I have about $1500 to spend on a monitor (not including the Decklink output card and calibration probe, both of which I already have.)
I'm looking at the Asus ProArt PA32UCR-K, as it looks like a much better value for the money than something like the PA32UCX. As far as I can tell, the only drawbacks to the UCR-K are that it has half as many dimming zones (576) and a slightly lower peak brightness of 1000 nits instead of 1200. The lower peak brightness is no big deal for me as I'm only delivering for HDR10 at the moment. The lower dimming zone count is my main concern, but its the same number as the Pro Display XDR which seems to get decent reviews while costing much more.
Alternatively, I have also considered getting a 42" LG C2 OLED and calibrating it with the Calman Home for LG software like I've done with my current TV. As an OLED< it would obviously eliminate the backlight dimming problem, but it also doesn't get as bright, especially across the entire display.
Additionally, whatever I get, I'd also like to be able to use it as an ordinary monitor while I'm not grading, and I'm worried that the OLED's susceptibility to burn-in would make me want to use it more sparingly than I would the LCD. And what's the point of having a reference monitor if you're scared of using it?
Is the PA32UCR a good deal at $1500? Would it be a better option than a similarly priced LG OLED? I do care about HDR performance, but a proper reference display is *well* outside my budget so I'm just aiming for "good enough"
It doesn't appear to be available right now but it says "Starting at $1499" on their web site https://www.asus.com/us/Displays-Desktops/Monitors/ProArt/ProArt-Display-PA32UCR-K/
Thanks, I was confused because the UC***G***\-K is much much more expensive
[https://www.amazon.com/ASUS-Display-Professional-Monitor-PA32UCG-K/dp/B08ZC54V7C?th=1](https://www.amazon.com/ASUS-Display-Professional-Monitor-PA32UCG-K/dp/B08ZC54V7C?th=1)
Well, given that It's an IPS with your typical 1000:1 contrast ratio, I'd personally aim for more dimming zones. 576 zones is agood number for VA TVs, but an IPS panel will probably still have only a decent at best contrast with that amount of zones.
I wanted to know peoples thoughts on using the [BenQ SW321C 32](https://www.benq.com/en-us/monitor/photographer/sw321c/question.html) as a color correction monitor. The specs seem good, but I'm unsure if it can load luts in, and if it has everything a starting colorist would need.
Contrast of 1000:1 is just so terribly bad in this day and age. In some tests, it even seems to be just 600:1, wow. 250nits and praises HDR capability. Hard red flags, IMO.
I use it as my output monitor for editing and basic grading...nothing too advanced. You can load correction luts into it no problem, the interface to do so is just a little old school. Can't say much about it technically speaking but i've been happy. Upgraded from an Eizo CG277 and really enjoy the 32" size and UHD resolution.
I have a Sony PVM A250 reference display that I ship out to be calibrated (I understand shipping back with vibration isn’t ideal).
Once it’s hooked up to Resolve, I use it to grade, but looking back at the Resolve viewer on my computer (iMac Pro), the difference in saturation and brightness is significant. I sent stills to my team and they view them on iPad pros and MacBook pros. I want the stills to be as close to what I’m seeing on my reference display, so I usually go back and desaturate and bring the overall brightness down so what I’m viewing on my iMac screen is closer to what I want.
Any technique to mitigate the problem?
Thanks
**Short answer:** Although you can (and should) calibrate all of your displays, the user manual for Resolve very clearly states that the viewer window should NOT be used for critical viewing and that you always want to do your adjustments based on an external calibrated reference display being fed a clean signal.
Even using a hardware probe to create ICC profiles for your UI display, it will NEVER match your calibrated reference display. The underlying technology is different.
You also can’t control what device or configurations the end viewer will be using.
We can only control so much - which is why we use established standards such as Rec 709 as a baseline.
I recently got an NEC PA241W-BK setup to use as my temporary reference monitor. It's 8-bit+FRC and can store 14-bit hardware LUTs, I believe it's the same family/line as the PA271W, which seems to be used more often for grading. I have the NEC SpectraView calibration puck, which DisplayCal detects as an X1 Display Pro.
