I have to buy a new 27-28inch monitor for doing Photoshop work. I would appreciate any recommendations that you may have. I use a 2.66 dual core Intel Mac.


Thanks much.

What type of video connections are on your Mac? Is this a MacBook Pro or a MacPro?

I have been delighted with my Dell 2408WFP. I has multiple inputs and more brightness than anyone needs for Photoshop along with a wide gamut. I did calibrate it with Spyder3 for a lower brightness than the default setting.

So, I think you might like the Dell 2709W which seems to be very similar except for three more inches. It works with single-link DVI or HDMI or Display Port just like the 2408WFP. The mount is VESA 100mm so you can easily put it on a mount.

2708W Product Description

Various notes

It's a MacPro ...tower.

And what sort of connectors do you have on it?

He has DVI connectors on his MacPro.

Jim's suggestion is very good and offers a lot of bang for the buck.

The new 24" Apple Cinema is a very nice monitor for PhotoShop work. You might have to buy a new Apple computer to use it. You might look here also. This is really quite a complex question you're asking, so you need to research matters yourself. We can give you some buzzwords to research.

A key question is: How much time and money are you willing to put into "PhotoShop?" If the answer's "not much," just buy any old monitor. It depends how serious you are about PhotoShop and photography.

If you are serious, think about your PhotoShop needs, and write them down on a piece of paper. That helps you understand them.

The main problem is - a good monitor doesn't necessarily make good photos, so you have to know the process to do that. And be willing to use the process. Once you understand it, it's not that difficult, but it's more work than most commercial photographers are willing to spend.

One way of achieving ACCURATE color (if "accurate" is synonymous with "good") is to calibrate AND profile your monitor, and then use profiles in PhotoShop. A wide color gamut LED LCD monitor (like Apple's new 24" Cinema display) will display more colors than an LCD monitor backlit with CCFL lamps (like 99% of the display market, and Apple's old Cinema displays). Some HDTV's (like Samsung's) may reproduce even better color than some LED LCD displays, but you may have difficulty overiding HDTV color controls.

I support Jim's idea of calibrating a monitor, but you'll want to profile it also. Those ideas help you get repeatable, reproducible color. Calibration refers to setting the white point and some other features to known, reproducible values. But then you should profile the monitor to find what colors it reproduces. Profiling interprets how digital images are reproduced - kinda like a Rosetta Stone for photos. If you don't control color - it's not controlled.

You'll want to consider using an X-Rite i1 Basic (Eye One Pro) instead of a Spyder, even though it costs much more. Spyders are colorimeters; i1 Basic's are spectrophotometers. Spyders measure 3 color bands; i1 Basic's measure 16, and work on reflective, transmissive, and emissive media. i1 Basic's also profile scanners, digital projectors, HDTV's, and cameras. Spyders now profile printers, but I wouldn't recommend them for that purpose. I think X-Rite's color targets (for profiling scanners and cameras) are the best available. You get what you pay for.

Before making any large purchases, you should understand color management. X-Rite still has a lot of printed literature on calibrating and profiling, and I would acquaint myself with some of it. The literature is not on X-Rite's website, it's difficult stuff to understand, and it requires some study. Unfortunately, I don't know of any good books or good websites on color management. Color management is the key to obtaining good color for serious PhotoShop users. A good monitor is not enough - but your monitor question depends how serious you are about PhotoShop and photography.

Regarding monitor connections, DVI connectors only carry low color res video information - no sound. HDMI is an HDTV solution that was never perfected, but you'll want to buy HDMI 1.3 cables and parts. DisplayPort is new, but it's difficult to find monitors with this connector. DisplayPort allows for Deep Color (aka, 10-bit color per RGB channel), which is nice for PhotoShop people, because it helps transmit subtle color variations. Mini DisplayPort appears to be an Apple exclusive connector at this time. You'll need to determine if Apple's graphic cards support Deep Color. Apple laptops do not support Deep Color, even though mini DisplayPort connectors are found on Mac Book Pros. Caveat emptor.

New display technology is being introduced at a very slow pace due the worldwide depression. Manufacturers are reluctant to introduce new technology right now, and there's kind of a patchwork quilt of solutions in transition. Caveat emptor.

Thank you all for the input. I was leaning towards the Dell suggested and I guess that's where I'm headed. It's about 850.00 (500.00 less that the Apple 30") I've read the Samsung 28-30 is nice too, but don't know more than that.

