Thinking of buying a photography monitor? You’re probably wondering if it’s really worth upgrading to a high-end monitor. You will see that typically the best monitors are referred to as “professional”. These monitors are specifically designed to deliver color accuracy. So in short, the answer is yes, it’s worth it. Especially now that prices have gone down.

Most displays don’t even come close to offering the same benefits as a professional monitor. Professional monitors reproduce colors accurately. On the other hand, why waste time taking splendid photos if you don’t have a monitor suitable for viewing them?

Monitors designed for photography offer a wide color gamut. Why limit the variety of colors you can work with? Professional monitors also offer many color enhancement technologies. This way the images will be reproduced on the screen more accurately. These possibilities are ideal – and very often even essential – for those whose work depends on the accuracy of the images.

A monitor should be able to work with images that represent real subjects. A less accurate monitor cannot faithfully represent the real image. When you’re using a monitor with a limited color gamut, the photos you edit aren’t the same ones you took (at least in terms of color). It follows that any changes you make to inaccurate colors can actually only make what you’re trying to fix worse.

Until recently, monitors advertised as “professional” only sold at a high price, making them unaffordable for many. Fortunately, many monitors with basic color specifications are now available at a moderate price.

Best Monitor for Photography 2022

Here’s our guide to what we believe to be the best photo editing monitors on the market today. It is important to note that, today, there is a wide variety of monitors available to the user but nevertheless this list features some of the best options out there.

This section is sorted roughly from lowest to highest price (although, needless to say, prices can vary). We’ve included links to the most popular online stores so anyone can check the prices.

