Glossary A–ZLetter V
Viewing angle
Viewing angle states how far one can look at a display from the side, from above or from below before brightness, contrast or colours drop noticeably.
It is measured from the line perpendicular to the picture area. Data sheets give one angle horizontally and one vertically.
In screen networks a display is rarely seen only from the front. Anyone walking past a shop window, reading a display overhead or sitting at an angle in a waiting area looks at it from an angle. LCD types differ clearly here: IPS panels keep their colours over wide angles, while VA panels often have more contrast but lose colour accuracy more easily from the side.
The data sheet figures refer to a limit beyond which the picture is considered no longer usable. A wide angle therefore does not mean that the picture looks as good from the side as from the front. Operators should check samples at the planned location from the real viewing directions. Anti-glare treatment and protective glass also affect what can still be seen from the side.