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DIGITAL SIGNAGE DISPLAY EXPERT COURSE

It is said of art that "I know it when I see it". Much the same can be said of poorly calibrated displays. We know them when we see them and with the explosion of digital signage upon the advertising scene, we are seeing poorly adjusted displays everywhere and in every nook and cranny that we go near. There is an undeniable and growing need to address the issue of poor images and the Digital Signage Display Expert (DSDE) program comes to the rescue and fills that requirement. The DSDE is the industry's only comprehensive training program designed exclusively for digital signage displays and calibration.

The DSDE program addresses the subject of displays as a key component in a digital signage system and teaches how to properly calibrate them. The program recognizes that the displays are the "windows to the world" representing the digital signage message and that accuracy in transmitting images is directly related to impact and the effectiveness of the entire digital signage system.

It is a fact of life that video display devices never perform at their peak as they are delivered from a manufacturer. Proof of this is the patchwork quilt of images that you will encounter in any big box store or video wall display. Proper calibration is a must and goes beyond simply adjusting some settings on a display.

Each display type has its own personality and responds to inputs and environments in different ways. Understanding the nuances of each technology and how to address them to provide the perfect picture is a requirement. The bottom line is that one size does not fit all.

The mandate of the DSDE program is for the attendees to understand each display technology and the key elements that can be adjusted / calibrated in concert with one another and relative to the environment in which the displays exist. By adopting calibration standards and understanding the methodologies involved in the calibration process, we can address an infinite number of applications and environments and never have the need to settle for a poor, mediocre or inaccurate image onscreen.

Alan Brawn Co-Director of the Digital Signage Experts Group sums it up:

"In short, a company's color logo should look like the proper logo and people should look like people and not caricatures of themselves. By certifying that standards and proven methodologies are understood and employed, we will bring forth a group of digital signage display experts dedicated to creating the "perfect picture" and in the process pay homage to the creators of the digital signage content by displaying it as it was intended."

The DSDE program covers the science of color, light and the human eye to see how and what we actually see. We are all inundated with display specifications and we are supposed to use those as the basis for display selection but... Are the specifications accurate and just what do they mean and finally, how do they affect what we see on the screen. These are critical questions that beg for answers and the DSDE responds.

In order to go beyond adjustments and truly embrace calibration, we must study each display technology and type whether it is flat panel or projection. This provides a foundation of knowledge about the pros and cons of each technology but also what elements of the display are affected when we calibrate. Couple this with a tutorial on illumination and how that affects the images we see and you are well on your way to making that "perfect picture". Since 30% of digital signage involves projection, we not only cover projectors but projections screens as well. Covering the gamut of front and rear screens to optical screens, we also address edge blending, hot spotting, viewing angles, and screen sizes versus brightness and throw distances.

The DSDE delves into system design and display ergonomics to show the relationship of the viewer to the displays. If good design is employed up front, the job of the calibration expert is made much easier. We also look at display inputs as one of the key factors in the evaluation of the final picture. No amount of calibration will make up for a poor signal or an improper connection.

Understanding that there are different levels of digital signage applications and systems the DSDE provides two levels of calibration that can be employed. The first level is Calibration 101 a basic calibration especially useful for standalone displays. It is a step by step process that does not require expensive test equipment. The next level of calibration is Advanced Calibration and this involves instrumentation and meters to measure exactly where you are. This is used in critical applications where the image must look as close as possible to the content being displayed. It is also use for video walls and display matching.

The DSDE provides the information to understand the entire calibration process and also the "back story" of why you do what you do in display calibration. By understanding the entirety of the process and employing the skills taught in the DSDE, you become part of an elite group of technicians who can really make a common display into that "perfect picture".

For more information, please visit DSEG

​​​​​​​This white paper is for informational purposes only and is subject to change without notice. C2G makes no guarantees, either expressed or implied, concerning the accuracy, completeness or reliability of the information found in this document.