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Does NowSignage Support Custom LED Resolutions?

This article outlines the key considerations and variables that may influence how LED content is displayed, without prescribing a single configuration approach.

Can custom LED screen resolutions be configured in NowSignage?

When deploying LED screens, it is common to work with non-standard canvas sizes that do not align with typical 16:9 outputs such as 1920 × 1080 (HD) or 3840 × 2160 (4K). This naturally raises the question of whether custom LED resolutions can be set directly within NowSignage, or if output behaviour is instead determined by other components in the deployment chain.

  • Why LED resolutions behave differently to standard displays

Unlike commercial TVs and monitors, LED walls and canvases are typically driven by external LED controllers and processors. These controllers define the final canvas resolution presented to the playback device. In many deployments, the media player outputs a standard resolution (for example 1080p or 4K), which is then scaled or mapped by external LED hardware to fit the LED canvas.

This means the final visual output is often determined by a combination of:

  • The playback device’s supported output modes

  • The LED controller configuration

  • The physical pixel layout of the LED panels

  • Any scaling or mapping performed by external hardware

As these elements sit outside the CMS layer, they can influence the outcome in ways that cannot always be directly controlled within NowSignage.

  • How NowSignage typically handles LED canvases

Within NowSignage, screens can be configured to use a standard output that is then stretched by the LED controller or processor to fill the available LED canvas. This is the most common deployment approach for LED projects and is generally the default behaviour.

There is also an option to force a specific output resolution within the CMS. Whether this is supported depends on:

  • The capabilities of the media player

  • The operating system and firmware on the device

  • How the LED controller expects to receive the input signal

Because of these dependencies, forcing a custom output may work in some environments but not in others.

  • Content resolution and scaling behaviour

Content formatting plays a significant role in how LED canvases appear:

  • Images
    Images will typically be stretched to fill the canvas area. This can help avoid letterboxing but may introduce distortion if the aspect ratio does not match the screen.

  • Video
    Video content may letterbox or pillarbox depending on how the player and CMS handle aspect ratios. Stretching video to fill the canvas can be enabled, but this may distort the content if the source resolution does not match the LED canvas.

As a general best practice, content should be produced at the same resolution as the LED canvas wherever possible. For example, if the effective LED canvas is 1920 × 520, then assets should be authored at 1920 × 520 to minimise scaling artefacts.

  • Device and hardware dependencies

Output behaviour is not controlled solely by the NowSignage. There are external dependencies that can affect the final result, including:

  • Media player output constraints

  • GPU and firmware support for custom resolutions

  • LED controller and processor mapping rules

  • Signal chain components such as scalers and splitters

Because these components sit outside of NowSignage, behaviour may vary between deployments even when CMS settings appear identical.

  • Key considerations before deploying to LED

Before rolling out content to LED canvases, consider the following:

  • Confirm what output resolutions the media player supports

  • Validate how the LED controller maps incoming signals

  • Test both stretch and forced output behaviours in a staging environment

  • Align content resolution to the LED canvas wherever possible

  • Be aware that video stretch options may introduce visual distortion

  • Additional Points to Consider

  • Default Output Behaviour


    By default, NowSignage will match the output resolution of the connected media player. This ensures content plays correctly without extra configuration.

  • Custom Resolution Option


    Where the media player supports it, a custom resolution can be forced within the CMS to match non-standard LED canvases.

  • CMS vs External Hardware Control


    NowSignage controls how content is output from the CMS to the player. Once the signal leaves the player, behaviour depends on external hardware, such as LED controllers, which cannot be controlled by the CMS.

  • Resolution Flow Summary
    Typically, content flows as follows:

    NowSignage CMS → Media Player → LED Controller → LED Screen.

    The CMS outputs to match the player, and the LED controller maps the signal to the LED canvas. The final on-screen appearance is determined by this chain.

     

  • Best Practice
    To minimise scaling or distortion, ensure content matches the intended LED canvas resolution wherever possible.

  • Summary 

LED deployments introduce additional variables that do not exist with standard screens. While NowSignage can output content in standard formats and, in some cases, force specific resolutions, the final behaviour is influenced by the playback device and external LED hardware. Content resolution, stretch behaviour, and external controller configuration all play a role in how the final image appears on an LED canvas.