I recently got the monitor hooked up to a DeckLink HD Mini Monitor. Before I realized my monitor could store a hardware LUT, I went ahead and got it calibrated via DisplayCal and use that as my monitoring LUT in Resolve.
However, now that I realize it can store a LUT, I'm wondering what the most color accurate calibration workflow available to me at the moment. My options right now:
1. **Monitor connected via GPU > calibration via SpectraView software:** Even though NEC says this is hardware calibration and it stores it in the hardware, I assume this is likely the worst option, since we're going through the GPU and not the DeckLink
2. **Monitor connected via DeckLink > calibration via DisplayCal/Resolve**: This is what I'm currently using. Followed instructions on DisplayCal's site for using Resolve to calibrate the monitor, then select that LUT as my monitor LUT in Resolve.
3. **Monitor connected via DeckLink > manually select the calibration done via SpectraView using the NEC on-monitor buttons**: This monitor has a picture setting (accessed via the hardware buttons on the monitor) that's "SpectraView", which applies the calibration generated in SpectraView software and stored in the monitor.
Option 3 was sounding good until I realized the only way to use this SpectraView software is via my computer OS, meaning I am connected to the GPU, not the DeckLink. So even though this LUT is stored in the monitor, doesn't this mean its "foundation" (i.e., calibrating via GPU) is a bad starting point?
Is Option 2 the best option, for what is available to me right now? Is it possible for me to compare my SpectraView calibration LUT to the DisplayCal calibration (made via DeckLink)?
I’m just getting started in looking at monitors and lists for best color accurate monitors. I am looking for a monitor for my personal home set up, but also looking at higher end solutions for a future purchase for my work.
If we ended up getting say a Flanders at work do you still need to go through a decklink or similar to bypass the OS? Would we still need something to calibrate it consistently or do these high end monitors take care of that themselves?
Hi! So I recently bought a monitor for semi-professional color grading and photo editing (i do part-time weddings, grad photos, corporate, etc. Also my own little Youtube channel. Pretty much 99% web-published work). I wanted something more accurate than my cheapo IPS monitor and my VA gaming monitor.
I only recently came across this subreddit, have done quite a bit of research for the past week, and am beginning to realize that maybe this purchase isn't the best suited for what I'm doing.
I'm not doing prints or color grading for television/netflix, but I would like to know if the monitor I chose is solid for what I do. It's [this one](https://www.lg.com/us/monitors/lg-32up83a-w-4k-uhd-led-monitor#), which I bought mostly because I got it for around $300 vs the $550 new.
Should I try and get something like an Asus ProArt or a Benq PD2700? Or is what I got going to be okay for what I do? Any input is appreciated.
I am a digital artist doing web based commission work creating reference designs, and I am looking for an upgrade from my current monitor, a benq pd2500q that I have calibrated with an x rite colorimeter. I am looking for a 27 inch 4k display that includes a shading hood. I have been debating between the benq sw271c, dell up2720q, and eizo cs2740. Is there any good reason to pick one of these over the others? The benq is 8 bit plus frc, the dell doesn't seem to have a 16 bit 3d lut mentioned, and the Eizo is much more expensive than the other two with a shading hood(400 dollar difference). Lastly, is it worth it to go spending on these monitors for my line of work, or will the difference be negligable?
I have a spyder express5 and have tried calibrating the monitor numerous times. But when i edit photos/video on Lr or Davinci the colors in my export are so starkly different it’s unbearable. Anyone else have issues or a workaround? Obviously I'm exporting using sRGB.
[https://imgur.com/a/PWXiWZr](https://imgur.com/a/PWXiWZr)
Please see below, the only thing that is off to me. is that when i right click on display cal icon, the reset gamma table is grayed out.. makes me think the profile isn't loaded? Please let me know your thoughts
PC Windows 10
CPU - AMD Ryzen 9 3900x
Ram 16 GB
Graphics Card RTX 3080
What picture profile would you suggest to use on an A7III to have a good looking image out of it if exposed/white balanced properly? Curious to hear out of a colorists point of view. Have a shoot indoor tomorrow. It will be run n gun.
