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Need Monitor for my Mac Pro!

cojo said:
I confess I'm a bit confused when it comes to Adobe RGB and sRGB.
Click to expand...

Short(ish) story on wide gamut - when displaying standard content, primary colors look over saturated, almost neon. When working in Photoshop you can use color profiles to correct this, but everything else on your computer (OS, icons, web browsing) looks out of whack. Some people don't care, or think more colors = better. If you edit on wide gamut, and then put it on the web, everyone else is going to see your images as dull/undersaturated. As a graphic designer I assume colors are an issue for you - you could choose to embrace it (and the inevitable headaches) or, more likely, if you've been happy with your ACD - just avoid it.

Your computer by default assumes an sRGB color space, since that's what pretty much all content is designed for. OSX has historically ignored the existence of wide gamut (because Apple's displays don't use it.) For example your computer sends a signal to the monitor that says "display 100% red." When your wide gamut monitor receives the "100% red" signal, it displays what it thinks is 100% red. Which is some retina-burning version of red that was not part of the original image. Photoshop can correct for this and will instead send something like "display 78% red" for the same image and it will look "correct."

So basically you are paying a premium for wide gamut when you probably don't really want it. But then there aren't any 30" alternatives without it. I don't want to scare you off too much from the Dell, I haven't used the u3014 - the sRGB mode may well be improved over the u2711. Being LED instead of CCFL now, it is an entirely different technology. I would just purchase from somewhere with a decent return policy.

If you happen to live near a Microcenter - this AURIA EQ278C for $500 is a really interesting option. It is an sRGB IPS that does 2880x1620 - so even more pixels than the 30." Looks like it is available elsewhere online (for more $) and there is a 30" version, also 2880x1620 - but that panel shows 1.07 billion colors in the specs - which would indicate wide gamut, but then the specs on these "cheaper" displays are so difficult to verify. Heck the 30" is $700 after rebate at Tiger Direct... now -I- want one...

If you do shop the Aurias - note there are two 27" versions. The EQ276WN is a native 2560x1440 panel that does some goofy up-sampling to 2880x1620. (but looks fine at native 1440p) I think the details on the two 27"s on the B&H site specifically are reversed.

Well that got long, sorry if I've confused things...

EDIT - for future reference - none of the Auria models do native 2880x1620, it is scaled up. The 27" models are 2560x1440 native and the 30" is 2560x1600. (I bought both the EQ276WN and EQ308C to try out.)
 
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doc4x5 said:
The "standard" for serious photographers has been Eizo, if you're rich, and NEC if you're not. I have a new Mac Pro and use an NEC 27" PA271. I think there's a newer model now. It provides superb color and dynamic range. I use the NEC Spectraview II software and their hardware profiling device which works flawlessly. Hard to beat for the price, unless you've got money to burn in which case get an Eizo. Check with Andrew Rodney (digitaldog.com, I think) on the photo websites. He's an expert, has lots of great information.
Click to expand...

I have the newer version. Awesome monitor. At the time I didn't get the calibration software. THInking of picking pu the NEC system but still unsure. How easy is it calibrate? Is it pretty straight forward? Can I just press calibrate and it does it for me as I don't know much about color calibration.
 
Another vote for the LG 34UM95

Just got mine and replaced my Thunderbolt Display with it. Very impressive for not being 4K, and the screen size is an enormous work space.

Looks like they have a scaled down 64 and 94 version out there, as well as a curved display just being announced with the same 21:9 screen ration.
 
i had to return two different 34UM95 for light bleeding, and i will look elsewhere.

In my opinion quality control on these leaves a lot to be desired, but then again might be irrelevant if you don't work on dark imagery a lot.


8Xk1I7u.jpg

ZgB3g4h.jpg
 
puckhead193 said:
How easy is it calibrate? Is it pretty straight forward? Can I just press calibrate and it does it for me as I don't know much about color calibration.
Click to expand...

Yep, it's more or less straight forward.

