA batteries. Pick it up, present, put it back in your pocket.
• R2 Pro – compact, rechargeable, aluminium. For people who present every week and do not want to buy batteries.
• X1 green laser pen – for big halls, outdoor talks and bright rooms.
• R1 Pro – full-size red with safety keys, if the pointer is shared between colleagues.

Presenting with a laser: practical tips

1. Point, then switch off. A dot that wanders across the slide distracts more than it helps. Press, show, release.
2. Rest your hand. Brace your wrist against your body or the lectern; every small tremor is magnified on the screen.
3. Circle slowly. To highlight an area, draw one slow circle around it rather than shaking the dot.
4. Face the audience. The pointer lets you stay turned towards people instead of talking to the screen.
5. Mind the audience. Never sweep the beam across the room. Keep it on the screen or the object you are explaining.

Talks outside the meeting room

This is where we differ from an office supplier. Our customers use lasers to point at a crack in a wall during a building survey, a machine part during training on a farm, a feature on a hillside during a guided walk, or a constellation at an astronomy club night. For the last two, a green laser is the right tool – see long-range laser pointers and astronomy.

Which size suits you?

A slim pen such as the M1 or X1 disappears into a jacket pocket and is easy to hold for a whole talk. The compact R2 Pro is a little thicker but rechargeable, and its aluminium body survives life in a laptop bag. If a laser is shared between several trainers or kept in a meeting room, a full-size model with safety keys such as the R1 Pro lets you lock it when it is not in use. Want to compare all models at a glance? See compare lasers.

Batteries

AAA pens are simple: keep two spare batteries in your bag. Rechargeable Pro lasers save money if you present often; charge the night before and keep a spare 16340 or 18650 cell to hand.

Safety in a room full of people

A room full of people is exactly where care matters. Never point the laser at the audience, never at faces, and watch reflective surfaces such as glass walls, whiteboards with a gloss finish and windows. Switch off when you walk around. Store the laser away from children. See laser pointer safety.