Curved Monitor & Photo Editing

[Griff X]

Hi all,

I am currently looking for a larger and updated monitor for some photo editing. There are a few curved monitors out there that seemed interesting but based on some causal google search it appears that the curved screen could distort the lines in the photos, making it difficult for us to level / line up the pictures properly, especially for wide panos. Can anyone share their experience please?

Thanks very much!

 

[jba6]

Hi Griff,

I've been using a Samsung SD590C 27inch curved monitor since July. During that time there's only been a couple of photos where I've been aware that the curved screen has affected the visual appearance of, in my case, some building outlines. For all my other shots the curve of the screen has not had a noticeable effect. What has surprised me is how stable this monitor is with regard to it's colour rendition. I haven't used any hardware calibration but I do routinely check the monitor using Calibrize (I'm running on Windows 8.1). After allowing the monitor to warm up for 15mins when I first connected it and switched it on, I adjusted the RGB gammas using Calibrize. On every run since it has not been necessary to change the Calibrize settings at all. All the other monitors I've had previously have needed small adjustments in Calibrize for pretty much every photo editing session. As well as using Calibrize I also check the monitor using SMPTE and IT8 test cards both of which look perfect to me and match extremely the hard copy prints I've made.

With regard to other "work" on the PC this monitor is superb for watching DVDs and Blu-Rays and full screen YouTube videos.

I hope that helps,
JB

 

[skyglider]

Hi all,

I am currently looking for a larger and updated monitor for some photo editing. There are a few curved monitors out there that seemed interesting but based on some causal google search it appears that the curved screen could distort the lines in the photos, making it difficult for us to level / line up the pictures properly, especially for wide panos. Can anyone share their experience please?

Thanks very much!

I don't have a curved monitor but, aside from what you already mentioned above, here's 3 other reasons why I wouldn't buy one:

1. When I want to share images on the monitor with my wife or friends, they would have a degraded view of the side of the screen that is closest to them.
2. Sometimes I teach a friend how do to something on the PC while they are at our home. Sometimes they will ask me to turn the monitor a bit toward them for a better view using my flat screen monitor. A curved monitor would be counterproductive for those times.
3. Occasionally, I've wanted to measure some things on the screen for various reasons. A curved monitor would be detrimental to those efforts.

Maybe a curved monitor would not have a "big" effect on the above but those are my thoughts for what it's worth.

Sky

 

[buybuybuy]

In my experience, most people who buy "big" 27'' or 34'' curved monitors can't afford a good flat 4K monitor. This is a very foolish thing to do because the curve offers no benefits whatsoever.

It is a flat-out gimmick.

 

[guido1953]

In my experience, most people who buy "big" 27'' or 34'' curved monitors can't afford a good flat 4K monitor. This is a very foolish thing to do because the curve offers no benefits whatsoever.

It is a flat-out gimmick.

Aren't the curved screens more expensive in monitors? I know they are in televisions.

 

[buybuybuy]

In my experience, most people who buy "big" 27'' or 34'' curved monitors can't afford a good flat 4K monitor. This is a very foolish thing to do because the curve offers no benefits whatsoever.

It is a flat-out gimmick.

Aren't the curved screens more expensive in monitors? I know they are in televisions.

There are 34'' Dell and LG curved screens for <$700. I know of no similarly-sized flat 4K monitors for that price.

 

[guido1953]

In my experience, most people who buy "big" 27'' or 34'' curved monitors can't afford a good flat 4K monitor. This is a very foolish thing to do because the curve offers no benefits whatsoever.

It is a flat-out gimmick.

Aren't the curved screens more expensive in monitors? I know they are in televisions.

There are 34'' Dell and LG curved screens for <$700. I know of no similarly-sized flat 4K monitors for that price.

Perhaps lack of demand is impacting the curved screens price down.

 

[malch]

I don't think straightening/leveling most photographs with a curved monitor would be much of a problem. Having said that, I don't see any advantages at all to a curved display.

OTOH, I think it would be really hard to make complex perspective adjustments (e.g. as in architectural photography) using such a device. I would definitely give it a miss for such applications.

 

[RedFox88]

In my experience, most people who buy "big" 27'' or 34'' curved monitors can't afford a good flat 4K monitor. This is a very foolish thing to do because the curve offers no benefits whatsoever.

It is a flat-out gimmick.

The advantage is to have the viewer's eyes equidistant from all of the screen instead of each side being further away similar to a curved image sensor design concept that's been rumored.

 

[buybuybuy]

In my experience, most people who buy "big" 27'' or 34'' curved monitors can't afford a good flat 4K monitor. This is a very foolish thing to do because the curve offers no benefits whatsoever.

It is a flat-out gimmick.

The advantage is to have the viewer's eyes equidistant from all of the screen instead of each side being further away similar to a curved image sensor design concept that's been rumored.

A valid point--which would be true if the screen's radius of curvature equals the observer's distance from the screen.

Here's a very involved article on curved displays: http://informationdisplay.org/IDArchive/2014/NovemberDecember/OpinionCurvedDisplayImpression.aspx

 

[sacentre]

Hi all,

I am currently looking for a larger and updated monitor for some photo editing. There are a few curved monitors out there that seemed interesting but based on some causal google search it appears that the curved screen could distort the lines in the photos, making it difficult for us to level / line up the pictures properly, especially for wide panos. Can anyone share their experience please?

