Epic Francisco asks:
I couldn’t help but notice how vivid and nice Mac screens are and I always hear that Macs are ideal for digital art because of their screen specifications and all that. I run on a desktop with an HP 2010i which has a low resolution of 1600 x 900 and low contrast ratio.
I do digital art, so what monitor specifications should I look into to replace my HP monitor?
Browser: Chrome 21
System: Windows 7
Tagged: buying tips, computer hardware, computer monitor, external monitor, screen resolution, upgrade hardware
System: Windows 7
Tagged: buying tips, computer hardware, computer monitor, external monitor, screen resolution, upgrade hardware
8 Answers -
ferdinan Sitohang
July 17, 2012You need to check your graphic card first, then you will be able to choose the high resolution monitor for your desktop. Otherwise you need to upgrade your graphic card and then choose the right monitor to your graphic card. If you just buy a high resolution without knowing your graphic card specification, then its useless, your monitor will adjust to your graphic card.
Mike
July 17, 2012Yes, Macs do have a nice screen with vivid colors. The problem however is that a Macs screen (iMac, MacBook Pro/Air) is neither within the Adobe RGB nor sRGB color space. Also by default they are using a color profile provided by Apple that puts then further off.
If you do want to or already use a Mac it should be either a Mac Pro or a Mac Mini with an external display for graphical work.
For graphics the general recommendation is an IPS panel in a size and resolution you desire. Other specifications are almost irrelevant since they origin from manufacturers ‘fantasies’.
If money is no problem you should get a hardware calibrated or better self-calibrating monitor (using an built-in sensor). If you are on a budget get a ‘regular’ monitor and software-calibrate it e.g. via color profile.
Personally I am using Argyll CMS with dispcalGUI both on Mac and Windows.
http://www.argyllcms.com/
http://dispcalgui.hoech.net/
Colorimeter is some legacy X-Rite device and monitors I have used this combination on range from some cheap Fujitsu 24″, a Samsung 2233RZ and a two non-hardware calibrated EIZOs.
Of course the Fujitsu and Samsung don’t live up to the EIZOs color display but without the color profile they completely fail displaying at some non-internet-safe colors.
Alan Wade
July 17, 2012There is not much point in buying a high end monitor if you have a low end graphics card installed. Look at what you can afford in the graphics card department then move on to a bigger and better monitor.
Gian Singh
July 17, 2012The new HP monitors are pretty good, the 1080p ones but macs do also look great, but graphics card is probably should delegate whether it is worth it or not.
Subhom Mitra
July 18, 2012A matte display shows more accurate colours (means that what you see and what you print are similar). Not so with glossy displays on the Macs; the colours there are especially vivid and won’t come out in equal fashion when you try to print them.
Oron
July 18, 2012The single most important factor is to get an monitor using IPS technology, rather than the more common TN. The moar well known IPS monitors rae the Dell Ultrasharp series, but they’re available from other makes too. IPS provide a range of advantages for graphic designers, including support for full 8 bit per channel (TN offers only 5 or 6 bit). Colour calibration is also important. As for graphic cards, that’s mostly a question of speed rather than quality as such, so more of an area you can compromise on, depending on your budget.
Igor Rizvi?
July 31, 2012Graphic card+ qualiti monitor = digital art
jrasulev
August 22, 2012you may chose from here http://www.pcworld.in/best-buys/top-5-full-hd-widescreen-lcd-monitors