Brightness is key to making sure a display is successfully communicating to the target audience, but also to ensuring it is an efficient and cost-effective solution. The brightness, or luminance, of a screen is measured in nits. Nits, scientifically speaking, are Candelas, or candlepower, per meter squared. Basically, the higher the nits, the brighter the display. The brightness of digital signage is one of the most important considerations when searching for the best solution.
Indoor or Outdoor
If you’ve ever tried to read your smart phone at the beach on a sunny day, then you understand why brightness is an important factor for outdoor displays. An expensive display that isn’t legible for high peak afternoon hours would be a very ineffective solution and a just plain bad investment. Similarly, an indoor display that is located near a window or in a very brightly lit area and with insufficient brightness, would have the same issue. For indoor displays, between 800 and 1,500 are typically recommended for optimal viewing clarity, with 1,500 to 2,500 nits required for indoor displays in direct sunlight. Outdoor displays require up to 5,000 nits, with 5,000+ nits for those in direct sunlight.
Life Expectancy and Energy Conservation
Over time, all displays lose brightness, but this can be compensated for by adjusting brightness levels accordingly for conditions. Most displays today come with automatic brightness sensors and controls to either allow the screen to automatically adjust itself or to allow users to customize the level of brightness. Displays will last longer if they are not working at full brightness levels all day, every day. They will also save electricity being that they are pulling less power during nighttime or on cloudy days when full brightness is not needed.
Easy on the Eyes
We all know the annoyance and danger of having to stare into the exceedingly bright headlights of an inconsiderate, or perhaps forgetful driver. The same can happen with digital signage that does not take into consideration drivers, pedestrians, or neighbors. A reasonable brightness and also making sure that brightness is adjusted for darker conditions will go a long way in keeping your viewers, both intentional and unintentional happy.
