I need some help trying to understand monitors and calibration

[JScherer75]

Hello all,

I am a deep diver and always researching something but have been completely confused by trying to research monitors. I like to game from time to time beyond photo editing so I prefer at least 120Hz refresh rate. The monitor I bought is kind of midrange on purpose as I was also building a PC at the time and could not completely break the budget.

That monitor is a Gigabyte M32U 4k monitor that I have calibrated with a Calibrite Colorchecker Display Plus to a delta E of 0.48 as of yesterday and 100 candela brightness. The contrast is topped at 977 to 1. I am trying to figure two things out:

1. Am I missing anything over an upgraded monitor? OLED, or hardware calibrated as I will say more about momentarily.

2. As im trying to use this for gaming and semi-professional photo work I cannot find good information on how critical a BenQ, Eizo, or other hardware calibrated monitor is to good photo editing, is it really that big of a jump from a well software calibrated monitor? I'm trying to establish this as those monitors at 60hz cannot be used for gaming and so it will require two monitors for sure as opposed to one, but maybe that is the best solution? These hardware calibrated displays are really expensive though, WELL above any of the top-end gaming displays.

Im having a hard time finding good information on all of this and I wanted to ask here. I understand that calibration is critical for photo and color work, but I have done that and have been much happier with the results after I learned that, but it seems with some research there is MORE out there, specifically the high end hardware calibrated monitors and I am trying to figure out if I'm missing something, if I have great photo equipment I figure I shouldn't cheap out on having the best monitor I can, but maybe I won't gain much?

I feel like I am primarily looking at something like the BenQ SW321C ($1900) for the high-end hardware calibration, and trying to compare that to the high refresh rate and reported very high color accuracy 4k gaming displays like the Samsung Odyssey Neo G8 S32BG85 or the Alienware AW3225QF (Which right now you can buy both for the same price as the BenQ, wow!)

 

[BobKnDP]

I can't advise you on the benefits of a professional monitor, as compared to one sold for gaming.

However, here's a note on terminology, as used by people experienced in color management (not me):

Profiling is generating an ICC profile that color-managed software in the PC uses to adjust data sent to the monitor. It is specific to a single PC.

Calibration is making adjustments to the monitor itself. With a professional monitor, that involves writing data to an LUT (lookup table) in the monitor. That may require proprietary software. Calibration can travel with the monitor. It affects colors for all apps, including those which are not color managed.

(I had to do a little "calibration" to get good results in profiling my OLED monitor. I had to adjust the brightness and the RGB gains.)

Presumably, calibrating a display with a 14 bit LUT gives the best possible dynamic range. Whether this is relevant to most users, I can't say.

 

[Billiam29]

Regarding your semi-pro photo work, what sort of printing are you doing, if any?

IMO, the “more” that may be out there with higher end monitors are typically their coverage and accuracy for color gamuts larger than sRGB. If you don’t produce printed output of your photos that extends beyond sRGB, then there’s probably an argument to be made that you really don’t have a need for this wide gamut performance.

In addition to the wide gamut capabilities, higher end pro displays may also potentially have more uniform brightness and contrast across the entirety of their panels. Personally I kind of view this as a bonus that will come along with monitors that primarily provide the “pro-oriented” wide gamut preformance. As long as you’re not routinely making color-critical image edits on the outer-most 15% of your monitor, then my opinion is that there are probably plenty of “non-pro” monitors with decent enough brightness/contrast uniformity for image editing.

When I first equipped myself for photo work I did so with an NEC PA series wide gamut monitor with its own hardware calibration capabilities. You know what? It proved to be a waste because I ended up never printing anything other than a small quantity of images via sRGB-based online labs. Yes, I could create a ProPhoto document in Photoshop, fill a selection with pure 255,0,0 and marvel at how it was so unbelievably red that it felt like it was going to blow a hole out the back of your head while looking at it. But that was it. The performance of the NEC never actually served a purpose for me. When the NEC died, I replaced it with a well reviewed sRGB-based Dell Ultrasharp.

 

[BobKnDP]

A small specific comment: my current primary monitor is a Philips 27E1N8900 (27" JOLED). 60Hz max refresh.

I've been through a number of IPS displays, including an Asus PA329c (true 10 bit, 14 bit LUT). The OLED shows less brightness and color shift due to angle of incidence effects than any of the IPS displays. The Asus has minor issues with at on the edges at what I used as a viewing distance (24", 60 cm).

I've had the OLED for about 11 months. No burn-in or image retention so far. (Touch wood.)

 

[JScherer75]

Thanks guys these are awesome responses. First off, sorry for the misused terms, it’s all a bit confusing.

second, this is my website:

joeschererphoto.com

its SmugMug and I have been very impressed with the printing quality they offer and I am planning on sticking with them for quite a while. That’s where I do all my printing, I don’t do any on my own. I certainly think, although I can ask and confirm that they are sRGB and I know I talked to them and started to get really good results when I went to 100 candela brightness also.

Both of your responses have made me think that a high quality gaming monitor that’s profiled/calibrated is a good way to go. I was very confused before your responses!

This new LG OLED that can switch from 240Hz 4k to 480Hz 1080p is pretty wild, that really is the two monitors I’d use for fast gaming and editing in one.

 

[bmoag]

I do not think short answers on this forum will suffice.

I recommend you look at the videos linked to digitaldog.net or on his Youtube site to try to better understand digital color management.

 

[CBR1100XX]

OLED would be better for gaming but you have a pretty good monitor in many respects.

https://www.rtings.com/monitor/reviews/gigabyte/m32u

Based on those results the higher color accuracy of a more focused photo monitor could help if you work in AdobeRGB. But even then you're paying a ton of money for that last little bit in terms of performance. The monitor you got while mid range in price actually has a pretty good panel. Gigabyte usually offers more for your money in this field.

In your position I'd use the Gigabyte and wait for another generation or 2 of OLED to come out and then go for that.

 

[Jack Calypso]

Remember, there's more to a monitor than just color accuracy. I have a dual monitor setup, with a Dell Ultrsharp that has noticeably uneven illumination compared with the mid-range Eizo next to it.

 

[BobKnDP]

Luminance ("brightness") is typically specified in candela per square meter.

Candela per square metre - Wikipedia

Most of us just say nits, though, despite the unpleasant connotation. ;-)

100 nits is a commonly recommended luminance.

 

[SC489]

Also consider what colour temperature to calibrate to and ensure you view prints using a lamp having the same colour temperature as the monitor calibration. FWIW I calibrate to 500K at 90 Cd/m2.

 

[NickZ2016]

its SmugMug and I have been very impressed with the printing quality they offer and I am planning on sticking with them for quite a while. That’s where I do all my printing,

Then I'd personally suggest calibrating your print process and not worrying about the monitor.

Let me put it this way. If your monitor shows grass being pink but it prints a perfect green no reason to worry about your monitor. Okay that's an extreme example to get the point across.

There are devices other there to get your monitor and print in sync. Xrite has some for example

One more thing. When it comes to high end colour monitors you can go down a really deep rabbit hole. All the way to Flander and their monitors. Don't try and convince yourself that just a little better is what you need. There is always something a little better. All the way up to the $20k+ flanders. Unless the prints are substandard be happy and keep your money.