The technology behind the sign
Colour electronic paper stores an image using only the laws of physics, with no power or backlight needed to hold it. That single property unlocks locations that no other digital display can reach.
Electronic paper, explained
An e-ink panel is filled with microscopic capsules, each containing charged colour pigment particles suspended in a clear fluid. When a voltage is applied, the particles migrate to the surface to form the image, and then stay there, no electricity required. This bistable property is what makes e-ink fundamentally different from LCD or LED: the display consumes power only at the moment of change, not while showing the image.
Chroma Digital use the latest generation of six-colour electronic paper. The six inks (black, white, red, yellow, green, and blue) combine to produce bold, legible boards that look as sharp at 10 metres as they do up close. Because the surface is purely reflective (like a printed page), contrast actually improves in bright sunlight rather than washing out.
A full panel refresh takes seconds, making e-ink ideal for information that changes infrequently: parking availability, bus timetables, public notices, and event boards. Between updates, the screen draws zero milliwatts.
Key properties
Every aspect of a Chroma Digital sign follows from the core physics of electronic paper.
6-colour Spectra 6 display
E Ink Spectra 6 electronic paper reproduces six distinct inks (black, white, red, yellow, green, and blue) without a backlight. The result is a paper-like image that looks natural at any viewing angle.
Zero power between updates
The panel draws electricity only during a refresh (typically 12 to 30 seconds). Once the image is set, it holds at zero power indefinitely: the physics of electronic paper require no energy to maintain the display.
Solar & battery compatible
Because updates consume so little energy, a single small solar cell or battery pack keeps a sign running for weeks. With no mains connection or trenching, you can install it anywhere.
Sunlight-readable
Reflective e-ink works like paper: it becomes clearer in bright light. No backlight means no glare and no contrast loss, so it stays readable at any angle, even in direct afternoon sun.
Wireless, centrally managed
Content is pushed to any sign over the network from the Chroma Digital control tool. Update a car park board, a bus stop, or an entire fleet from a single browser tab, with no on-site visit required.
Rugged & weatherproof
Enclosures are engineered for permanent outdoor installation. Rain, frost, and direct sun cause no degradation to the display or electronics.
Resilient by design
Screens pull content securely over the network and cache the latest image locally. If the network drops or power is interrupted, the last image remains visible at zero power, so the sign never goes blank.
Six colours, one low-power display
Vibrant, high-contrast colour with ultra-low power.
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Carbon
(Black)
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Stone
(Grey)
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Forest
(Green)
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Ocean
(Blue)
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Amber
(Yellow)
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Coral
(Red)
Built for outdoor environments
Weatherproof enclosure
Built to withstand the elements, rated IP65+.
Operates in extreme conditions
Reliable from -15°C to 60°C.
Impact resistant
Vandal-resistant housing for public spaces.
Wireless updates
Easy to manage at scale: update one sign or a whole fleet remotely.
From browser to panel in seconds
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Design your content
Compose or generate your content in the Chroma Content Management app. A pixel-accurate e-ink preview updates live, so what you see is exactly what the panel displays when you press 'commit'.
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Push wirelessly
Send the updated content to the screen over your network. No site visits, no cables: the unit receives the new content within seconds.
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It updates, then holds at zero power
The e-ink display redraws in seconds, then freezes the image using no power at all. The information stays visible until you next decide to change it.
See the technology in action
Book a demo and watch a Chroma Digital sign update live, then hold its image at zero power.