Understanding Viewing Differences for LED
LED technology and screens are at the forefront of modern digital signage.
LED screens offer dynamic and eye-catching content that can be used effectively to showcase retail sales, promote advertisements, present wayfinding information or display menus. Plus, with modern content management software, it is easier than ever before for businesses across Australia and New Zealand to keep their content fresh, current and effective.
Why LED Screens Work So Well
Visual Impact
LED display screens allow bright and colourful content to be displayed in public places. Thanks to the vibrancy inherent to LED technology, your message will stand out even in busy environments and help attract more eyes to your business.
Versatility
Unlike traditional signage or even static digital signs, LED displays can be quickly changed to ensure the content is new and engaging. Whether you need to promote a new sale, update your menu offering or communicate important information, a digital LED screen can do all of it at just the touch of a button.
User Friendly
LED technology has now advanced to the point that business managers and owners can remotely upload new images, content or videos as and when they need. This allows for real-time and intuitive management without the need to rely on a third-party.
Audience Interaction
LED screen technology can even display interactive content, such as touchscreens or self-service kiosks. For many businesses, this takes customer and client engagement to a whole new level and can help both improve your patrons’ experience and lighten the load on your staff.
How LED Technology Works
LED screens are actually made up of hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of tiny little ‘light bulbs’. These bulbs are called light emitting diodes, hence L.E.D. Each of the diodes is itself a small, coloured light.
When electricity flows through the LED, they light up. When they are arranged in a grid, and the individual diodes are controlled to display a specific shape in a specific pattern, you get the image that you want.
Nowadays, most LED screens use three main colours: Red, green and blue. It is the mixing and matching of these colours, at varying levels of brightness, that then make up the vast range of colours that we see on display.
Because the diodes themselves can now be adjusted very precisely, LED screens are able to show clear, bright and visible images even when exposed to direct sunlight or across vast distances. All of this is controlled internally by a computer from within the LED screen.
However, despite all of this fancy technology, not all digital LED screens are the same. Which is why, if you want your digital signage to look as good as it can and suit your specific purpose, it is important to understand its optimal viewing distance.
What Is an Optimal Viewing Distance (OVD)?
The OVD matters not just because of the visual clarity you will want for your screen to be as effective as possible, but also for various budget and technical specification considerations.
The higher the resolution (i.e., lower the pitch) the higher the investment and the more energy required. And vice versa.
You will also want to consider whether your screen is for indoor or outdoor use. Outdoor screens typically require significantly higher brightness levels to be visible under direct sunlight, and higher pixel pitches are often a cost-effective choice for these applications where viewing distances are greater. For indoor screens viewed at close range, a lower pixel pitch (higher resolution) is crucial for clarity, and these typically don't require the extreme brightness levels of outdoor displays, leading to more comfortable viewing in controlled environments
The Barco Method
The Barco Method is a good rule of thumb for trying to gauge the best viewing distance for your needs.
The basic rule is that the OVD is two times that of the pixel pitch. For example, if your digital LED screen has a pixel pitch of 1.8 mm then your optimal viewing distance is (double that and in metres) 3.6 metres.
Pixel Pitch and Its Relationship to Viewing Distance
To understand why the Barco Method makes so much sense and works, we need to break down what we mean by pixel pitch.
The pixel pitch is a measurement of the distance between two pixels: Your digital screen is made up of pixels (for LED screens, the pixels are made up of your diodes).
A lower pixel pitch, such as P1.8, means that there are more pixels in any single millimetre square of screen. The more pixels there are the higher the resolution of the image. In other words, you can stand closer to the screen without losing any of its edge or clarity. Thus, the lower the pixel pitch, the smaller the OVD, the more ideal it will be to view it at a close distance.
If your pixel pitch is high, say P6 and above, this means that the image will be a lower resolution. If you stand close to such an LED screen, the image will seem fuzzy or blurry. However, from a greater distance, the number of pixels becomes less significant, and you can view the image from further away.
Examples of Differing OVDs
1. Retail Displays or Control Rooms
If you are installing an LED screen in a retail store or in a security or aviation control room, you’ll be operating quite close to the screen, so you will need a smaller pixel pitch that suits being some few metres away.
2. Billboards or Concerts
For large screens - think a giant billboard or video screen displays at a live event - you are likely going to be at least 10 to 20 meters away and thus can see clear images at a higher pixel pitch.
Why Viewing Distance Is Critical
The OVD matters not just because of the visual clarity you will want for your screen to be as effective as possible, but also for various budget and technical specification considerations.
The higher the resolution (i.e., lower the pitch) the more expensive and the more energy required. And vice versa.
You will also want to consider the effect of an indoor screen compared to an outdoor screen. The higher the pitch of a screen, the brighter it will be. (Plus, the more heat will be efficiently dissipated if the pixels are further apart from one another.)
Therefore, it is more ideal for use in outdoor settings. If your screen is likely to be viewed indoors and at close range, you will want a high resolution or low pitch screen which is not - by default - as bright.
Your Application Will Determine the OVD
How do you know what the OVD is for your particular LED technology application?
Consider where the target audience will be standing. Are they going to be close to the screen, such as in a retail store, a corporate lobby or a meeting room? Do they need to see high levels of detail, such as in a control room, a broadcast studio or a museum?
If the answer was yes, then you need a low pixel pitch and high level of detail in your LED screen.
Alternatively, are they going to be standing quite far from the screen, at a sports event or concert? Do they only need to see the screen momentarily without focusing on detail, such as a roadside billboard?
Then you can opt for a brighter but lower quality, high pixel pitch screen.
Find the Perfect LED Screen with Pinnacle LED
Fortunately for you, you don’t have to make this decision alone. The Pinnacle LED team is here to help you find the perfect LED technology solution for your specific needs and application.
We offer end to end service - from solution design to installation, and even maintenance and repair. So, if you’re ready to find out which is the perfect pixel pitch LED screen for you, reach out to our team today.
