This article aims to give guidance to photographers and Photoshop users who are looking to buy a new LCD monitor.
First written 2008, most recently updated April 2011.
There's no need to spend more than you can afford
The top-of-the-range professional monitors are amazing quality, with a price tag to match. I'd love to own the 30" Eizo ColorEdge 303W, but at around AU$6500, it ain't gonna happen!
If you are lucky enough to have plenty of money, you should head straight for the Eizo and NEC websites. These two brands are widely regarded as the best available in Australia.
Most of us have to settle for a monitor that suits our needs, at a price we can afford. Fortunately, this is quite possible. The trouble is, you have to interpret and ignore a lot of marketing hype when looking at specifications.
Budget constraints - Size versus quality
If you have a budget in mind, whether it's $400 or $1400, you'll invariably face a choice: big monitor of average quality, or smaller monitor of better quality.
I would encourage you to choose the latter. Better to have a smaller monitor which produces good results, than a magnificent big monitor which shows different colours every time you move your head.
Which brings me to my main buying tip ...
Panel type: IPS
Broadly speaking, there are three types of screen - TN, PVA and IPS.
TN panels are the most common, and are utterly awful for digital imaging, because of their poor viewing angles. They look lighter or darker depending on where your head is. This makes photographic work impossible.
PVA are moderately good panels, but seem to be disappearing now, as IPS panels become more affordable.
IPS (In-Plane Switching - I've got no idea what it means!) are the bee's knees. Their viewing angles are fantastic, and that makes all the difference.
For a while, IPS panels were rare and expensive, but in the last few years manufacturers like Dell and HP have joined the IPS market, and there are some excellent monitors available at great prices.
There is really no excuse for an imaging enthusiast not to have an IPS screen nowadays. If you're serious enough to be reading this article, you're serious enough to want a good screen.
It's unlikely that you'll be able to buy an IPS screen off the shelf, so you'll need to search online. All online stores should have "Panel Type" as one of the technical specifications. If it's an IPS panel, the site will definitely say so.
Gloss vs Matte
If at all possible, you should buy a matte screen. Shiny gloss screens look sexy, but the reflections will drive you crazy.
Reminder: The importance of calibration
No matter what monitor you get, it's likely to be too bright and too blue when you first turn it on.
If you are serious enough about your images to be reading this article, you MUST get your monitor calibrated. You can't possibly hope for satisfactory printing from an uncalibrated display.
A note about wide-gamut monitors
As you go up in the price range, you'll find some wide-gamut monitors. This means that they are capable of showing more vivid colours than the average monitor.
If you can afford one of these, go for it! But the need for proper calibration becomes even more important, as these monitors will make your photos look pretty wild unless calibrated.
If you have a wide-gamut monitor, and are purchasing a monitor calibration device, make sure the device is wide-gamut-capable. Most of the new devices are ok, but if you are buying a second hand (eg earlier generation) calibrator, check carefully to make sure it suits your monitor.
Finally, a note about CRT monitors
Traditionalists will tell you that CRT monitors are still better than LCD monitors.
Let's not get too misty-eyed for the days of old. Yes, the good CRT monitors were very very good, but just like today, the cheap ones were pretty ordinary.
If you can find a professional-quality CRT for sale second-hand, you might consider buying it. But let's face it, they are big and heavy, they emit radiation, they strain your eyes, and they will die a slow death over time.
Much better to get yourself a new LCD, and enjoy all the extra space on your desk!
If you have a question about this article, or any Photoshop question, please visit me at my "Ask Damien" Facebook page.
All content © Damien Symonds 2012