Thanks very much!

My advice is don't bother but whatever display you get, get at least a 4K IPS display. If you are coming from 2.5K (2560x1440) res or lower, the difference in sharpness and detail you will see in your existing images will blow you away. I was stunned by how much extra detail I was seeing compared to my old 2.5K Dell even from images I shot years ago on a Sony 5MP camera.

 

[GodSpeaks]

It's a gimmick, plain and simple.

 

[guido1953]

Sure hope you can take advantage of the sale. NUC's for $140.00 and you can get 6 months same as cash!! These are made by Gigabyte.

Best Regards,

Guido

PS. Live your dreams malch.

 

[Griff X]

Hi all,

Thank you for the responses. I am always skeptical about curved monitors and obviously I am not alone. Although I am not against buying a curved monitor if there are financial incentives, the question remains regarding distortion issues regarding photo editing.

Recently I was asked to look into curved monitors, to which I responded with my issue with potential distortion. Then I was told there is no distortion on curved screens. I remain unconvinced, however, and hence the question on the forum.

 

[skyglider]

Hi all,

Thank you for the responses. I am always skeptical about curved monitors and obviously I am not alone. Although I am not against buying a curved monitor if there are financial incentives, the question remains regarding distortion issues regarding photo editing.

Recently I was asked to look into curved monitors, to which I responded with my issue with potential distortion. Then I was told there is no distortion on curved screens. I remain unconvinced, however, and hence the question on the forum.

One other viewpoint. If you share your edited images with others, my view is to have a screen like they will have. That means a flat screen with the SRGB color space.

$.03,
Sky

 

[Ten Years After]

Hi all,

I am currently looking for a larger and updated monitor for some photo editing. There are a few curved monitors out there that seemed interesting but based on some causal google search it appears that the curved screen could distort the lines in the photos, making it difficult for us to level / line up the pictures properly, especially for wide panos. Can anyone share their experience please?

Thanks very much!

hello griff:

We recently purchased an upper tier Samsung 65 inch Curved screen 4K TV. It is a jaw dropping experience.

I would have no problems at all checking out and purchasing a curved screen monitor.

Alvin Lee

 

[Ten Years After]

Hi all,

Thank you for the responses. I am always skeptical about curved monitors and obviously I am not alone. Although I am not against buying a curved monitor if there are financial incentives, the question remains regarding distortion issues regarding photo editing.

Recently I was asked to look into curved monitors, to which I responded with my issue with potential distortion. Then I was told there is no distortion on curved screens. I remain unconvinced, however, and hence the question on the forum.

One other viewpoint. If you share your edited images with others, my view is to have a screen like they will have. That means a flat screen with the SRGB color space.

$.03,
Sky

hello skyglider:

IMO, it does not make any difference. I think an image on your flat screen will be the same as on another persons curved screen. There will be a big difference if one of the screens was 4K.

Alvin Lee

 

[Griff X]

I certainly hope it is true, because the last thing we want is we think a line is straight in our curved screen and then on someone else flat monitor it turned out the line was not.

Hi all,

Thank you for the responses. I am always skeptical about curved monitors and obviously I am not alone. Although I am not against buying a curved monitor if there are financial incentives, the question remains regarding distortion issues regarding photo editing.

Recently I was asked to look into curved monitors, to which I responded with my issue with potential distortion. Then I was told there is no distortion on curved screens. I remain unconvinced, however, and hence the question on the forum.

One other viewpoint. If you share your edited images with others, my view is to have a screen like they will have. That means a flat screen with the SRGB color space.

$.03,
Sky

hello skyglider:

IMO, it does not make any difference. I think an image on your flat screen will be the same as on another persons curved screen. There will be a big difference if one of the screens was 4K.

Alvin Lee

 

[Ten Years After]

I certainly hope it is true, because the last thing we want is we think a line is straight in our curved screen and then on someone else flat monitor it turned out the line was not.

Hi all,

Thank you for the responses. I am always skeptical about curved monitors and obviously I am not alone. Although I am not against buying a curved monitor if there are financial incentives, the question remains regarding distortion issues regarding photo editing.

Recently I was asked to look into curved monitors, to which I responded with my issue with potential distortion. Then I was told there is no distortion on curved screens. I remain unconvinced, however, and hence the question on the forum.

One other viewpoint. If you share your edited images with others, my view is to have a screen like they will have. That means a flat screen with the SRGB color space.

$.03,
Sky

hello skyglider:

IMO, it does not make any difference. I think an image on your flat screen will be the same as on another persons curved screen. There will be a big difference if one of the screens was 4K.

Alvin Lee

Hi Griff X:

The picture on our curved screen TV is no different then the 60 inch flat screen in the other room. There is a HUGE quality difference due to 4K on the new set.

Here is a suggestion for you. Head over to the local Best Buy and check out these screens for a first hand impression .

FWIW I use a 4K 32 inch monitor.

Alvin Lee

 

[Kaj E]

A curved monitor is not suitable for photo editing as long as you have planar sensors on the cameras. The will just give you distorted images.