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Apple Screens / 3rd Party Monitor Discrepancies

childoftheko4n

childoftheko4n

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Oct 18, 2011
276
88
Hey All,

I have traditionally edited on a 5k iMac and loved the experience. Whether it was perfectly calibrated or not, a different story probably; but everything was consistent from my iMac to my iPhone and iPad. Now I am currently editing primarily on a windows desktop with a (non) photography monitor. Aside from the color grading being slightly off as I would expect until I get a professional grade editing monitor; I can't get over how much more punchy, contrast, and just..better my final images look on Apple devices.

Are the Apple devices by nature cranking up the contrast and saturation in a non natural way for end user? I want to grab an editing monitor but I see that in only helping with color accuracy, not the overall finish product.

Anyone have any similar experience? Maybe editing on a MBP and it looking completely different plugged into a monitor or something. Im torn between getting a dedicated editing monitor and another mac strictly for the editing side of things >.<
 
childoftheko4n said:
Hey All,

I have traditionally edited on a 5k iMac and loved the experience. Whether it was perfectly calibrated or not, a different story probably; but everything was consistent from my iMac to my iPhone and iPad. Now I am currently editing primarily on a windows desktop with a (non) photography monitor. Aside from the color grading being slightly off as I would expect until I get a professional grade editing monitor; I can't get over how much more punchy, contrast, and just..better my final images look on Apple devices.

Are the Apple devices by nature cranking up the contrast and saturation in a non natural way for end user? I want to grab an editing monitor but I see that in only helping with color accuracy, not the overall finish product.

Anyone have any similar experience? Maybe editing on a MBP and it looking completely different plugged into a monitor or something. Im torn between getting a dedicated editing monitor and another mac strictly for the editing side of things >.<
Click to expand...
100% the default on Apple screens is more saturation and brightness than is correct. If your final output is web only. You might be fine with that look. However even then you might reduce saturation in post to make it look correct on your screen (which will make it look washed out on mine). If you attempt to print these images the normal problem is your images will come out dark.
Basically you can’t trust your eyes. Always calibrate your screen. If your serious about colour, use a better screen than Apples.
 
Apple fanboy said:
100% the default on Apple screens is more saturation and brightness than is correct. If your final output is web only. You might be fine with that look. However even then you might reduce saturation in post to make it look correct on your screen (which will make it look washed out on mine). If you attempt to print these images the normal problem is your images will come out dark.
Basically you can’t trust your eyes. Always calibrate your screen. If your serious about colour, use a better screen than Apples.
Click to expand...
man, am i wrong for wanting to edit on Apple display? lol Like i know its not "correct", but having done nothing but edit on it for years, i just....like it

I would wager most of my final images are viewed on iPhones/iPads etc, and printed way less often.
 
childoftheko4n said:
man, am i wrong for wanting to edit on Apple display? lol Like i know its not "correct", but having done nothing but edit on it for years, i just....like it

I would wager most of my final images are viewed on iPhones/iPads etc, and printed way less often.
Click to expand...
Yes. And I’m not sure what consistency you’re seeing between your iMac, iPhone and iPad. There’s certainly no consistency between mine. Over the years it’s been only by chance that there may be a similar render. It sounds like you already know this but wish it weren’t the case.

None of this suggests you need to change. The real world out there doesn’t/can't calibrate and doesn’t know what your images look like on your display. I’m not selling to a stock agency. I’ve found 99+% of my shared pool don’t have calibrated displays, composition far out weighs color accuracy and very few care one way or another. I don’t calibrate. But I also don’t use Apple display's. For the very reason I know they are too far from off the mean.

Last, go to galleries selling photography for good money. Ignoring the preponderance of certainly inaccurate color calibrated black and white's, how much true to life color do you see? Very little is my experience.
 
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Ray2 said:
Yes. And I’m not sure what consistency you’re seeing between your iMac, iPhone and iPad. There’s certainly no consistency between mine. Over the years it’s been only by chance that there may be a similar render. It sounds like you already know this but wish it weren’t the case.
Click to expand...
interesting. mine have always been pretty similar across the board.
 
childoftheko4n said:
interesting. mine have always been pretty similar across the board.
Click to expand...
Mine too. I like Apple displays and use them at home but I also use a hardware calibrator. At work I use a calibrated non apple displays (Dell and Ezio) and I do not find any huge inconsistency if I view the same image at work or at home. I find the viewing conditions of the room will have a big effect on the display.
 
Interesting. I’m on the road at the moment. No Mac but just brought up an X-Rite ColorChecker on an iPhone SE1, an iPad mini 4 and an 11” iPad Pro. Adjusted brightness as well as possible, ambient light very similar. First thing that stood out is the blues are different. Then brought up an ooc Panasonic raw of an expanse of sea, sand and cloudy sky. The sky’s are noticeably off. Detail is missing as the phone and mini have less blue saturation and contrast between clouds and sky than the Pro. Doubt my eyes are better as they’re 70+ years old, astigmatic and myopic. Just considering the different display technologies, advances and uncalibrated nature of devices (which is how the vast majority of people view images) I believe these easily noticeable differences are expected, and real. Depends on how close is close.
 
dimme said:
Mine too. I like Apple displays and use them at home but I also use a hardware calibrator. At work I use a calibrated non apple displays (Dell and Ezio) and I do not find any huge inconsistency if I view the same image at work or at home. I find the viewing conditions of the room will have a big effect on the display.
Click to expand...
which dell and ezio monitors if i may ask? And any preference in the 2?
 
childoftheko4n said:
which dell and ezio monitors if i may ask? And any preference in the 2?
Click to expand...
The dell are older ones from around 2013 U2413 they are calibrated monthly. the Ezio is the CG2730, which is fantastic but could not afford it for home use. The Dells hold up pretty well for their age.
 
fair :) monthly isn't bad if its holding up that long really. I also would be out on that Ezio for home use haha

Looking at a BenQ SW270C or Dell U2722D but not really sure i want to give into either yet.

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