Sharp’s pioneering video wall showcases at the Paul Smith Spring Summer 2011 press day

Visitors to the press launch of designer Paul Smith’s Spring and Summer 2011 collection in London were treated to an extraordinary high-definition display on a video wall made up of nine 60-inch Sharp LFD panels. The display utilized Sharp’s PN-V601 professional LCD panel with an ultra-thin bezel just 6.5 millimetres wide  giving viewers a 180” wall of high-definition content to observe.

Paul Smith used four of the screens to showcase backstage footage from their new spring summer 2011 catwalk collections for men and women. The remaining five screens played exclusive short films made by Sir Paul himself, including one of him riding with the Rapha Condor Sharp pro-cycling team. The unique versatility of the video wall allowed for six different films to be displayed at once creating a fully immersive viewing experience.
Sir Paul Smith commented:”We are looking to work more and more with moving images, and Sharp’s video wall at our press event was fantastic. It took the films to another level.”

Sharp’s pioneering screens are fully backlit LED displays ensuring that the unit delivers crystal clear, seamless eye-catching pictures. The displays, manufactured in Sharp’s state-of-the-art factory in Sakai, Japan, have a brightness of up to 700 candela per square metre, meaning there is no drop-off in brightness even at the edges. Driven by Sharp’s Digital Signage Software, the versatile management software package provides total support for the creation, scheduling, distribution and display of a wide range of content.

Maximilian Huber, Managing Director Sharp Electronics Europe, said: “The modular nature of our PN-V601 allows companies to unlock endless possibilities to showcase films and videos in high-definition in whatever size or formation of video wall they choose. The nine screen video wall at the Paul Smith launch gave a display size of 13ft x 7ft, where competitive 46-inch monitors would need sixteen screens to produce a comparable wall. This allows significant reductions in overall purchase, installation and power consumption costs, depending on the final wall size.”

“This prestigious UK launch shows how successful the video wall can be in fashion and retail environments, as well as for more traditional digital signage applications, such as at trade shows, in corporate environments and as indoor advertising displays at airports or shopping centres.”