Classic LED modules are opaque — they hide everything behind them. Transparent LED solves this through an open grid: gaps remain between the rows of pixels, through which light and vision can pass. The designs range from thin LED strips on glass (often as a sticker retrofit) to rigid LED grids for large-scale facades.
Transparency is specified as a percentage and, depending on the design, ranges between 65% (very fine pixel pitch, denser pixels) and 90% (coarser pitch, higher transparency). More transparency means fewer pixels per square metre and thus lower image resolution. This is always a trade-off between visibility through the surface and image quality on the surface.
Typical applications include shop windows (branding message to the street, while maintaining a view into the store interior), glass facades on high-rise buildings (media facade without complete darkening), atria and foyers (maintaining light transmission for daylight, evening screen), and exhibition stands with dynamic walls.
Important for engineering: the power supply is usually located at the top edge of the glass surface — this saves visible cables but requires sophisticated electrical planning as early as the architectural phase. Fixing to existing glass is not trivial: sub-frames or magnetic holders are often needed to avoid compromising the glass statics.