In the cinema industry and in public entertainment venues, visual communication is no longer just a promotional tool, it is part of the experience itself, beginning well before audiences step into the screening room. From crowded lobbies before evening shows to outdoor courtyards that capture the attention of passersby, every surface becomes an opportunity to engage, inform, and guide the audience. It is precisely in this context that next-generation digital signage finds its highest expression, transforming ordinary spaces into immersive environments that amplify the appeal of cinema itself. Macropix oversaw the redesign of the interior spaces of the OZ multiplex in Brescia, equipping it with a panoramic LED banner and an impressive indoor LED screen from the SIGNUM-FS3.9 PLUS series, the premium model within the Macropix product range.
When cinema meets digital signage innovation
For modern multiplex cinemas, the adoption of large-format LED screens delivers tangible and measurable benefits. Content scheduling flexibility allows instant updates of programming, promotions, and trailers, eliminating recurring printing costs and drastically reducing management time. High brightness and superior image quality ensure perfect visibility in all lighting conditions, from dimly lit waiting areas to spaces flooded with direct sunlight.
Beyond practicality, these systems generate immediate emotional impact. Dynamic trailers, engaging animations, and interactive content capture attention and turn waiting time into an integral part of the cinematic experience. For operators, this translates into higher footfall, increased ticket and concession sales, and a modern brand perception that resonates with even the most demanding audiences. The project delivered for the Multisala OZ in Brescia perfectly embodies this vision, combining top-tier outdoor technology with high-resolution indoor solutions to create a complete and highly effective visual communication ecosystem.
Dual-screen system
The installation at the Multisala OZ is built around two strategic fronts, each designed to address specific communication and environmental requirements. Outdoors, a powerful large-format screen captures the attention of motorists and pedestrians from afar. Indoors, an ultra-wide LED banner guides and informs visitors throughout their entire stay inside the venue.
Indoor LED banner: MOBILIS-L2.5W
For the indoor environment, the MOBILIS-L2.5W series was selected, a LED display specifically designed for enclosed spaces where communication must be immediate, elegant, and perfectly readable. The installation consists of 54 modules which, once assembled, form an impressive surface measuring 18 meters in width and 75 centimeters in height, for a total active area of 13.5 square meters. It is a continuous ribbon of light stretching across the entire cinema lobby, impossible to ignore, displaying showtimes, exclusive previews, and current promotions.
The underlying technology is as sophisticated as it is discreet. With a pixel pitch of just 2.5 millimeters, the banner delivers a physical resolution of 7,200 × 300 pixels, producing crisp images and perfectly legible text from viewing distances starting at just 2 meters. There is no pixelation, no blurred edges, only sharp, crystal-clear content that immediately draws the eye.
Brightness, set at approximately 900 nits, is precisely calibrated for indoor environments: powerful enough to stand out in well-lit areas without ever becoming intrusive or uncomfortable. Structurally, each module measures 1,000 × 250 × 40 mm, and the complete system weighs around 324 kilograms, distributed across a structure engineered for maximum stability and safety. Peak power consumption of 5.67 kW is optimized to minimize energy impact, an essential factor for venues operating for many hours every day.
The main hall LED screen: SIGNUM-FS3.9 PLUS
If the indoor LED banner is designed for elegance and precision, the main lobby display is built to dominate. The SIGNUM-FS3.9 PLUS installed in the entrance hall of the Multisala OZ is a technological giant measuring 6 meters wide by 3 meters high, for a total surface area of 18 square meters of pure visual impact. Originally conceived for outdoor applications, this model might seem unusual for an indoor installation, but in reality, it is a perfectly calibrated strategic choice. The cinema lobby features large glass surfaces and architecture that allows intense natural light to flood the space during the day. Under such conditions, traditional indoor LED displays, typically ranging from 600 to 1,200 nits, would appear washed out or barely visible, undermining the investment.
