How to Start Your Custom LED Screen Project? 

Real-world guide for anyone who’s planning their first custom display. 

You don’t need to be a tech expert to start a custom LED screen project. But you do need the right questions — and someone who’s willing to give you straight answers.

Most people come to us with an idea, not a spec sheet.
Something like:

“We want a large screen above our store — visible day and night.”
Or: “We’re preparing for a trade show and need something that looks premium.”

The problem? The internet is full of LED jargon and conflicting advice.
So this article isn’t here to sell you a screen — it’s here to help you think through the process like a pro.

Start with your goals — not with the hardware

The best projects always begin with clarity, not product catalogs.

Ask yourself:

Who is going to see this screen? Up close? Driving by? From across a room?

What are you going to show? Video? Logos? Numbers? Interactive menus?

Will this be a one-time install, or something you’ll move and reuse?

A client from Germany once said,

“We just want people to see us — we’re tired of blending in.”
For them, it meant a bright P5 outdoor screen with bold static content.
For another client launching a nightclub, it meant seamless P2.6 video wall panels that could sync to DJ visuals.

Same tech category. Totally different goals.

The tech part — simplified

Let’s make this easy:
If your viewers are closer than 3 meters, you’ll need a finer resolution — think P2.5 or lower.
If the screen is outdoors and 30 meters away, you might be totally fine with P6 or even P8.

But more importantly:

Brightness is king outdoors. You want 5000+ nits.

Waterproofing isn’t just about rain — dust and heat matter too.

Viewing angle can ruin your message if the audience is off-center.

We often tell clients:
“Don’t overpay for resolution you don’t need. But don’t cut corners on brightness if you’re facing the sun.”

Physical space always wins over the brochure

People come to us with amazing ideas. But sometimes, the space disagrees.

Maybe the wall isn’t flat.
Maybe there’s no way to get a scissor lift inside.
Maybe the landlord has weight limits on the ceiling mount.

So before anything else: measure your space.
Use masking tape. Use cardboard. Mock up the size.
You’ll learn more in 10 minutes of layout testing than 3 hours of browsing LED specs.

One restaurant owner realized their planned 4m × 2m screen would block 60% of the window light — they downsized to a 2.5m solution and added window-facing transparent LED strips instead.

Getting a Quote? Don't Just Ask for a Price — Ask for a Conversation

If you're reaching out to a supplier, don’t just say:

“How much for a 4×3m screen?”

Instead, try:

“I’m planning an outdoor display for a rooftop, around 4×3 meters, mostly static ads. What pixel pitch and brightness would you suggest?”

The best suppliers won’t just send you a spreadsheet — they’ll ask the right follow-up questions:

What kind of content will you show?

Is it exposed to direct sunlight?
Do you need control from a phone or just a PC?

We’ve seen clients save 20–30% on budget just by getting a screen that’s right-sized and right-spec’d — not oversold.

 If you send us a sketch or photo of your install space, we’ll usually respond within 24 hours with a real technical plan.

Don’t Wait Until Installation Day to Realize You're Missing Tools

We’ve seen it too many times — the screen arrives, but:

There’s no rigging plan

The power isn’t ready

No one knows how to connect the controller

Avoid this by preparing in advance:

Make sure power is stable (110–220V, grounded)

Check load-bearing capacity if it’s wall or ceiling mounted

Confirm you have scaffolding or a lift if needed

Have someone from your team ready to learn the software

We send layout drawings, power load tables, and control system diagrams ahead of time. For most projects, you can install with your in-house team and just remote support from us.

The Control System Is Not the Scary Part — If You Have the Right Help

NovaStar, Colorlight, Linsn — these names confuse a lot of first-time users.

But here’s the truth: once it’s set up, you won’t touch most of it.

You’ll only need to:

Upload images or videos

Schedule playlists (optional)

Maybe adjust brightness or color temperature

Most screens support:

USB plug-and-play

Wi-Fi content upload

Cloud-based scheduling

Live HDMI input (for concerts or events)

We’ll configure all this before shipping.
You just plug it in and hit play. Simple as that.

After the Screen Lights Up — What Next?

A good LED screen should run smoothly for years.
But that doesn’t mean you set it and forget it.

Here’s what we recommend:

Clean your screen regularly (use soft cloth, no water jets)

Keep a few spare modules (we usually ship extras)

Back up your content in the controller

Store your layout drawings and wiring map

And yes, if something goes wrong — we’re here.
You’ll have a direct support contact, not a chatbot.

Real Questions from Real Customers

“Do I need to hire professionals for installation?”
→ Not always. Many customers install with their own team, guided by our drawings and video support. For complex installs, we can arrange on-site or third-party technicians.

“Can I control the screen from my phone?”
→ Yes. With the right controller, you can upload, schedule, and turn the screen on/off remotely.

“What happens if one LED module dies?”
→ No worries. You can swap individual modules in 2 minutes using just a screwdriver. We color-calibrate everything in advance.

“Can you ship to my country?”
→ We’ve shipped to over 30 countries — from Germany to Chile to Malaysia. Just tell us your city and zip code, and we’ll calculate air freight or DDP options.

Want to Make This Easier? Use These Tools

We know this is a lot to digest. So we built tools to help you get started:

LED Screen Price Estimator

LED Pixel Calculator

Viewing Distance Guide

Submit a Custom LED Inquiry

You Don’t Need to Know Everything — You Just Need the Right Questions

Whether you’re building a 2-meter sign or a 20-meter video wall, the key is not to know all the answers. It’s to work with someone who helps you ask the right questions.

We’ve helped brands, agencies, event organizers, and startups turn ideas into LED screens that actually work — on budget, on time, and with minimal stress.

 If you're ready, drop us a message.
If you're still figuring things out — try our tools and guides. They're made for people like you.

👤 About the Author

This article was written by the EKINTRY editorial team, a group of engineers, display designers, and project consultants who’ve helped bring over 200 custom LED screen projects to life across 30+ countries. From tight architectural corners to massive stage builds, we specialize in making digital displays work exactly where standard solutions don’t.

Have a screen idea that doesn’t fit the box?
Send it to team@ekintry.com — we love unusual projects.