Displays

What Type of Display is Best?

LCD digital display
Liquid crystal display digital display uses LCD technology (generally TFT), as opposed to cathode ray or plasma for its visual output. LCD televisions are the most popular display solution in digital signage applications. The brightness of LCDs (measured in nits) allows the display to perform well in ambient lighting. If energy usage is a concern, LCD technology generally draws less power than a rival plasma display. Also, if your content includes a lot of static content, LCD is the better option to avoid display burn-in.

Plasma digital display
The second most popular display in digital signage is the Plasma. These displays employ a matrix of tiny gas plasma bubbles coated by phosphor and charged by precise electrical voltages to create a picture. Plasma’s are generally a lower priced solution vs. the LCD display but the technology does have shortfalls in energy consumption, weight, brightness, and the potential for burn-in. Still, plasma technology is competitive because it typically offers higher contrast ratios and better color depth then a LCD. Also, Plasmas can most often achieve higher refresh rates then a LCDs which means they perform better with fast moving media.

Rear projection digital display
A large-screen digital display that uses one of several technologies for generating the image. All methods yield larger screens than the one-tube, direct view CRT digital display, which reached a practical limit around 36". Although not as visually dazzling as plasma digital displays, rear-projection digital displays offer a competitive alternative at a far more affordable price.

DLP digital display
DLP (Digital Lighting Processing) technology uses an optical semiconductor to manipulate light digitally. Picture quality is masterful. You’ll find DLP technology in many televisions, home theater systems, and entertainment projectors.

Understanding HD
High Definition is in high demand. The variations of HD output can be intimidating. Content can be displayed in several video modes: 480p, 480i, 576p, 576i, 720p, 720i, 1080p and 1080i. The modes consist of a number and letter combination. The numerical portion represents the lines of vertical resolution available. The “i” or “p” suggests that the image is played using progressive scan or interlaced scan. Progressive scan displays output faster resulting in mush sharper images and a better overall visual experience.

Display Orientation
In some instances, it may be beneficial to change the orientation of your digital signage display. firmCHANNEL currently supports, and creates media for, 4:3 (Standard), 16:9 (Widescreen Horizontal), and 9:16 (Widescreen Vertical). Generally, 16:9 is the most popular however 9:16 demands attention due to its uniqueness.

In retail applications, portrait mode (9:16) is often more effective due to its aesthetics and functionality with the surrounding environments. Places such as public squares, retail stores, and theaters have traditionally used poster format print media and as such, portrait orientation digital signage is an attractive and natural alternative.