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Author Topic: LCD/Plasma TV's for signage Bobby Henderson "Ask me about Trajan." Posts: 10973 From: Lawton, OK, USA Registered: Apr 2001 posted 09-21-2006 09:14 PM                     Many Carmike locations have changed out the menu boards at their concessions counters to new models that feature LCD monitors integrated into the menu boards. They show a mix of movie trailers, snack and drink ads and promotions for DLP and Christie digital projection. The volume is down at a fairly low level.  |  IP: Logged Cameron Glendinning Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 845 From: West Ryde, Sydney, NSW Australia Registered: Dec 2005 posted 09-21-2006 09:25 PM                     I would use the LCD over plasma due to plasmas burn in factor, LCD does not damage nearly as easly. The rail system in Sydney went Plasma this way in 2000 and within 2 years looked pretty bad and all have been replaced.  |  IP: Logged Erich Talbot Film Handler Posts: 7 From: Swansea, Swansea , UK Registered: Aug 2006 posted 09-22-2006 03:28 AM                     We have had a Plasma 52" running show information for about 3 years. We use PowerPoint as its simple and works well. There has been no problem with burning the screen as we have logos etc in different places on every slide.  |  IP: Logged David Stambaugh Film God Posts: 4021 From: Eugene, Oregon Registered: Jan 2002 posted 09-22-2006 02:05 PM                        quote: Erich Talbot There has been no problem with burning the screen as we have logos etc in different places on every slide. Well, that just means the entire screen has burned uniformly. "Burned" = "Deteriorated" on plasmas.  |  IP: Logged Frank Angel Film God Posts: 5305 From: Brooklyn NY USA Registered: Dec 1999 posted 09-24-2006 02:31 AM                        We had the luxury of being able to break into two marble walls either side of our concessions area that had enuf back space that we could use cheap CRTs rather than expensive flat panel LCDs. With the rush now to flat screens, you can get CRT-based monitors for practically nothing. We imbedded them into the wall, framed them with the same wood panel and brushed aluminum piping facade that is used in the theatre interior. They LOOK like flat panels. They were so cheap that I insisted we by two more so if the ones we mounted are damaged, stolen or just outright fail, I've got replacements standing by. Since the structure that holds them in place was put together by our carpenter to exactly fit that exact CRT model, I wanted to be sure that if they ever have to be replaced, we wouldn't have to re-do the whole structure again to fit a different model. If you've got the depth that you can put a CRT into the wall so they look like flat panel monitors, then going with CRTs will save you a bundle. Just as an aside, the Computer Center at the college has shelves and shelves full of 19 and 23 inch CRT monitors that they can't give away. The guys over there call it "monitor envy" -- if one or two people have their failing CRT monitor replaced with a flat panel, then EVERYONE in the office wants a flat panel. He said coworkers who have gotten along for years now are not talking to one another because one got a flat panel LCD while the other still has a CRT. Funny thing is, in an office environment, flat panels really don't save space at all despite their much skinnier size; the user sits his spanking new LCD flat panel screen at the very same distance where the CRT screen used to sit. All that does is give him/her a lot of dead space behind the screen which almost useless. As for LED signage, the very high tech look that they have can actually be counter-productive depending on the operation. In an art house concession that is selling foo-foo, upscale items to the art crowd (read: how-high-can-I-get-my-nose-in-the-air-while-I-eat-my-gourmet-carrot-and-macadamia-nut-cake-and-drink-my-french-vanilla-latte), you might be served much better with more "alternative" looking signage. We use the write-on-and-glow plastic signs; they hand-written and that "look" fits in much better with the whole gourmet/artsy feel that seems to be so very attractive to some who thing that eating popcorn is fine for the un-washed, but not for them. The write-on signs are very inexpensive. We use a variety of colors that flourese nicely; as low-tech as that is, they are quite eye-catching and can be easily seen from a distance.  |  IP: Logged Bobby Henderson "Ask me about Trajan." Posts: 10973 From: Lawton, OK, USA Registered: Apr 2001 posted 09-24-2006 11:56 AM                     I still prefer CRT monitors for graphics use. They display color more evenly and accurately than LCD flat panel displays. This is really noticeable for things like light earth tones and other subtle colors. However, for lobby displays, I would definitely go with LCD. Prices have fallen a great deal on LCD monitors and there is a big variety of wide aspect ratio screens. It's better to show a 'scope letter boxed movie trailer in anamorphic widescreen on a 16:9 display (provided the DVD material was made in anamorphic widescreen). LED signs won't work well for concessions menus. I haven't seen a movie theater or restaurant anywhere try to use them for that purpose. The LED characters would have to be shrank to sizes of perhaps only 1/2" or 3/4" to show all the menu lettering and fit it within the given space. At that small size overglow would make the letters difficult to read. LED signs are very good for displaying show titles and show times near the box office and for displaying the same info at each auditorium entrance. Printer mylars are still pretty good as well, but not as bright. Either way, any theater needs a consistent, professional appearance for their signs. Hand-writing concessions menus might be fine if the theater's decor lends itself to it. Most restaurants and bars usually confine the handwriting signage stuff to specials on a chalk board. I certainly would not have all of the interior signs of a business consist of handwriting "self signage" displays. That would just look cheap.  |  IP: Logged

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