Determining the number of nits for a given screen is not always an easy task. In this blog post, we will explore some tips and tricks on how to determine the perfect number of nits for your needs.
Table of Contents
Introduction
There’s more to buying a new screen than just finding one that’s the right size for your laptop. You also need to make sure it has the right resolution and pixel density for your needs. Here’s how to calculate what you need.
The first thing you need to know is the screen size of your laptop, which is typically measured in inches diagonally from corner to corner. Once you have that measurement, you can calculate the pixel density of any given screen by dividing the number of pixels horizontally and vertically by the screen size.
For example, a 13-inch laptop with a 1920×1080 resolution has a pixel density of 166 pixels per inch (ppi). A 15-inch laptop with the same resolution would have 144 ppi.
Generally speaking, you want a pixel density of at least 100 ppi for basic use, 150 ppi for more demanding use, and 200 ppi or more for very demanding use such as photo or video editing.
What are nits?
Nits are the actual glowing things inside an LCD screen, made up of a material like phosphorous. They’re usually measured in candela per square meter, or cd/m2. Nits can also be called brightness, luminance, or simply “Candlepower”.
How to determine nits for screen?
Nits refer to the brightness of a screen. One nit is equivalent to one candela per square meter. A candela is the unit of measurement for light intensity. The higher the number of nits, the brighter the screen will be.
There are three main types of nits: peak, sustained, and maximum.
Peak nits are a measure of the brightest white that a screen can display. This is usually only achieved for a short period of time and is not sustainable.
Sustained nits are a measure of the average brightness that a screen can display over time. This is a more realistic measure of how bright a screen will be in everyday use.
Maximum nits are the highest level of brightness that a screen can achieve, regardless of how long it can sustain that level.
When choosing a screen, it is important to consider both the peak and sustained nits as well as the maximum nits. A high peak nit value might sound impressive, but if the sustained nit value is low, it will not be very useful in everyday use. Likewise, a high maximum nit value is only useful if the sustained nit value is also high.
How Bright is a Nit?
A “nit” is a unit of measurement used to determine the brightness of a digital display. Nit ratings usually range from 250 nits (cd/m2) to 1,000 nits or more. The brighter the display, the higher the nit rating will be.
To give you an idea of what this means in practical terms, a typical laptop computer screen has a brightness of around 200 nits, while a smartphone might have a brightness of 400 nits. A high-end TV might have a brightness of 1,000 nits or more.
If you’re looking for a very bright display, such as for an outdoor digital signage application, you’ll want to look for a display with a high nit rating. But it’s important to keep in mind that other factors, such as contrast ratio and pixel density, can also affect how visible a display is in different lighting conditions.
Why Do You Need to Care About Nits Brightness?
Nits is a unit of measurement that tells you the brightness of a digital display. The word “nit” is derived from the Latin word “nitere,” which means “to shine.” One nit is equal to one candela per square meter (cd/m2).
The brightness of a display is important because it can affect how easy it is to see the content on the screen. A brighter display will be easier to see in a brightly lit room, for example, while a dimmer display will be easier to see in a dark room.
Nits is not the only factor that affects how easy it is to see a display, however. The size of the screen, the resolution of the display, and the contrast ratio are also important factors.
If you’re shopping for a new digital display, you may see the brightness advertised in nits. Adisplay that is advertised as 500 nits, for example, will be twice as bright as a display that is advertised as 250 nits.
It’s important to note that there is no industry-wide standard for how brightness should be measured in nits, so different manufacturers may use different methods. This can make it difficult to compare the brightness of two displays.
If you’re trying to decide between two displays and one is advertised as being brighter than the other, you should try to find out more about how the manufacturer measured the brightness. You may also want to look at reviews from customers who have used both displays.
Differences Between Nits and Lumens
If you’re in the market for a new TV, you’ve probably come across the terms “nit” and “lumen.” While it’s easy to confuse the two, they actually measure different things. Here’s a quick rundown of the difference between nits and lumens.
Nits measure brightness. Put simply, the higher the nit count, the brighter the screen. Nits are most important when comparing TVs that will be used in well-lit rooms, like during the daytime.
