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Processing & Calibration

The 'invisible' specifications that define image quality. A guide to video processing, calibration, colour management, and content delivery for LED displays.

SPECIFIER QUICK REFERENCE

Processing & Calibration — Quick Spec

  • Video processing budget: 10-15% of LED hardware cost
  • Minimum 14-bit greyscale for commercial video, 16-bit for broadcast/cinema
  • Camera-based calibration at commissioning is non-negotiable — specify it
  • Novastar and Colorlight are the two dominant processing platforms
  • HDR10/HLG support should be standard for any 2026+ installation
  • For multi-site: cloud CMS with remote monitoring ($10-30/screen/month)
  • Recalibrate every 12-18 months, or when modules are replaced
RECOMMENDED FOR: AV consultants, systems integrators, and architects specifying high-end video walls

Processing System Comparison

LED VIDEO PROCESSING PLATFORMS
SpecificationNovastarColorlightBrompton
Market PositionIndustry standardCost-effectivePremium broadcast
Max Resolution16K+ (cascaded)8K+8K+
Bit Depth16-bit14-16 bit16-bit
HDR SupportHDR10, HLGHDR10HDR10, HLG, Dolby Vision
RedundancyHot backup availableHot backup availableSeamless failover
CalibrationCamera-based (NovaCLB)Built-in toolsTessera (industry best)
Remote MgmtCloud platformCloud platformLimited
Price Tier$$$$$$
Best ForCommercial, rentalBudget installationsBroadcast, cinema

Calibration Workflow

01

Pre-Calibration

Run display at full white for 100+ hours to stabilize LEDs. This "burn-in" period allows initial brightness decay to occur before calibration locks in settings.

02

Camera Measurement

A colour-calibrated camera captures brightness and colour data from every module. Software maps the entire screen's uniformity profile.

03

Correction Coefficients

Software calculates per-pixel correction factors for brightness, colour temperature (R/G/B balance), and gamma curve. These are stored in each receiving card.

04

Verification

Full-screen test patterns verify uniformity. Target: <3% brightness deviation and <0.003 colour deviation (CIE x,y) across the entire display.

05

Profile Storage

Calibration profiles are backed up. Multiple profiles can be stored (day mode, night mode, broadcast mode). Module replacement requires re-calibration of the replaced area only.

Key Processing Specifications

WHAT TO SPECIFY
ParameterMinimumRecommendedPremium
Greyscale Bit Depth12-bit14-bit16-bit
Colour Depth8-bit per channel10-bit per channel12-bit per channel
Colour GamutsRGB 100%DCI-P3 85%+DCI-P3 95%+
Input Latency<3 frames<2 frames<1 frame
HDR FormatNoneHDR10HDR10 + HLG + Dolby Vision
RedundancyNoneHot standbySeamless failover
CalibrationManualCamera-basedCamera + remote recalibration
Signal DistributionCAT6Fiber opticFiber + redundant path

Content Management Systems

Single Screen / Simple

BrightSign player + basic scheduling. No cloud fees. Good for: lobbies, single meeting rooms, simple video playback.

$500-1,500 one-time

Multi-Screen / Site

Cloud CMS (Scala, Signagelive) with remote scheduling, playlists, and monitoring. Good for: hotels, malls, multi-zone installations.

$15-30/screen/month

Multi-Site Network

Enterprise CMS with centralized management, content approval workflows, and real-time monitoring. Good for: retail chains, banks, QSR networks.

$20-50/screen/month

Interactive / Data-Driven

API-driven content with real-time data feeds, touch interactivity, and AI-powered content optimization. Good for: wayfinding, smart signage, data dashboards.

$30-80/screen/month

Processing & Calibration FAQ

Calibration adjusts every LED module to match in brightness, colour temperature, and gamma curve. Without calibration, you'll see visible differences between panels — patches of different colour or brightness. Professional calibration uses a camera-based system to measure and correct thousands of measurement points across the entire screen.
For most commercial installations, Novastar or Colorlight systems are industry standards. Key specs: support for the screen's full resolution, 10-bit+ colour depth, HDR support (HLG/HDR10), genlock for broadcast environments, and backup/redundancy for 24/7 applications. Budget 10-15% of hardware cost for processing.
Greyscale bit depth determines how many shades of grey (and by extension, colour) the display can render. 14-bit = 16,384 levels, 16-bit = 65,536 levels. Higher bit depth means smoother gradients, more accurate colour, and better low-brightness performance. For video content, specify minimum 14-bit. For broadcast/cinema, 16-bit.
Initial calibration at commissioning is essential. Recalibrate every 12-18 months for premium installations, or when modules are replaced. Outdoor displays may need more frequent calibration due to thermal cycling. Some systems support remote calibration which reduces maintenance visits.
The sending card sits in the processing PC and converts the video signal to LED protocol. The receiving card sits inside each cabinet and controls the individual LED modules. A single sending card drives multiple receiving cards. For large screens, you need multiple outputs from the sending card or a fiber distribution system.
HDR (High Dynamic Range) significantly improves image quality, especially for video content. LED displays are naturally suited for HDR due to their high brightness and contrast. Specify HDR10 or HLG support if the content pipeline supports it. Most premium LED processing systems now include HDR support at no extra cost.
For single-screen installations, a simple media player with scheduling software is sufficient. For multi-site networks, cloud-based CMS platforms (BrightSign, Scala, Signagelive) offer remote management, scheduling, playlists, and monitoring. Budget 3-5% of hardware cost for CMS. Ongoing SaaS fees are typically $10-30/screen/month.
LED displays typically cover 100-120% of the sRGB gamut. For standard commercial content, sRGB coverage is sufficient. For cinema, broadcast, or art installations, specify DCI-P3 coverage (90%+). The LED chip brand (Nationstar, Cree, etc.) directly affects colour gamut performance.