I'm thinking about getting a large monitor or two to edit my images. I'm in limbo about whether to get two monitors or one ultra wide monitor. My goal is to have a setup/workstation where I can ensure that the images will look the same on print as they look on the screen.
Do you guys have recommendations on what monitors to look at? Specific brands? Is there anything else that I should look at like Monitor Calibrators?
I have a Macbook pro and I use it for all my editing.
Appreciate your recommendations.
Posted by Wick Smith on January 18, 2016 at 12:10 PM
Sairam,
I just switched from a PC to a Macbook Pro. I also purchased the Apple Thunderbolt 27" monitor. It is absolutely stunning in sharpness and color. It still needs calibration, like any other monitor. I don't know how a monitor could be more impressive.
It also has a simple connection system. The display becomes your docking station so you can plug in your internet wired connection, other USB devices, etc, into the back of the monitor. Then, you only need to plug the power cord in from the monitor to the laptop (instead of the battery charging cord), and the Thunderbolt cable, & all signals travel through those two.
The monitor is/was available at B&H for $942 with no freight & no sales tax. I know the new Macbook Pro I got had two Thunderbolt jacks, so theoretically, you could plug in two of these monsters if you had the budget and the need.
I use a single NEC 27" monitor at it's native resolution of 2560x1440 with a PC workstation and find that meets my needs. Some folks like two monitors--one for their image, and the other for their Photo Shop tools and palettes. You could keep your PS main window on the laptop screen and the image on the large monitor. So, having one, or two monitors depends upon personal preference and/or how much workspace one has available.
I have used a 22" NEC Mulit-Sync (discontinued) and now my NEC MultiSync PA 272W along with NEC's SpectraView calibration software and NEC-Branded iOne colorimeter. Out of all the monitors I've used over the years, this one has been the best. The monitor/calibration bundle is not inexpensive, however. You can read my NPN Gear Review here, and the full specs from NEC here.
I think it will be helpful if you could give us a budget figure, along with the screen size(s) you would like.
As far as general specs go, you should get an IPS panel and the monitor should support at least 90% of the Adobe RGB gamut. You also need to make sure the monitor you choose has input ports that match at least one port on your Macbook, such as Display Port, HDMI, or DVI-D.
My goal is to have a setup/workstation where I can ensure that the images will look the same on print as they look on the screen.
Print vs. Screen matching depends on more factors than the monitor and it's calibration. A monitor that is accurate in terms of grey scale and color is a big step in the right direction. However, that's only one piece of the puzzle. Most monitors come from the factory wih very high luminance and contrast, so it is necessary to arrive at luminance, white point, and contrast that will give the best screen/print match. Therefore, your calibration software must be capable of allowing you to set your 'target' values. You also need to have accurate profiles for the printing paper(s) you use.
As I remarked to Jim Zablotny in another thread here, color management for photographers is one of the elephants in the room. It is a very extensive subject that requires research and testing with your own setup.
--P
Posted by Bob Maynard on January 18, 2016 at 12:59 PM
If you check the reviews you'll find that the ASUS 30" is the highest rated photography monitor in the world and at $500 it's a bargain. I use that along with a 27" LG for the second monitor and can't imagine that I used to do it any other way.
Posted by Jim Zablotny on January 18, 2016 at 5:15 PM
Hi,
Monitors dedicated and optimized for photo-editing can be expensive, but worth it in the long run. Along with a monitor, purchase a good calibration device too. The more expensive monitors usually are boxed with a calibration puck too. Calibration is a daunting task, but well worth the effort when done correctly. I have a new monitor calibration device ordered and hope to have my Dell U2410 calibrated by the end of the week.
You also may want to look at "A color Managed Workflow from Camera to Final Print" which is a technical paper published by Adobe. This paper provides the recipe for using calibrated monitors, paper profiles, and setting up Photoshop for getting the best possible print from your setup. .......................Jim
Most of the current calibration tools are fairly user-friendly. The software and colorimeter driver must be supported by your monitor and operating system. Assuming you have the correct tools, the trick is to find the settings that work best one's particular monitor/paper(s)/inks combination.
Posted by Bill Chambers on January 19, 2016 at 12:06 PM
Bob said: If you check the reviews you'll find that the ASUS 30" is the highest rated photography monitor in the world and at $500 it's a bargain. I use that along with a 27" LG for the second monitor and can't imagine that I used to do it any other way.
Bob, what review did you read for that rating. PC Magazine rated the top 5 monitors and the ASUS monitor wasn't listed. Can you list the Asus model number - interested in checking it out.
Thanks for the detailed info folks! For some weird reason, I haven't been getting mails about new comments on this thread at all (even though I checked the box for that). Thanks for the article! I will read it carefully.
Preston, my budget is probably at $1500 tops for the monitor and calibration equipment. I would like to look at sizes anywhere from 27" to 34". Using the laptop for the photoshop window seems like a good idea, although I'm curious how the 34" would stack up.
I strongly believe that getting the right equipment once works out better than getting several cheaper ones needing to be replaced.
Any recommendations for color calibration tools?
My greatest difficulty now is that my laptop and print color & luminance don't match up. In fact, I see a huge difference when I see an image on my laptop versus seeing it on another display elsewhere online.
