An LED housing that contains 3 LEDs (e.g. red, green, blue) so that it appears as one source. Also known as a tri-colour LED. Usually present in ‘high resolution’ products.

Equipment for controlling LED systems.

DMX (also known as DMX-512) is a digital control protocol used worldwide in event technology for the control of dimmers, lighting and other effects. DMX is an abbreviation of “Digital Multiplex”.

Flicker is often used to describe periodic changes in the brightness of a light, LED wall or LED light. Flickering can occur in certain circumstances, for example slow motion camera shots. A flicker-free power pack and/or controller can prevent this effect.

A fixture, which produces a broad, non-variable spread of light.

An important characteristic of a fixtures housing is the protection of the internal parts from contacts with foreign bodies and moisture. The differing protection qualities of housings are defined by the safety class known as IP (international protection) ratings. The basic level of protection that must be ensured is controlled by the DIN 40050 and EC 529 legal standards. 

The IP rating is indicated as 2 numbers (IP xx). The first number indicates the protection against contacts with foreign bodies; 0 represents no protection, 6 represents dust tight. The second number indicates the protection from moisture; 0 represents no protection, 6 represents protection from strong jets of water, 8 represents protection from complete, continuous submersion in water.

LED is the abbreviation for light emitting diode.

These diodes are based on semiconductor compounds, which convert the current directly into light. The colour of the light output depends on the semiconductor materials used.

Compared with conventional light sources, LEDs have a much longer life span (up to 100,000 lamp hours) and are less sensitive to vibration. With regards to efficiency, LEDs lead the way. The luminous efficiency, for example of white LEDs, is around 18 - 25 lm/W (lumens per watt); coloured LEDs can achieve substantially higher values still. Other advantages are their ability to strobe and the consistent high colour saturation at different power levels compared with conventional light sources.

This effect is inadvertently produced when, for example, a camera moves over an LED wall, which is in shot, (e.g. LED advertising boards at football games, or displays showing very fine patterns). The effect results from the overlaying of fine patterns with the parallel patterns of the camera. Measures can be taken to avoid this effect.

The brightness of an LED wall is measured in NIT. NIT is the unit of the brilliance, which is recognised by the human eye as brightness. A computer screen is approximately 250 NIT, an LED wall for outdoor use is usually around 6,000 NIT.

Technical term for horizontal movement.

The physical resolution is actual resolution (actual number of pixels).

When using media servers, pixel mapping is the term for the ability to transposing video images into light control signals so that the video pixels can be transmitted to the light sources. Using this technology, non-video compatible lights can be used in the form of a matrix for the display and reproduction of video content.

Pixel pitch is the term for the distance between individual pixels. The smaller this distance, the higher the resolution. For outdoor LED walls one pixel often describes a cluster of 3 to 5 single colour LEDs. For indoor LED walls 3in1 SMD LEDs are more common.

The number of times that a single frame is repeated on screen within a fixed cycle, measured in Hertz (Hz). A high refresh rate leads to fewer flicker effects (e.g. with slow motion TV pictures).

RGB is the abbreviation for the colours red, green and blue.

SMD is the abbreviation for Surface Mounted Device. In this case: LED units, which are soldered directly onto the plate. This occurs frequently with 3in1 LEDs.

Fast switching on and off of the light source.

Technical term for vertical movement.

The visual resolution is the resolution as seen by the eye.

Compared to a spotlight, a wash light does not have a sharp edged beam. The beam of light disperses out softly. A wash light cannot be used for gobo effects.