	PRICE AND REVIEWS ON AMAZON	SCREEN SIZE/ COLOR RESOLUTION	COLOR GAMUT WIDE COLOR GAMUT	DOT PITCH (SMALLER IS BETTER) BIT DEPTH / /HDR	CONNECTIVITY
BenQ BL2420PT	Details on Amazon	24 inch / IPS/ Matte 2560×1440 16.7 million	sRGB: 100%; Adobe RGB: No support DCI-P3: No support	0.205 mm 8 bit Colore	USB 2.0 HDMI 1.4 Displayport 1.2
ASUS ProArt PA247CV Consigliato!	Details on Amazon	24 inch / IPS/ Matte 1920 x 1080 16.7 million	sRGB: 100%; Adobe RGB: No support DCI-P3: No support	0.2745mm 8-bit color	USB-C (PD: 65W) USB 3.0 HDMI 1.4 DisplayPort 1.2 DisplayPort
LG 27UL500 Consigliato!	Details on Amazon	27 inch /IPS/ Matte 3840×2160 1.07 billion	sRGB: 100%; Adobe RGB: No support DCI-P3: No support	0.1554 mm 10 bit (8-bit + FRC)	HDMI 2.0 DisplayPort 1.4
Dell S2721QS Recommended!	Details on Amazon	27 inch /IPS/ Matte ‎ 3840 x 2160 1.07 billion	sRGB: 100%; Adobe RGB: 79.7% DCI-P3 : 81.4%	0.1554 mm 8 bit	HDMI 2.0 DisplayPort 1.2
ASUS ProArt Display PA278QV	Details on Amazon	27 inch / IPS / Matte ‎ 2560 X 1440 16.7 million	sRGB: 100%; Adobe RGB: No support DCI-P3: No support	0.233mm 8-Bit	USB 3.0 HDMI 1.4 Displayport 1.2
ASUS ProArt PA279CV Consigliato!	Details on Amazon	27 inch / IPS / Matte 3840 x 2160 1.07 billion	100% sRGB Adobe RGB: 74.5% DCI-P3: 77.9%	0.155 mm 10 bits HDR10 DisplayHDR 400	USB-C (PD: 65W) USB 3.0 DisplayPort 1.2 HDMI 2.0
Gigabyte M27Q Consigliato!	Details on Amazon	24 inch / IPS/ Matte 2560×1440 16.7 million	sRGB: 100%; Adobe RGB: 97.3% DCI-P3 : 92%	0.2331 mm 8 bit HDR10 DisplayHDR 400	USB-C USB 3.0 HDMI 2.0 DisplayPort
BenQ PD2700U	Details on Amazon	27 inch / IPS / Matte 3840×2160 1.07 billion	sRGB: 100% Adobe RGB: 70% DCI-P3: No support;	0.155 mm 10-bit (8-bit+FRC) HDR 10	USB 3.0 DisplayPort 1.4 MiniDisplayPort 1.4 HDMI 2.0
BenQ SW270C Consigliato!	Details on Amazon	27-inch / IPS / Matte 2560 x 1440 1.07 billion	sRGB: 100% AdobeRGB: 99% DCI-P3: 97%	0.2331mm 10 bits + 16 bits 3D LUT HDR10	USB-C (PD: 60W) USB 3.1 DisplayPort 1.4 HDMI 2.0
Dell UltraSharp U2723QE	Details on Amazon	27 inch / IPS / Matte 3840×2160 1.07 billion	sRGB: 100% Adobe RGB: 89% DCI-P3: 98%	0.1554 mm 10-bit	USB 3.2 USB-C (PD: 90W) DisplayPort 1.4 HDMI
BenQ PD3205U Consigliato!	Details on Amazon	32 inch / IPS /Matte 3840 x 2160 1.07 billion	sRGB: 100% Adobe RGB: 86.7% DCI-P3: 95%	0.1554 mm 10 bit	Thunderbolt 3 (PD: 90W) USB 3.2 DisplayPort 1.4 HDMI 2,0
EIZO CS2731	Details on Amazon	27 inch /IPS/ Matte 2560×1440; 1.07 billion	sRGB: 100%; Adobe RGB: 99% DCI-P3: 95%	0.233 mm 10 bit Colore	USB-C USB 3.1 HDMI 1.4 DisplayPort 1.3
Eizo CG2420	Details on Amazon	24.1 inch / IPS / matte 1920 x 1200 (16:10) 1.07 billion	sRGB: 100% Adobe RGB: 99% DCI-P3: 98%	0.270 mm 10 Bits Colore + 16 bits LUT	USB 3.1 HDMI 1.4 DisplayPort 1.3
Dell Alienware AW3423DW Consigliato!	Details on Amazon	34 inch / QD-OLED /Matte 3440 x 1440 1.07B	sRGB: 100%; Adobe RGB: 99% DCI-P3 : 99.3%	0.23 mm 10 bit	USB 3.2 USB-C HDMI 2.0 DisplayPort 1.4
BenQ SW271C	Details on Amazon	27 inch / IPS / Matte 3840 x 2160 1.07 billion	sRGB: 100% AdobeRGB: 99% DCI-P3: 90%	0.1554mm 10 bits + 16 bits 3D LUT HDR10	USB-C (PD: 60W) DisplayPort 1.4 HDMI 2.0
BENQ SW321C	Details on Amazon	32 inch / IPS /Matte 3840 x 2160 1.07 billion	sRGB: 100%; Adobe RGB: 99% DCI-P3: 95%	0.1845 mm 10 bits + 16 bits 3D LUT	Thunderbolt 3 (PD 60W) USB 3.1 HDMI 2.0 DisplayPort 1.4

The standard color spaces for Creative applications

To choose which professional monitor to use for different types of creative work, it should first determine which software you will be using.

Users who need to edit images in Photoshop should choose a monitor that is capable of displaying sRGB, Adobe RGB, and Display P3.*	For designers using Illustrator, however, monitors with sRGB and Display P3 are ideal.
Premiere users who edit video regularly need the Rec standard. 709 and DCI-P3 are also required.	Monitors with sRGB and Display P3 will provide web developers using Dreamweaver with the accurate color reproduction they need.

* Note : Adobe RGB is a wider gamut than sRGB, and both standards are used around the world to ensure that a printout exactly matches the colors you see on screen. Display P3 is an even wider gamut developed and used by Apple, and is similar to DCI-P3, the color space used in the motion picture industry.