Thanks again.

It appears that you're not that into color management, so just buy the lowest cost monitor in your size range. An old-style CCFL backlit monitor will be cheaper than a new LED backlit monitor. Also, it makes sense for your purposes to pick up a used CRT.

With the Dell 2709, you may be overpaying for stuff (e.g., DisplayPorts) that you're not going to use. That is a CCFL monitor (i.e., a non-linear color pallet with missing colors). Also, this CNET reveiw makes one wonder if this is an appropriate PhotoShop monitor:

quote:

Like the 2408WFP, the Standard preset mode (in the 2709W) is ridiculously over-cooked color wise, and sRGB is far, far too undersaturated. Fortunately there's a middle ground, as Dell has included an Adobe RGB profile which we found more to our liking — however, you'll want to head to Custom (RGB) or Custom (RGBCMY) to get the most out of this monitor. The white is, of course, still set to retina-searing brightness, so it may take you some time to adjust if you haven't used a Dell monitor before. After a lot of tweaking we managed to get a colour setting we were mostly happy with, but despite our efforts reds still seemed a little too neon for our tastes.

A number of customers complain that the 2709W suffers from bleeding in the corners.


For your purposes, other monitors may fill the bill at half the price. Below, you'll find an excerpt from a website. Note the prices.

Chuck,

Michael said nothing about not using color management.

The 2408WFP displays that I have profiled, setting brightness to 150, have provided excellent results to several Photoshop users. The 2709W is essentially the same device with a larger screen and more backlight elements. The CNET review is right, as far as it goes. Most newer monitors are shipped with brightness far in excess of reasonable for Photoshop work. Once the brightness is reduced to 150 or so, the display may be profiled to achieve good accuracy to print output.

The multiple inputs are really nice for many purposes. DP for connection to a new Mini or MacBook, VGA for working on old boxes, Component or HDMI for viewing DVD or Blu-Ray,

In this green day and age it makes no sense whatever to buy a CRT, unless it is a multi-thousand dollar reference monitor. Besides, have you ever had to lift a 27" CRT monitor? Ouch! Besides, it takes most of the desktop just for itself. This is ignoring linearity and convergence issues with the analog scan and three guns and EMI output and sensitivity to magnetic fields and dust attracted by high voltage.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: James R. Cutler,

First of all, I just wanted to say that I'm sorta jealous as to whatever Michael finally decides to buy. I can't imagine having a 27" monitor.

Regarding color management, if that's in his scheme and depending on his final output and usages, colorimeters and spectrophotometers are great tools to compliment your monitor, if you have the need and the money and knowledge to bring it all together.

I guess that I'm sort of old school. I don't necessarily trust what I see on screen, regardless of all of the color management software. Too many variables. I tend to use Photoshop's Eyedropper tool in conjunction with the Info Palette, to get a reading of the color mixes on an image - whether for RGB or for Print. With some knowledge of color and a somewhat recent set of Pantone Color Swatch books, I personally feel more comfortable relying on those for expected color output (especially for print). I feel it's more predictable.

Lastly, a true color management workflow is complicated. It requires lots of time and communication with outside sources.

Mike,

You are spot on about the complications of color. My clients are not into print media, and normally use local Canon printers like the i900D and i9000. Installing profiles made using Spyder and Printfix has made the display match the printed pictures to the satisfaction of the artist. Can't ask for anything more.

You people are just the best. Thank you for your thoughtful input. I'm a photographer and have used Macs since the Mac Plus days. I've gone through many a Macs since.

I'm not a real techie, but I do manage to make really nice photographs using all of the technology.

As far as this new monitor is concerned I do calibrate my monitors using a Spyder, but Chuck M's comment make me think that maybe it's time to upgrade to the X-Rite Eye One.

The selection basically is doing the smart thing within a budget. Photographers not only have to deal with all of the camera related gear, but we also have to keep up with the computer world. It's challenging, but always interesting and fun (when all is working right that is).

Thank you for the education and tips this week.
If I had the money I would probably just get the Apple 30" which is probably the easy choice, but camera bodies, lenses, etc.....it's a balancing act at times.

All the best,

Michael

Michael,

If you go for the X-Rite Eye One, the LT model does not help you with luminance - you want the Display 2 model for this (approx $200). The similar-function Spyder3 Elite runs about the same.

Depending on your location, you might find a MacGroup member who could assist in profiling your new monitor.