The 6,000-nit brightness of the SIGNUM-FS3.9 PLUS solves this challenge decisively: even in direct sunlight, colors remain vivid, contrast remains high, and readability is flawless. It delivers the power of an outdoor display with the advantages of a protected indoor installation. With a 3.9 mm pixel pitch and a resolution of 1,536 × 768 pixels, the screen is perfectly suited for the typical viewing distances of a cinema lobby. Trailers, dynamic advertising, and promotional content appear sharp and engaging. Composed of 18 robust modules originally engineered to withstand extreme outdoor conditions, the display benefits indoors from:
- Superior durability: components designed for harsh environments ensure long-term reliability indoors
- Total protection: IP68 front and IP66 rear ratings guarantee resistance even during intensive cleaning or accidental water exposure
- Thermal stability: a cooling system designed for –20°C to +60°C operates permanently in optimal conditions in a climate-controlled space
- Zero concerns: outdoor-grade technology eliminates risks related to humidity or temperature fluctuations in high-traffic areas
With a maximum power consumption of 11.38 kW and a total weight of approximately 486 kilograms, the installation required precise structural engineering to ensure the highest safety standards.
Structures, control, and management: the invisible architecture
Behind the visual impact of these screens lies a sophisticated technical infrastructure that ensures safety, reliability, and ease of management. Dedicated mechanical design and certified structural calculations ensure that the lobby screen is anchored in compliance with the strictest regulations, using a custom structure perfectly integrated with the existing architecture. At the core of the system is the Omnibus software platform, a content management system that allows both displays to be controlled from a single interface. The Multisala OZ team can:
- Schedule playlists and content rotations in advance
- Update content in real time via the cloud, without on-site technical intervention
- Monitor display performance through advanced analytics and remote diagnostics
- Manage energy modes to optimize consumption based on audience traffic
- Control hardware includes an Omnibus-400 unit, supported by UltraVID-H2/A2 and UltraVID-HX video processors handling HDMI signals and RJ45 connections, ensuring stable and synchronized signal distribution. A Windows Value license is also included to guarantee full compatibility with widely used operating systems.
The flagship product: SIGNUM-FS3.9 PLUS Premium Edition
When it comes to LED screens designed to operate in extreme brightness conditions, not all products are created equal. The SIGNUM-FS3.9 PLUS represents the pinnacle of the Macropix range, a concentration of advanced engineering and technological innovation originally developed for outdoor installations, yet strategically selected here for a uniquely demanding indoor application.
Using an outdoor model indoors may seem unconventional, but it is the ideal response to the challenges posed by modern cinema architecture: large glass façades, intense natural light, and the need for perfect visibility at all times of day. Where conventional indoor LED displays fail, the SIGNUM-FS3.9 PLUS excels, bringing outdoor-grade visual power into a protected environment.
Uncompromising visual performance
Resolution is immediately striking. The 3.9 mm pitch ensures high pixel density even across large surfaces, allowing every visual detail to be appreciated. However, it is the 6,000-nit brightness that truly sets this display apart in the Multisala OZ context. While most indoor LED screens operate between 600 and 1,200 nits, insufficient to compete with daylight flooding through glass walls, this model delivers full outdoor-level luminance, ensuring flawless visibility even at peak daylight hours. Colors remain saturated, contrast sharp, and content effortlessly commands attention regardless of ambient lighting.
Contrast reaches an outstanding 13,000:1 ratio, clearly separating deep blacks from bright highlights to create highly realistic, three-dimensional images. This performance is enabled by a key technical feature: conical LEDs. Unlike traditional LEDs that disperse light evenly, conical LEDs focus light directly toward the viewer, significantly reducing ambient reflections and delivering deeper blacks. The result is crisp, readable images even in direct sunlight. The SMD1935 LED technology adds further advantages:
- Reduced reflective surface: LED chips with a 20% smaller white surface area, minimizing unwanted reflections
- Patented five-pin design: improved mechanical stability and optimized heat dissipation
- High refresh rate: 3,840 Hz, eliminating visible flicker and ensuring compatibility with professional video recording
A protective shell that becomes added value
Durability is what separates professional displays from consumer products, and the SIGNUM-FS3.9 PLUS is engineered to withstand the harshest outdoor environments. Indoors, these rugged characteristics become decisive advantages. The IP68 front protection rating represents the highest waterproofing standard, allowing modules to withstand prolonged high-pressure water exposure without ingress. The IP66 rear rating ensures complete resistance to dust and powerful water jets. In an indoor environment like a cinema lobby, this translates into:
- Worry-free intensive cleaning: screens can be washed without risk
- Total protection: resilience against accidental leaks or water infiltration
- Extreme longevity: outdoor-grade components ensure decades of reliability indoors
- Minimal extraordinary maintenance: over-engineered design eliminates frequent interventions
Thermal performance is equally robust. The entire module, from LED board to frame, is made of aluminum, providing excellent thermal conductivity. The fully sealed die-cast aluminum housing features rear cooling fins that optimize heat dissipation, enabling operation between –20°C and +60°C without heaters or forced ventilation. In a climate-controlled environment, the system always operates under ideal conditions, maximizing efficiency and lifespan.
