Client Guide: Content Design for LED Screens
Designing content for LED screens, particularly high-brightness and outdoor displays, requires a different approach than traditional screens or web media. The goal is maximum visibility, impact, and legibility from a distance and under direct sunlight.
Please use this guide to ensure your content is optimized for your new LED screen.
Key Design Principles
These are the most critical factors for designing high-impact LED screen content.
High Contrast is Essential
- Rule: Use maximum contrast between foreground elements (text, graphics) and the background.
- Best Practice: Light, bright colors (white, yellow) on dark, saturated backgrounds (black, deep blue).
- Worst Practice: Low contrast combinations like light gray text on a white background, or similar shades of color.
- Color Palette Recommendation: Limit your palette to 2-3 highly contrasting colors.
Simplify and Declutter
- Rule: The simpler the message, the faster it can be read and understood.
- Text: Use short, punchy sentences and bullet points. Avoid paragraphs of text.
- Graphics: Use bold, simple shapes and icons. Avoid fine detail, complex textures, or busy patterns that can pixelate or blur when viewed from a distance.
Bold, Legible Typography
Rule
Prioritize legibility over style.
Font Choice
Use thick, sans-serif fonts (e.g., Arial Black, Impact, Montserrat Bold). These are easier to read than thin or serif fonts.
Font Size
Text must be large enough to be easily read at the intended viewing distance. When in doubt, make it bigger.
Spacing
Ensure generous line spacing and letter spacing to prevent text from blending together.
Technical Specifications Checklist
Content must be created to match the native resolution and aspect ratio of your screen, or even multiples of it. Please refer to your screen’s specification sheet to confirm these details.
| Item | Recommendation | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Resolution | Native screen resolution or multiples of it. Eg. native resolution 384px x 768px, or 768px x 1536px. | Content created at lower resolutions or different aspect ratios will stretch and look blurry. |
| Aspect Ratio | Native screen aspect ratio (e.g., 16:9, 4:3) | Maintain correct proportions to avoid distortion. |
| Color Mode | RGB | The standard color model for LED displays. |
| File Format (Video) | MP4 (H.264) | Optimize for high quality and minimal compression artifacts. |
| File Format (Still Image) | JPEG, PNG | Use PNG for images requiring a transparent background. |
| Frame Rate | 25 or 30 frames per second (fps) | Standard frame rates for smooth video playback. |
Content Design Mistakes to Avoid
Review this quick-reference table before finalizing your content design:
| Avoid Doing This… | Instead, Do This… | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Using small, decorative fonts (serif, script) | Use large, thick, sans-serif fonts | Small details get lost, and thin lines blur in high brightness. |
| Having similar background and text colors (low contrast) | Use high-contrast colors (e.g., white on black, yellow on dark blue) | Direct sunlight washes out low-contrast images. |
| Too much information or busy animations | Keep content simple, with slow or no animation | Viewers must process the message quickly while passing by. |
| Using dark images or videos | Brighten all media; use vivid colors | Dark content appears washed out or invisible during the day. |
For a consultation regarding content best practices for your specific screen, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Aria Digital on 1300 797 220, or email support@ariadigital.com.au.