I use a Spyder4PRO and the only step in between is measuring and adjusting your monitor's brightness until it matches the target. All the rest will be done by the Spyder Software: Showing the color patches to measure and at the end it will create the monitor profile and implement it automatically into your operating system as standard monitor profile.
 
Well...

I've just sent my 2nd LG 34UM95 back because of unacceptable screen bleed.


Now, on my first replacement, Amazon delivered my new LG as well as picking up the faulty one at the same time. So there was no downtime from it.

However, Amazon's policy is, that if you return a product more than once, they give you a refund.

So now I have downtime, downtime with my old Dell 23" pewny 1080 display.
It's horrible. I hate it.

I use this thing for Logic, and I honestly can't describe how good the picture quality is, but it's mainly it's all those pixels, super wide.

So, I'll be sending back as many LG's as it take to get one that's right.

If you've got the money and want a really nice, jaw dropping display, this is it. You just may have to go through a few to get the right one...
 
doc4x5 said:
The "standard" for serious photographers has been Eizo, if you're rich, and NEC if you're not. I have a new Mac Pro and use an NEC 27" PA271. I think there's a newer model now. It provides superb color and dynamic range. I use the NEC Spectraview II software and their hardware profiling device which works flawlessly. Hard to beat for the price, unless you've got money to burn in which case get an Eizo. Check with Andrew Rodney (digitaldog.com, I think) on the photo websites. He's an expert, has lots of great information.
Click to expand...
Get the 30" NEC, only $2K.

Then you'll feel rich, and you'll still have money in the bank.
 
I am in the market as well for a new monitor and just returned from my local Microcenter and can share my experience for the .02 that it's worth. I do not work in video, editing, or graphic design areas.
I connected the 28" Samsung 4K UHD monitor and the 27" ASUS to the new MP using thunderbolt to display port adapter, display port cable to the monitors. I also tested to the new Apple Thunderbolt display with the new MP.
I opened iTunes, went to store, movies, selected Transformers Age of Extinction and played trailer #1 on all three monitors.
My wife and I both agreed, the Thunderbolt display was the best, then ASUS, and last was the Samsung- scientific this test is not, but it was the same trailer played on all three screens. No modifications were done to the new MP in regards to calibration or fixing of colors- just plugged the cable into the monitor and all three worked.
The Thunderbolt display is glossy, the ASUS has a matte finish, and the Samsung neither glossy or matte finish. The stands on the Thunderbolt and the ASUS were sturdy, the Samsung's appeared as if they would break if you bumped the table.
My system does not support the Thunderbolt display, and personally I am going to pass up on the Samsung- but not purchasing the ASUS either.
 
puckhead193 said:
I have the newer version. Awesome monitor. At the time I didn't get the calibration software. THInking of picking pu the NEC system but still unsure. How easy is it calibrate? Is it pretty straight forward? Can I just press calibrate and it does it for me as I don't know much about color calibration.
Click to expand...
It's very easy and you can use spectraview with all your other monitors, at leas you could with V1, haven't bought V2 yet, but there's one with my name on it at B&H.

Highly recommended, we run dozens of pre-press proofs a week, and mine are always dead-on.
 
austinpike said:
Short(ish) story on wide gamut - when displaying standard content, primary colors look over saturated, almost neon. When working in Photoshop you can use color profiles to correct this, but everything else on your computer (OS, icons, web browsing) looks out of whack. Some people don't care, or think more colors = better. If you edit on wide gamut, and then put it on the web, everyone else is going to see your images as dull/undersaturated. As a graphic designer I assume colors are an issue for you - you could choose to embrace it (and the inevitable headaches) or, more likely, if you've been happy with your ACD - just avoid it.

Your computer by default assumes an sRGB color space, since that's what pretty much all content is designed for. OSX has historically ignored the existence of wide gamut (because Apple's displays don't use it.) For example your computer sends a signal to the monitor that says "display 100% red." When your wide gamut monitor receives the "100% red" signal, it displays what it thinks is 100% red. Which is some retina-burning version of red that was not part of the original image. Photoshop can correct for this and will instead send something like "display 78% red" for the same image and it will look "correct."

