Have you ever been amazed just by seeing LED walls? If your answer is yes, then you need to know that these walls have been transforming different spaces all over the world. Talk of schools, churches, and even offices have benefitted from the appeal of LED walls.
In case a LED wall installation might have crossed your mind, then you must also think about the pixel pitch selection. Now, we don’t blame you for probably not understanding what a pixel pitch is. That’s actually the reason we’re here – to explain everything.
We have answers to all of the questions you have regarding pixel pitch and LED walls. So, take your time and read on to understand more.
What exactly is Pixel Pitch and Pixel Size?
When we talk about LED walls, every individual LED is known as a pixel. Now, the pixel pitch number is the distance between the LEDs on the wall. And this distance is normally given in millimeters.
The optimal viewing distance usually is 2-3 times the pixel pitch number in meters. The visual performance of LED displays and the viewing distance are both factors affected by the pixel pitch.
The LEDs are closer together on your display, and the viewing distance is closer for the video board when the pixel pitch is lower. Take an example of a fine or narrow pixel pitch, of let’s say 2. This would allow you to view from just a meter or two away.
A pixel pitch of 9 would mean that you need a distance of 9 meters so that you can check out all of the details. The Pixel pitch symbol is the letter “P” with a number next to it. For outdoor applications, you can have a pixel pitch of up to 40. On the other hand, some manufacturers are beginning to create products that have a pixel pitch below 1.
Does Pixel Pitch Even Matter?
The simplest reason why a pixel pitch matters is because of the pricing. The higher it is, the lower the amount of money you part with. However, a lower pixel pitch will give you a better resolution. But it typically costs more to install. This is majorly an effect of high production costs and increased materials.
A higher pixel pitch LED screen may need you to make more frequent maintenance. This increases the cost of ownership. You, therefore, need to consider the display that will be sufficient before you even determine the optimal viewing distance of your screen.
What we mean by saying the optimal viewing distance is the particular point where image fidelity remains constant. However, if the person viewing moves closer, the quality of the image goes down on the screen. The screen would otherwise appear pixelated.
The basic rule of thumb here when making a decision is 110 inches. In case the overall display is less than 110 inches, then a backlight LCD is mostly a more cost-effective solution to make sure that you get the details you want.
However, when the overall display is more than 110 inches, then an LED wall is the best choice that you can pick.
Resolution Vs Pixel Pitch
Most times, when you’ve gone to a shop to choose a display, you’ll hear them talking about the word resolution. Some of the common examples include a 4K display or 1080p display. The pixel pitch that your LED wall has is a direct measure of the resolution.
Therefore, when the pixel pitch is low, the resolution is high, and vice versa. The basic rule of thumb for distance and pixel pitch still applies when you’re installing a LED wall.
It is imperative that you carefully consider the quality of images or content that you’re showcasing on the LED wall before you actually get one. For instance, when you render a low quality image on the LED wall, you’re going to get a low resolution result. This is regardless of the pixel pitch that you have selected.
So, What Pixel Pitch Do You Really Need?
It may be sometimes confusing when you want to choose a pixel pitch for your LED wall. However, it isn’t a huge challenge when you have a guide to help you out.
While you may believe that it’s clear and straight to the point, going for the highest potential resolution, which is a lower pixel pitch, may be overdoing it. Thus, you may actually have no need of overpaying for a lower pixel pitch.
The aspect ratio matters too when you’re making a decision. For most content formatting, it’s always a 16:9 aspect ratio. The wall you have should also align with the content that you do have. If this is the case, then you really don’t have to pay for an increased resolution either.
The basics that you need to know when choosing the pixel pitch are below:
- For an optimal viewing distance of 2-3 meters, you need a P1 pixel pitch.
- For an optimal viewing distance of 4-6 meters, you need a P2 pixel pitch.
- For an optimal viewing distance of 10-15 meters, you need a P5 pixel pitch.
- For an optimal viewing distance of 20-30 meters, you need a P10 pixel pitch.
- For an optimal viewing distance of 80-100 meters, you need a P40 pixel pitch.
Use the above standards to approximate the pixel pitch that you need for your LED wall.
Final Thoughts
Choosing the right pixel pitch and LED wall doesn’t have to cause any trouble. We at VIBE design group are always a phone call away when you need some help and consulting. Nonetheless, the information that we have provided above should help you out when you’re searching for a LED wall. You should easily pick the right LED wall for your project. The cost of LED walls shouldn’t scare you either, as this has been on a gradual fall. You won’t have to break the bank just to get a decent LED wall. Besides, always remember that we are here at any time to help you with any concern you have.
