Digital Signage – Size, Aspect Ratio and Orientation

Posted by: Richard Williams | Posted on: May 25th, 2010 | 0 Comments

TV screens have always come in different sizes from small 10” portable devices (and smaller) to huge home cinema systems. However, it is only been in the last few years since the advance of wide screen hat there has been a choice of aspect ratio.

No longer are all TV screens in 4:3 ratios now there are numerous different aspects available for modern LCD TVs such as 16:9 which is fast becoming the most common. This has both positives and negatives when it comes to digital signage where LCD enclosures a are available that allow the use of both portrait and lanscape modes of viewing.

Any content designed, for instance, on a 4:3 system will have to either be stretched or letterboxed to fit on the 16:9 screen (letterboxing is when black borders cut the screen size).

However, this wide screen aspect ratio does allow more generous orientation especially when you turn the screen to portrait orientation.

Normally when you view a 16:9 TV screen you watch it in landscape or widescreen mode. However, by turning the orientation you can provide a longer screen – ideal for the modern world of digital posters and signage.

Portrait orientation is ideal for digital signage because it is less usual than landscape screens making it more distinctive and attractive. It also follows similar aspects to the traditional poster and makes content easier to access by people who are used to this sort of orientation with print media.

However, it must be noted that LCD screens, while they can be easily orientated to portrait mode there can be a loss of resolution and brightness, particularly from viewing from the side as the light polarization technology of an LCD monitor is designed to run vertical.