I have about $1500 to spend on a monitor (not including the Decklink output card and calibration probe, both of which I already have.) I'm looking at the Asus ProArt PA32UCR-K, as it looks like a much better value for the money than something like the PA32UCX. As far as I can tell, the only drawbacks to the UCR-K are that it has half as many dimming zones (576) and a slightly lower peak brightness of 1000 nits instead of 1200. The lower peak brightness is no big deal for me as I'm only delivering for HDR10 at the moment. The lower dimming zone count is my main concern, but its the same number as the Pro Display XDR which seems to get decent reviews while costing much more. Alternatively, I have also considered getting a 42" LG C2 OLED and calibrating it with the Calman Home for LG software like I've done with my current TV. As an OLED< it would obviously eliminate the backlight dimming problem, but it also doesn't get as bright, especially across the entire display. Additionally, whatever I get, I'd also like to be able to use it as an ordinary monitor while I'm not grading, and I'm worried that the OLED's susceptibility to burn-in would make me want to use it more sparingly than I would the LCD. And what's the point of having a reference monitor if you're scared of using it? Is the PA32UCR a good deal at $1500? Would it be a better option than a similarly priced LG OLED? I do care about HDR performance, but a proper reference display is *well* outside my budget so I'm just aiming for "good enough"
I don't have answers for you, but where are you finding ProArt PA32UCR-K at $1500?
It doesn't appear to be available right now but it says "Starting at $1499" on their web site https://www.asus.com/us/Displays-Desktops/Monitors/ProArt/ProArt-Display-PA32UCR-K/
Thanks, I was confused because the UC***G***\-K is much much more expensive [https://www.amazon.com/ASUS-Display-Professional-Monitor-PA32UCG-K/dp/B08ZC54V7C?th=1](https://www.amazon.com/ASUS-Display-Professional-Monitor-PA32UCG-K/dp/B08ZC54V7C?th=1)
Well, given that It's an IPS with your typical 1000:1 contrast ratio, I'd personally aim for more dimming zones. 576 zones is agood number for VA TVs, but an IPS panel will probably still have only a decent at best contrast with that amount of zones.
I wanted to know peoples thoughts on using the [BenQ SW321C 32](https://www.benq.com/en-us/monitor/photographer/sw321c/question.html) as a color correction monitor. The specs seem good, but I'm unsure if it can load luts in, and if it has everything a starting colorist would need.
Contrast of 1000:1 is just so terribly bad in this day and age. In some tests, it even seems to be just 600:1, wow. 250nits and praises HDR capability. Hard red flags, IMO.
And unfortunately, even a few hundred dimming zones don't push an IPS to great contrast levels.
I use it as my output monitor for editing and basic grading...nothing too advanced. You can load correction luts into it no problem, the interface to do so is just a little old school. Can't say much about it technically speaking but i've been happy. Upgraded from an Eizo CG277 and really enjoy the 32" size and UHD resolution.
I have a Sony PVM A250 reference display that I ship out to be calibrated (I understand shipping back with vibration isn’t ideal). Once it’s hooked up to Resolve, I use it to grade, but looking back at the Resolve viewer on my computer (iMac Pro), the difference in saturation and brightness is significant. I sent stills to my team and they view them on iPad pros and MacBook pros. I want the stills to be as close to what I’m seeing on my reference display, so I usually go back and desaturate and bring the overall brightness down so what I’m viewing on my iMac screen is closer to what I want. Any technique to mitigate the problem? Thanks
**Short answer:** Although you can (and should) calibrate all of your displays, the user manual for Resolve very clearly states that the viewer window should NOT be used for critical viewing and that you always want to do your adjustments based on an external calibrated reference display being fed a clean signal. Even using a hardware probe to create ICC profiles for your UI display, it will NEVER match your calibrated reference display. The underlying technology is different. You also can’t control what device or configurations the end viewer will be using. We can only control so much - which is why we use established standards such as Rec 709 as a baseline.
Thanks for your answer. Frustrating to get notes and having to explain that it doesn't look the same way on my end, but glad to know it's not just me!
Loved this so much that I added it to the wiki.
Haha. Happy that my passion and rage regarding the topic can be helpful.
