While content and messaging are the more exciting aspects of LED digital signage, the technical details matter as well. In order to create the best viewer experience with the greatest impact, the technical factors that affect LED digital signage must be understood and optimized. Specifications such as pixel pitch, resolution, brightness, and color calibration can help create successful displays that yield results. In this blog, PixelFLEX will explain a few of the technical features of LED signage and why they matter.
First of all, a light-emitting diode, or LED, is a semiconductor device that emits visible light when an electric current passes through it. LEDs require much less power than other light elements, making them more energy efficient. In addition, since they do not have filaments like those in incandescent lamps, there’s nothing to burn out or fail, giving them significantly longer life.
Here are some technical aspects of LED digital displays to consider:
Pixel Pitch
Pixel pitch is simply the distance from the center of one LED pixel to the center of the next pixel, measured in millimeters. The smaller the pixel pitch, the more pixels make up the image on a display, improving the resolution. However, this improved image quality comes at a higher cost. Pixel pitch typically ranges from 1mm up to 20mm for indoor LED displays and 6mm to 34mm for outdoor displays.
Resolution
Overall resolution is determined by pixel pitch, pixel technology, display size, and viewing distance. If your LED video wall has very detailed images or graphics or needs to be viewed clearly at a close distance, you’ll generally need a higher resolution or pixel pitch. This can be accomplished by creating a larger screen for lower resolutions, and smaller screens at higher resolutions. There are, of course, other factors that affect legibility, including font size and contrast.
Brightness
LED displays measure brightness by nit, which is the total brightness over one square meter of the display. This value takes into account all of the contributing factors to brightness, such as the number of LEDs per pixel, the pixel pitch, and the brightness of individual LEDs. The optimal brightness for a digital display depends on the sign’s exposure to the sun and whether the messaging must be readable both day and night. Brighter nits are better able to compete with the sun. Brightness typically ranges from 2,000 to 8,000 nits for outdoor displays and 1,000 to 2,000 nits for indoor displays. However, should an interior screen be exposed to a lot of natural light, a brighter display may be more desirable.
Color Calibration
Color calibration relates to brightness and contrast as well as the actual color desired. The video signal and the internal hardware are calibrated at the factory to make sure colors display true. This particular technical factor is directly related to the quality of the LED screen itself and can’t be changed with software or settings.
When purchasing LED digital signage, you’ll need to consider several aspects including viewing range, content, imagery, and messaging. With a complete understanding of the technical factors, viewing area, and content, you can choose the LED display that’s optimized for your intended audience. The experts at PixelFLEX have the knowledge and options to help you choose the ideal LED display to fit any need.
