DIY Dual-Layer LCD monitor - can it match OLED??

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[DIYPerks]

🥦 Let's hear it for the random broccoli

[AMOneV]

If I remember correctly, Hisense has done this in one of their TVs. They achieved incredible contrast levels by using a second monochrome LCD layer to provide those inky blacks. Sadly, I don't think they've pursued it any further, synchronizing the LCD layers was quite difficult.

[samtorbert]

I'm just amazed how accurately you were able to align the two LCDs

[decb.]

Something you didn't mention is that you have essentially doubled the display's gamma by multiplying all colors by themselves. Most displays have a built-in gamma of 2.2, but this raises that to around 4.4. You should be able to compensate by halving the gamma in software or in the monitor's settings, which will give you more accurate colors and fix over-saturation.

[EnvAdam]

I would love to see a V2 version of this where you dissemble the panels further and experiment with various filter layers.

[tokiomitohsaka]

Professional dual layer LCD monitors use a monochrome LCD as the rear panel, which is better for light to pass through, thus increasing the efficiency (though it is still significant less efficient than a single layer LCD).

Also, with your method, you are significantly increasing the saturation, so you would need to get a calibration device to counter that.

Still, this is a really cool project!

[Ganesh_Sh]

While I usually find his DIYs trying the best & practical solution, this one has scope for a lot of improvement.

1. The large backlight led array: This is what makes this build thick, impractical and causes high power consumption. This can be avoided if tracing paper is not used. A better solution for the polarization problem is the way forward, which leads to #2

2. Tracing sheet: 2 stages of tracing sheet was used - one between the panels and other in front of the backlight. Both can be avoided.

Fix / Recommendations:
The polarizing element in the lcd panel is actually removable. He has to further separate layers of the lcd panel and remove the polarizing layer from the base panel. This removes the need for tracing paper and a more powerful backlight and solves blurry text issue.

Second step is to change display settings in outer panel to high contrast black and white while inside panel displays full colour. This will solve the color gamma issue and the outer panel will only enhance blacks.

[ibayodeperegrino]

would be pretty interesting to test the optimised final version with an screen calibration tool, just to see actual numbers of things like nits, peak brigtness, color saturation, gamut, etc...and compare them with standard monitors

[HangryOne]

You always come up with the most fascinating ideas. They aren't always practical, but the attention to detail you put in makes almost every build you do a piece of art.

[jocelyndeguise]

If you fed both screens different HDMI signals, like in a "mirrored" dual monitor computer setup (using two outputs from your graphic card), you'd be able to adjust both layers individually. This could help making the picture's colours less "poppy" and maybe even help increase the white levels.

[TheDarthShader]

One thing I think you might have missed is the gamma. Monitors are non-linear with respect to their input, and there is typically a compensation curve (gamma) to fix that. However, with two screens, your nonlinearity will be doubled and you will need to adjust your gamma curve (easily accessible in desktop OSs).

[EvanBoldt]

I think you could actually add a middle polarization layer between the other two. Weirdly, if the middle layer is at an angle between the other two, it allows light to pass through all three. I think this would actually allow more of the original light through than paper.

[waffle]

Over ten years ago, students at RIT combined an Apple Cinema Display panel with a pair of projectors that, combined, matched the resolution of the display. The projectors projected the image in black and white behind the LCD panel displaying the same image in color. There were some off-axis alignment issues, but the first look at what HDR would eventually look like was stunning at the time.

[ParotandArmorfinish]

This is a project that I think deserves a version 2. You might get better results with different panel technologies (like TN VN and IPS), or you might be able to dig and find better solutions for diffusion, polarization, backlighting and driving the displays. Even if the final result is expensive and impractical I think it's worth it to see just how much is possible by going full DIY.

[frankierzucekjr]

I thoroughly enjoy your channel buddy and have for years. The things you do and make are phenomenal. You're extremely talented. Great work

[desi_bhai_]

i think removing the polarisation filter from the back lcd will help with brightness and eliminate the need of the tracing paper, you can then also bind both of the screens with uv glue used for screens, so there will be less blooming and blurryness in text

[Benlucky]

Love seeing these diy projects that compete with hardware 10x the price

[drk_blood]

It is literally kind of a dimmer OLED but without any risk of burn-in 🔥
Really well made ! Great job man, your creations are incredible.

[Anna_Rae]

I would’ve loved to see a comparison between this and OLED. Would be cool to see the difference in black levels and persistence blur.

[DanielMcew]

Awesome project! You could try use a half-waveplate instead of the tracing paper. This should more than double the brightness of the monitor. It's a clear film that rotates the polarisation axis by 90°. Right now, half the light is absorbed by the second monitor's polarising filter because the polarisation is random.

Really nice work though. Looks amazing 👏