Dont be Fooled by Contrast Ratio Claims
In the LED display industry, image contrast represents emitted light images on a black field, and the blacker the surrounding area the more brilliant the colors appear. The contrast ratio on an LED display is a critical factor for obtaining a brilliant looking display. A poor contrast ratio will decrease the sharpness of the images on the LED display.
Contrast ratio is the difference between the brightest whites to that of the darkest blacks that a display can produce. Just as in high-definition television monitors, the contrast ratio is a significant aspect of any display. The higher the ratio, the more vivid the colors appear, or so the logic tells us.
The contrast ratio has also been thought of as the number of shades of gray between full white and full black. Manufacturers can test the contrast ratio in specific testing conditions, usually in a room where there is no light reflection from objects within the room or the walls of the room. But the ratios are subjective and not based on any kind of a standard.
These measurements can be misconstrued because the light of the diodes can be artificially increased and the diodes separated further apart so light emitted from one will not interfere with the measurement to achieve a better ratio which appears good on paper. But the reality check is in comparing on display to another, just as you would when shopping new high-definition televisions for your home.
Ideally the LED displays background material must trap the darkness and deliver the deepest light-robbing effect while also being resilient to the elements and resistant to UV fade over time.
The blacker the background surface, the better the image and the lower the requirement of illumination to produce a quality image displaying deeper and richer image colors. A constant rich, black background improves the overall quality of the screen in all ambient light.
Anything that is placed outdoors for a period of time suffers from the environment. For digital displays, the cleanliness of a sign is directly proportional to the quality of the image. Even the tiniest dirt particles may impede the optical characteristics of projected light.
Consequently, dirty signs appear to be flawed, even though they are operating at peak efficiency. It is not unusual for a repair technician to be dispatched to determine the nature of a distorted LED image, only to determine that a thorough cleaning would allow the expected quality image to emerge again.
Ultravision LED helps owners of their electronic signs and LED displays with a scheduled maintenance check and cleaning at intervals appropriate to various climates. The city grime of large cities like New York, or the wind-blown, dusty environments of the southwest states each accumulate dirt over the diodes and the surface of the black background of the sign. Maintaining contrast with the color emitted from the diodes becomes a matter of routine cleansing.
About Ultravision LED: William Y. Hall is President of the privately owned company based in Addison, Texas with offices in China. Ultravision LED specializes in turnkey LED display integration from the LED display, to installation, service, maintenance and even affordable factory financing. Ultravision LED's technological advancements continue to transcend digital communications systems for wide-reaching industries including sports and entertainment, retail, urban spectaculars and digital advertising companies. Information about Ultravision LED and turnkey integrated solutions for schools, retail and advertising applications can be found at www.ultravisionled.com or by calling 214-260-4500.
