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Brightness and Contrast Explained

💡 Brightness Basics​

Brightness Unit: nits (cd/m²)​

Definition: Number of candelas per square meter

Common Brightness Reference Values​

  • Indoor Lighting: 50-100 nits
  • Standard Display: 250-400 nits
  • High Brightness Display: 600-1000+ nits
  • Direct Sunlight: 100,000+ nits
  • Human Eye Adaptation Range: 0.01-100,000 nits

📊 Display Brightness Specifications​

Typical Brightness Values​

Display TypeTypical BrightnessSuitable Scenarios
Entry-level LCD250 nitsIndoor office
Mid-range LCD300-400 nitsGeneral use
High-end LCD500-600 nitsBright environments
HDR Display600-1000+ nitsHDR content
OLED400-800 nitsProfessional applications

Selection Advice​

  • Office Environment: 250-350 nits sufficient
  • Home Use: 300-400 nits
  • Bright Rooms: 500+ nits
  • HDR Requirements: 600+ nits essential

⚫⚪ Contrast Principle​

Contrast Definition​

Formula: Contrast = Brightest White ÷ Darkest Black

Contrast Types​

Static Contrast​

  • Definition: Ratio of brightest and darkest pixels displayed simultaneously
  • Significance: Reflects true on-screen contrast capability
  • Reference Values: 1000:1 (standard LCD) to ∞:1 (OLED)

Dynamic Contrast​

  • Definition: Ratio of brightest and darkest images at different times
  • Implementation: By adjusting backlight brightness
  • Problem: Inflated values, limited practical significance

🔬 Panel Technology Contrast Characteristics​

IPS Panel​

  • Static Contrast: 1000:1 - 1200:1
  • Characteristics: Relatively low contrast
  • Black Performance: Slightly grayish
  • Advantages: Accurate colors, good viewing angles

VA Panel​

  • Static Contrast: 3000:1 - 6000:1
  • Characteristics: Highest contrast among LCD panels
  • Black Performance: Relatively deep
  • Advantages: Good entertainment experience

TN Panel​

  • Static Contrast: 600:1 - 1000:1
  • Characteristics: Low contrast
  • Black Performance: Obviously grayish
  • Advantages: Fast response speed

OLED​

  • Static Contrast: Theoretically infinite
  • Characteristics: Self-illuminating pixels
  • Black Performance: True black
  • Advantages: Best contrast

🌃 Impact in Actual Usage​

Office Applications​

  • Document Reading: High contrast reduces eye fatigue
  • Spreadsheet Processing: Clear black-white contrast improves efficiency
  • Recommendation: 1000:1+ static contrast

Entertainment​

  • Movie Watching: High contrast enhances immersion
  • Dark Scene Details: Good black performance preserves details
  • Recommendation: 3000:1+ static contrast

Gaming Applications​

  • Dark Area Details: Finding enemies in dark scenes
  • Image Layering: Rich light-dark variations
  • Recommendation: Choose based on game type

Professional Design​

  • Tone Separation: Precise light-dark transitions
  • Print Preview: Accurate contrast performance
  • Recommendation: Calibrated accurate contrast

💡 Impact of Backlight Technology on Brightness and Contrast​

Traditional LED Backlight​

  • Structure: Edge LED + light guide plate
  • Brightness: 250-400 nits
  • Contrast: Affected by backlight bleeding
  • Cost: Lowest

Direct LED Backlight​

  • Structure: LED array direct illumination
  • Brightness: 300-600 nits
  • Contrast: Slightly better than edge-lit
  • Uniformity: May have hotspots

Local Dimming​

  • Structure: Independently controlled LED zones
  • Brightness: 600-1000+ nits
  • Contrast: Significantly improved
  • Cost: Higher

MiniLED Backlight​

  • Structure: Extremely small LED beads
  • Brightness: 1000+ nits
  • Contrast: Close to OLED
  • Cost: Expensive

🛠️ Brightness and Contrast Adjustment​

Basic Adjustment Principles​

  1. Environment Adaptation: Adjust based on room lighting
  2. Content Matching: Different settings for different content
  3. Eye Comfort: Avoid too bright or too dark
  4. Long-term Use: Consider vision protection

Office Environment​

  • Brightness: 120-150 cd/m²
  • Contrast: 80-90%
  • Environment: Normal indoor lighting

Dim Environment​

  • Brightness: 80-120 cd/m²
  • Contrast: 70-80%
  • Environment: Night or dark room

Bright Environment​

  • Brightness: 200-300 cd/m²
  • Contrast: 85-95%
  • Environment: Near windows or strong light

🎯 Purchase Recommendations​

Choose by Usage​

Document Office Work​

  • Brightness: 300 nits sufficient
  • Contrast: 1000:1 is enough
  • Focus: Text clarity

Entertainment​

  • Brightness: 400+ nits
  • Contrast: 3000:1+
  • Focus: Black performance

Gaming Applications​

  • Brightness: 350-500 nits
  • Contrast: 1500:1+
  • Focus: Dark area details

Professional Design​

  • Brightness: Supports standard brightness calibration
  • Contrast: Accurate contrast reproduction
  • Focus: Color management

❌ Common Misconceptions​

"Higher Contrast Numbers Are Always Better"​

  • Problem: Dynamic contrast numbers are inflated
  • Reality: Static contrast is more important
  • Advice: Focus on static contrast specifications

"Higher Brightness Is Always Better"​

  • Problem: Excessive brightness hurts eyes
  • Reality: Brightness suitable for environment is best
  • Advice: Choose based on usage environment

"OLED Contrast Is Infinite"​

  • Problem: Theoretical values don't equal perception
  • Reality: Affected by ambient light
  • Advice: Experience in actual environment

🔍 Testing and Adjustment Methods​

Professional Testing Tools​

  • Brightness Meter: Precise screen brightness measurement
  • Contrast Card: Standard test patterns
  • Colorimeter: Professional calibration equipment

Simple Testing Methods​

  1. Black-White Contrast Image: Observe black-white contrast effect
  2. Gradient Test: Check grayscale transitions
  3. Actual Content: Test with common content

Adjustment Steps​

  1. Set Base Brightness: Adapt to environmental lighting
  2. Adjust Contrast: Get best black-white contrast
  3. Fine-tune Optimization: Adjust based on specific content
  4. Save Settings: Create profiles for different scenarios

Next Section: Choose by Use Case - Choose displays based on specific needs