Contrast

Get the right answer by asking the right question - plus the absolutely essential follow up question: what is the difference in brightness between white and black image areas, on the same screen, at the same time? And then again with the essential supplementary question. What is the difference in brightness between white and black image areas in my client’s lighting and viewing conditions?

The answers to these questions are significantly lower than in the brochure or spec sheet because the number we actually need is the so-called ANSI contrast ratio, whereas the specification sheet uses the so-called sequential method, where white and black levels are measured at different times and in idealised measurement conditions. It measures something that cannot be seen by the human eye. The only question it answers is ‘what is the maximum theoretical contrast number I could measure, even if I can’t see it myself and even if it’s measured in a light absorbing black cave’?

Back in the real world, most display types can deliver good or even outstanding viewing experiences, whether flat panel display, projected displays or direct view LED etc. But, without exception, you’re always specifying a system - even if you just get a flat panel display out of its box and hang it on a wall. It’s because all displays look and  perform measurably different, depending on the lighting scenarios you view them in. Every screen of every type you ever supply is always a system and these systems includes the lighting conditions under which it’s viewed.

In the case of flat panel display display screens, their reflectivity, coupled with direct lighting sources can create terrible viewing experiences for some viewers in a room when the next person’s experience can be just fine.

With flat panel displays the contrast can vary drastically from one viewing position to another.

This image was accessed from  ANSI/IES/AVIXA RP-38-17  Recommended Practice for Lighting Performance for Small to Medium Sized Videoconferencing Rooms. It was taken by Brooke Silber of BR+A Consulting Engineers and Jim Yorgey of Lutron

In the case of projected displays it’s general ambient light levels that impacts contrast, unless you use ALR ambient light rejecting technology such as dnp Supernova.

Split screen demonstration of dnp Supernova optical front projection material, showing standard matt white screen (central strip) with two versions of the dnp Supernova (top strip, high gain; bottom strip, high contrast). Photographed in a room with general illuminance of 500 lux.

There’s one standard for image quality, PISCR (Projected Image System Contrast Ratio, pronounced ‘piscar’), soon to be replaced with ISCR (Image System Contrast Ratio) which covers all display and screen types.

Visual Displays’ Director Greg Jeffreys was a lead writer on the PISCR ANSI/AVIXA Standard and is a task group member of its replacement, ISCR, due out for public review at the time of writing. We really know how to help you deliver ultimate viewing performance.