Lumens, on the other hand, measure how much light is emitted by a projector. The higher the lumen count, the more light is emitted and the brighter the image will be. Lumens are most important when comparing projectors that will be used in dark rooms.
How to Measure Nits Brightness?
Brightness is measured in nits, and there are three ways to determine the brightness of your screen.
The first way is with a measure that’s called a “notional value.” This means that your display must meet or exceed a certain level of brightness for a certain period of time. The most common notional value is 160 nits for two hours.
The second way to determine brightness is by using a more scientific measurement, which takes into account the luminance of each pixel. This measurement is complicated, and it’s not as accurate as the first method.
The third way to measure brightness is with a device called an integrating sphere. This device averages the luminance of all the pixels on your screen and gives you a more accurate measurement of nits.
How to measure nits value for your screen on Windows 10
Nits are a unit of measurement for brightness. One nit is equal to one candela per square meter (cd/m2). Nits can be used to measure the brightness of your screen.
Windows 10 has a built-in tool that can help you measure the nits value for your screen. To use this tool, follow these steps:
- Open the Settings app.
- Go to System > Display.
- Scroll down and click on the “Advanced display settings” link.
- Click on the “Display adapter properties” link.
- Click on the “Monitor” tab.
- Make sure that the “Show settings for:” drop-down menu is set to “All monitors”.
- Click on the “Advanced…” button.
- In the “Advanced Monitor Settings” window, scroll down and find the “HDR and WCG Settings” section.
- Expand the “HDR and WCG Settings” section by clicking on the “+” sign next to it .
- Make sure that the “Windows HD Color settings” toggle is turned On.
- Under “Select a mode for HDR content”, select either “Off” or any other option that’s available . If you’re not sure which one to choose, we recommend selecting “On”. Doing so will allow Windows to automatically choose the best HDR settings for your monitor.
- Once you’ve selected a mode, click on the “Apply” button to save your changes .
After following these steps, you should now be able to see the nits value for your screen under the “HDR and WCG Settings” section in the advanced display settings window.
How to check brightness nits on a laptop
There are two ways to check brightness nits on a laptop. The first is using a mobile app and the second is using the built-in display settings on your laptop.
To use a mobile app, download and install an app like DisplayCal or CalMAN onto your smartphone. Once installed, open the app and follow the instructions for calibrating your laptop screen. After calibration is complete, the app will provide you with a readout of your screen’s brightness in nits.
To use your laptop’s built-in display settings, open the “Display” panel in your laptop’s control panel. Locate the “Brightness” setting and drag the slider to the right or left to increase or decrease screen brightness. Once you have set the desired level of brightness, look at the display panel’s readout to see how many nits are being outputted.
How does nit measurement help in screen selection?
Nits measure the luminance of a display. A higher nit count means a brighter display. Most displays have a brightness between 200 and 400 nits. However, some new high-end TVs boast peak brightness levels of 1,000 nits or more.
Why is peak brightness important? A brighter screen is not only more visible in a well-lit room but also provides a better contrast ratio. A display with a higher peak brightness can reproduce brighter whites and darker blacks than a display with a lower peak brightness. As a result, high-nit screens tend to produce more vibrant and realistic images.
How do nits help in screen selection? When you’re shopping for a new TV, it’s important to consider the type of content you’ll be watching. If you’re primarily interested in movies and TV shows, then you’ll want to focus on screens with good black levels and dark room performance. However, if you also plan to use your TV for gaming or other activities where peak brightness is important, then you should look for models with high nits ratings.
Conclusion – How to Determine Nits Screen
Now that you know the three main types of nits, it’s time to learn how to measure them. The best way to do this is by using a Nit-o-Meter. A Nit-o-Meter is a small handheld device that uses light to measure the nits on a screen.
To use a Nit-o-Meter, simply hold it up to the screen and press the button. The Nit-o-Meter will take a few seconds to measure the nits and then display the result on the screen.
Most Nit-o-Meters will measure in both candela per square meter (cd/m2) and nits. If you want to learn more about nits, we recommend checking out our article on the difference between nits and cd/m2.
As a general rule, any screen with more than 200 cd/m2 is considered bright enough for indoor use. However, this can vary depending on your specific needs. For example, if you need to view your screen in direct sunlight, you’ll need a higher nit count.