The SIGNUM-FS3.9 PLUS has passed rigorous environmental testing, including prolonged immersion, salt spray exposure, extreme thermal shock, and HALT (Highly Accelerated Life Testing), pushing components to –60°C, +120°C, and 45G vibration. Fire resistance completes the safety profile: thanks to aluminum construction and rapid heat dissipation, the display achieves a 5VB fire rating—an exceptionally high standard for public, high-traffic environments.
Energy efficiency: the CCES revolution
In an era increasingly focused on sustainability, energy efficiency is no longer optional. This is where the SIGNUM-FS3.9 PLUS clearly differentiates itself through CCES (Common Cathode Energy Saving) technology, developed exclusively by Macropix. In traditional common-cathode LED modules, red, green, and blue chips are powered at the same voltage—typically around 5 volts—despite having different electrical requirements:
- Red chip: optimal at approximately 3.2 V
- Green and blue chips: require about 4.2 V
- Conventional approach: supplies 5 V to all three, wasting energy as heat
CCES technology revolutionizes this process by powering each chip at its ideal voltage: 3.2 V for red, 4.2 V for green and blue. No energy is wasted—every watt is converted into light, not heat. The benefits are substantial and measurable:
- Energy savings: 20% to 50% compared to conventional technologies, thanks to Ekoled 4-Leaf technology
- Optimized consumption: 635 W/m² versus 750 W/m² or more at equivalent brightness (6,000 nits)
- Lower operating costs: for an 18 m² display like that at Multisala OZ, annual savings are significant
Efficiency extends beyond hardware. The proprietary Omnibus software dynamically measures and adjusts power demand on a frame-by-frame basis. Operators can choose between three operating modes:
- Maximum mode: peak visual performance during high-traffic periods
- Balanced mode: optimal compromise between quality and energy savings
- Eco mode: maximum savings (up to 50%) during low ambient light conditions
Additional features include peak power limiting, useful for avoiding electrical overloads, and automatic compliance with light pollution regulations through time-based brightness adjustment.
Flexibility and simplified maintenance
A large LED screen is not a monolith but a modular system—and modularity is a decisive advantage. The SIGNUM-FS3.9 PLUS is available in multiple module sizes, enabling tailor-made configurations for any architectural requirement:
- Available formats: 1,000 × 500 mm, 1,500 × 500 mm, and 1,000 × 1,000 mm
- Creative configurations: curved screens achieved by cutting modules at 45 degrees
- Special effects: integration of dedicated curved modules for anamorphic 3D effects that capture attention
Maintenance is designed to be as simple as possible. Modules are accessible from both the front and rear using a single key, without magnets or loose screws. The lightweight aluminum frame, just 27 kg per square meter, greatly simplifies installation and maintenance, ensuring fast and safe operations. A warranty ranging from 2 to 5 years on LED modules further confirms the manufacturer’s confidence in product quality.
An investment in the future
The SIGNUM-FS3.9 PLUS Premium Edition is not just a screen—it is a complete communication platform designed to endure and evolve over time. Choosing an outdoor model for an indoor environment like the Multisala OZ proves to be a winning strategy that combines:
- Superior performance: 6,000-nit brightness that overpowers any natural lighting condition
- Extreme reliability: outdoor-grade components delivering decades of indoor durability
- Energy efficiency: exclusive CCES technology with savings of up to 50%
- Zero compromises: premium materials, IP68 protection, and uncompromising build quality
Thanks to IP68 protection, exceptional contrast (13,000:1), superior energy efficiency through CCES technology, and top-tier materials, this display is ideal for applications ranging from outdoor advertising and transport hubs to sports venues, corporate headquarters, and, most notably, the entertainment sector. In a market where visual communication determines whether a message is seen or ignored, investing in quality means investing in success.