Would appreciate your thoughts and suggestions :)
Posted by Jim Zablotny on January 25, 2016 at 9:37 PM
Hi,
I just purchased the i1Display Pro colorimeter and it works very well at calibration and constructing monitor profiles for soft proofing in Photoshop. It is comparable to the Spyder5Elite but around 50 dollars cheaper than the Spyder. I chose the i1Display Pro over the Spyder5elite because the software interface is flexible with basic and advanced menus and quickly produces excellent monitor profiles. I think that you would find either the Spyder or i1Display suitable for you. You may have to ask around and see what others have to say about these colorimeters. Both systems have software bugs, but the online support for both is excellent and you can usually find solutions to any of these documented problems...........................Jim
You didn't mention your budget so my set up which I love is a 27" Apple monitor for internet and emails and a 27" Eizo self calibrating screen for all my photo editing stuff..........what you see on the screen comes out of the printer :)
Discussion
15 repliesI'm thinking about getting a large monitor or two to edit my images. I'm in limbo about whether to get two monitors or one ultra wide monitor. My goal is to have a setup/workstation where I can ensure that the images will look the same on print as they look on the screen.
Do you guys have recommendations on what monitors to look at? Specific brands? Is there anything else that I should look at like Monitor Calibrators?
I have a Macbook pro and I use it for all my editing.
Appreciate your recommendations.
I just switched from a PC to a Macbook Pro. I also purchased the Apple Thunderbolt 27" monitor. It is absolutely stunning in sharpness and color. It still needs calibration, like any other monitor. I don't know how a monitor could be more impressive.
It also has a simple connection system. The display becomes your docking station so you can plug in your internet wired connection, other USB devices, etc, into the back of the monitor. Then, you only need to plug the power cord in from the monitor to the laptop (instead of the battery charging cord), and the Thunderbolt cable, & all signals travel through those two.
The monitor is/was available at B&H for $942 with no freight & no sales tax. I know the new Macbook Pro I got had two Thunderbolt jacks, so theoretically, you could plug in two of these monsters if you had the budget and the need.
Good luck,
Wick
I use a single NEC 27" monitor at it's native resolution of 2560x1440 with a PC workstation and find that meets my needs. Some folks like two monitors--one for their image, and the other for their Photo Shop tools and palettes. You could keep your PS main window on the laptop screen and the image on the large monitor. So, having one, or two monitors depends upon personal preference and/or how much workspace one has available.
I have used a 22" NEC Mulit-Sync (discontinued) and now my NEC MultiSync PA 272W along with NEC's SpectraView calibration software and NEC-Branded iOne colorimeter. Out of all the monitors I've used over the years, this one has been the best. The monitor/calibration bundle is not inexpensive, however. You can read my NPN Gear Review here, and the full specs from NEC here.
I think it will be helpful if you could give us a budget figure, along with the screen size(s) you would like.
As far as general specs go, you should get an IPS panel and the monitor should support at least 90% of the Adobe RGB gamut. You also need to make sure the monitor you choose has input ports that match at least one port on your Macbook, such as Display Port, HDMI, or DVI-D.
Print vs. Screen matching depends on more factors than the monitor and it's calibration. A monitor that is accurate in terms of grey scale and color is a big step in the right direction. However, that's only one piece of the puzzle. Most monitors come from the factory wih very high luminance and contrast, so it is necessary to arrive at luminance, white point, and contrast that will give the best screen/print match. Therefore, your calibration software must be capable of allowing you to set your 'target' values. You also need to have accurate profiles for the printing paper(s) you use.
As I remarked to Jim Zablotny in another thread here, color management for photographers is one of the elephants in the room. It is a very extensive subject that requires research and testing with your own setup.
--P
Monitors dedicated and optimized for photo-editing can be expensive, but worth it in the long run. Along with a monitor, purchase a good calibration device too. The more expensive monitors usually are boxed with a calibration puck too. Calibration is a daunting task, but well worth the effort when done correctly. I have a new monitor calibration device ordered and hope to have my Dell U2410 calibrated by the end of the week.
You also may want to look at "A color Managed Workflow from Camera to Final Print" which is a technical paper published by Adobe. This paper provides the recipe for using calibrated monitors, paper profiles, and setting up Photoshop for getting the best possible print from your setup. .......................Jim
Here is the Adobe Article (pdf) that Jim noted above. Thanks, Jim!
--P
Bob, what review did you read for that rating. PC Magazine rated the top 5 monitors and the ASUS monitor wasn't listed. Can you list the Asus model number - interested in checking it out.
Which calibration solution did you purchase?
Once you've used it, could you create a review for us here on the Gear Forum? I think that would be handy for folks looking for calibration tools.
Thanks,
--P
I purchased the i1Display Pro. I'll get a review written up after I give it a thorough test drive.......................Jim
Preston, my budget is probably at $1500 tops for the monitor and calibration equipment. I would like to look at sizes anywhere from 27" to 34". Using the laptop for the photoshop window seems like a good idea, although I'm curious how the 34" would stack up.
I strongly believe that getting the right equipment once works out better than getting several cheaper ones needing to be replaced.
Any recommendations for color calibration tools?
My greatest difficulty now is that my laptop and print color & luminance don't match up. In fact, I see a huge difference when I see an image on my laptop versus seeing it on another display elsewhere online.
Would appreciate your thoughts and suggestions :)
I just purchased the i1Display Pro colorimeter and it works very well at calibration and constructing monitor profiles for soft proofing in Photoshop. It is comparable to the Spyder5Elite but around 50 dollars cheaper than the Spyder. I chose the i1Display Pro over the Spyder5elite because the software interface is flexible with basic and advanced menus and quickly produces excellent monitor profiles. I think that you would find either the Spyder or i1Display suitable for you. You may have to ask around and see what others have to say about these colorimeters. Both systems have software bugs, but the online support for both is excellent and you can usually find solutions to any of these documented problems...........................Jim
NEC PA272W-BK-SV LED Backlit Wide Gamut LCD Desktop Monitor with SpectraViewII
--P
I was just wondering what you decided go with for your new monitor and calibration set up?
--P