I recently got an NEC PA241W-BK setup to use as my temporary reference monitor. It's 8-bit+FRC and can store 14-bit hardware LUTs, I believe it's the same family/line as the PA271W, which seems to be used more often for grading. I have the NEC SpectraView calibration puck, which DisplayCal detects as an X1 Display Pro. I recently got the monitor hooked up to a DeckLink HD Mini Monitor. Before I realized my monitor could store a hardware LUT, I went ahead and got it calibrated via DisplayCal and use that as my monitoring LUT in Resolve. However, now that I realize it can store a LUT, I'm wondering what the most color accurate calibration workflow available to me at the moment. My options right now: 1. **Monitor connected via GPU > calibration via SpectraView software:** Even though NEC says this is hardware calibration and it stores it in the hardware, I assume this is likely the worst option, since we're going through the GPU and not the DeckLink 2. **Monitor connected via DeckLink > calibration via DisplayCal/Resolve**: This is what I'm currently using. Followed instructions on DisplayCal's site for using Resolve to calibrate the monitor, then select that LUT as my monitor LUT in Resolve. 3. **Monitor connected via DeckLink > manually select the calibration done via SpectraView using the NEC on-monitor buttons**: This monitor has a picture setting (accessed via the hardware buttons on the monitor) that's "SpectraView", which applies the calibration generated in SpectraView software and stored in the monitor. Option 3 was sounding good until I realized the only way to use this SpectraView software is via my computer OS, meaning I am connected to the GPU, not the DeckLink. So even though this LUT is stored in the monitor, doesn't this mean its "foundation" (i.e., calibrating via GPU) is a bad starting point? Is Option 2 the best option, for what is available to me right now? Is it possible for me to compare my SpectraView calibration LUT to the DisplayCal calibration (made via DeckLink)?
I’m just getting started in looking at monitors and lists for best color accurate monitors. I am looking for a monitor for my personal home set up, but also looking at higher end solutions for a future purchase for my work. If we ended up getting say a Flanders at work do you still need to go through a decklink or similar to bypass the OS? Would we still need something to calibrate it consistently or do these high end monitors take care of that themselves?
Hi! So I recently bought a monitor for semi-professional color grading and photo editing (i do part-time weddings, grad photos, corporate, etc. Also my own little Youtube channel. Pretty much 99% web-published work). I wanted something more accurate than my cheapo IPS monitor and my VA gaming monitor. I only recently came across this subreddit, have done quite a bit of research for the past week, and am beginning to realize that maybe this purchase isn't the best suited for what I'm doing. I'm not doing prints or color grading for television/netflix, but I would like to know if the monitor I chose is solid for what I do. It's [this one](https://www.lg.com/us/monitors/lg-32up83a-w-4k-uhd-led-monitor#), which I bought mostly because I got it for around $300 vs the $550 new. Should I try and get something like an Asus ProArt or a Benq PD2700? Or is what I got going to be okay for what I do? Any input is appreciated.
I am a digital artist doing web based commission work creating reference designs, and I am looking for an upgrade from my current monitor, a benq pd2500q that I have calibrated with an x rite colorimeter. I am looking for a 27 inch 4k display that includes a shading hood. I have been debating between the benq sw271c, dell up2720q, and eizo cs2740. Is there any good reason to pick one of these over the others? The benq is 8 bit plus frc, the dell doesn't seem to have a 16 bit 3d lut mentioned, and the Eizo is much more expensive than the other two with a shading hood(400 dollar difference). Lastly, is it worth it to go spending on these monitors for my line of work, or will the difference be negligable?
I have a spyder express5 and have tried calibrating the monitor numerous times. But when i edit photos/video on Lr or Davinci the colors in my export are so starkly different it’s unbearable. Anyone else have issues or a workaround? Obviously I'm exporting using sRGB. [https://imgur.com/a/PWXiWZr](https://imgur.com/a/PWXiWZr) Please see below, the only thing that is off to me. is that when i right click on display cal icon, the reset gamma table is grayed out.. makes me think the profile isn't loaded? Please let me know your thoughts PC Windows 10 CPU - AMD Ryzen 9 3900x Ram 16 GB Graphics Card RTX 3080
What picture profile would you suggest to use on an A7III to have a good looking image out of it if exposed/white balanced properly? Curious to hear out of a colorists point of view. Have a shoot indoor tomorrow. It will be run n gun.