So basically you are paying a premium for wide gamut when you probably don't really want it. But then there aren't any 30" alternatives without it. I don't want to scare you off too much from the Dell, I haven't used the u3014 - the sRGB mode may well be improved over the u2711. Being LED instead of CCFL now, it is an entirely different technology. I would just purchase from somewhere with a decent return policy.

If you happen to live near a Microcenter - this AURIA EQ278C for $500 is a really interesting option. It is an sRGB IPS that does 2880x1620 - so even more pixels than the 30." Looks like it is available elsewhere online (for more $) and there is a 30" version, also 2880x1620 - but that panel shows 1.07 billion colors in the specs - which would indicate wide gamut, but then the specs on these "cheaper" displays are so difficult to verify. Heck the 30" is $700 after rebate at Tiger Direct... now -I- want one...

If you do shop the Aurias - note there are two 27" versions. The EQ276WN is a native 2560x1440 panel that does some goofy up-sampling to 2880x1620. (but looks fine at native 1440p) I think the details on the two 27"s on the B&H site specifically are reversed.

Well that got long, sorry if I've confused things...
Click to expand...
He said he's doing print, Adobe RGB is a must.
 
cojo said:
I'm a graphic designer and have a new Mac Pro with AMD FirePro D300 and am running OSX 10.9.4. My 30" Apple Cinema Display is having problems and I think it's time for a new monitor.

I do a lot of print work for 8.5"x11" documents and really like to be able to view at close to the actual size so what I'm looking at onscreen is close to what the print piece will look like.

I'm sure the new 4K monitors are stunning but I don't really want to spend $3K on a monitor and I assume they're probably overkill for what I need.

Any advice on 30"/32" monitors??
Click to expand...

I have a dell u2713h. It is only 27 inch but I reckon dell sells a 30 inch. The screen aims at graphic designers being 10 bit instead of 8. Awesome screen...

----------
cojo said:
I've been reading reviews on these three. Same size, resolution, aspect ratio as my Apple Cinema Display. Will they work well with my nMac Pro? Easy to calibrate? Anyone have any experience or opinions?

Monoprice 30" IPS LED Backlit LCD Panel WQXGA - http://www.monoprice.com/Product?p_id=10734

Dell UltraSharp U3014 - http://www.dell.com/ed/business/p/dell-u3014/pd
Click to expand...

I think that dell is the bigger one of mine. Contact dell and ask for the 10 bit [so the h-version, not the hm-version]. A small program must be run to let macOS run it at best resolution [just google it].
 
i run triple apple display setup 1x 27 led cinema and 2x thunderbolt and when the 4k display comes out imma sell the led cinema and plop the 4k homie rite in the middle
 
cojo said:
I confess I'm a bit confused when it comes to Adobe RGB and sRGB. The Dell U3014 says it's Adobe RGB is 99%, sRGB 100% and 120%. The 30" NEC's are Adobe RGB 99.3%/108.6" and sRGB 146.4%/100%. If the sRGB is so close, wouldn't the Dell U3014 be comparable?

Everyone has recommended great monitors but I really had hoped for a 30"/16:10 aspect ratio to eliminate so much vertical scrolling, but they are hard to find. Maybe I just have to get over it and get used to reduced vertical real estate?!?
Click to expand...

Gamut percentages are ridiculously misleading. I would look more at reviews than technical specifications.
 
Just wait until the next keynote. Retina iMac is coming. Retina TBD very well may be coming also.
 
phoneorpda said:
i had to return two different 34UM95 for light bleeding, and i will look elsewhere.

In my opinion quality control on these leaves a lot to be desired, but then again might be irrelevant if you don't work on dark imagery a lot.


Image
Image
Click to expand...


That first pic shows the worst edge light bleed I think have ever seen on any monitor or HDTV. Never should have left the factory. HORRIBLE!
 
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