Best PC Monitor for Photography and Video Editing of 2022

ASUS ProArt PA247CV

If you are looking for a monitor with good performance and accurate colors for photo editing work but you are on a budget, our advice is to take a look at the ASUS ProArt PA247CV.

This monitor has a 23.8 inch (60.5 cm) screen with 1920 x 1080 resolution. If you have limited desk space or just don’t want to buy a large product, this is the monitor that is your best choice on the market. field. Thanks to the narrow bezels this monitor can also work well in a multi monitor setup.

The monitor is equipped with an IPS panel that allows you to get excellent viewing angles. For this price range the monitor is incredible, taking into consideration the fact that it manages to cover 99% of the sRGB color space.

The monitor also features built-in speakers and a host of input ports to be reckoned with; among these there is also the DisplayPort or another reason why this monitor represents a product with an excellent value for money.

There is another version of this monitor, the ASUS ProArt PA248QV, which does not include the USB-C connector but which is overall very similar. If you’re on a budget and don’t need USB-C, this is an option to consider because it can sometimes be had for less.

• Screen size and resolution:8 inch, 1920 x 1080
• Gamut: 99% sRGB
• Technology:IPS
• Connectivity:DisplayPort, VGA, HDMI
• Check the price on Amazon here

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LG 27UL500

We continue with a slight price increase but a correspondingly huge specification increase for our next recommended monitor.

The excellent 27-inch LG 27UL500 may seem expensive compared to the cheap screens you see in computer stores but it’s perfect for anyone who can afford it. The 4K resolution is ideal for photographers and the Color Calibration Pro tool increases the color accuracy of the monitor – an essential parameter for those looking for high-end photographic capabilities sold at a competitive price.

Extras such as HDR-10 compatibility, AMD FreeSync support or 98% coverage of the sRGB color space are other elements that make this product one of sure charm.

With a slim design and slim crescent-shaped silver baseplate, the LG 27UL500-W makes most desktop monitors look a bit clunky. The only real trade-off is that while there are tilt, height, and swivel functions, there is no swivel mechanism built into the baseplate.

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BenQ SW270C

The BenQ SW270C is perfect for someone who wants to get into some serious editing but isn’t quite ready for a more expensive monitor. It’s an excellent mid-range option that offers amateur and emerging photographers good production quality at an affordable price.

If you’re trying your hand at editing with tons of detail for the most demanding customers, supporting 99% of the Adobe RGB standard, 100% of sRGB, or 97% of the DCI-P3 color gamut is a huge plus, if not quite an essential element.
If we add to this the various color technologies that BenQ integrates within its monitors, thanks to this product it will be possible to amaze your customers with photographs and editing full of life if not exactly realistic.

One thing we really like is this monitor’s inclusion of bulkheads for shadows. If your office or studio is prone to reflections, this lens hood will help ensure an even view of the contents on your monitor. The SW270C is compatible with hardware calibration and therefore it is possible to obtain exceptional results using a monitor calibrator; however, calibration is done in the factory and the monitor is sold with a complete report describing its visual characteristics.

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ASUS ProArt Display PA278QV

Asus produces a wide range of ProArt displays. The PA278QV is placed in the medium and economic range of the range while offering a good relationship between quality and price.

This model has a 27″ (68 cm) screen and a resolution of 2560×1440. These are the sizes and resolutions that I use the most for photo editing and I find them perfect because they offer everything I usually need during the work process.

Asus is firmly aiming for this monitor for those who want color accuracy. The monitor offers 100% sRGB coverage and is factory calibrated for color accuracy. Calibration is then certified to the Calman test standard to further ensure color accuracy.

Like most of the monitors in this guide, we are talking about an IPS panel with good viewing angles, with built-in speakers and also a good set of connection options: the monitor is equipped with DisplayPort and HDMI ports, as well as USB that allow you to connect accessories such as a mouse or keyboard to the monitor.

As with many other monitor manufacturers, you can go up or down with the price lookup to find different features. For a lower price, you can purchase the smaller 24″ 1920 x 1080 PA248QV while, alternatively, you can spend a little more and get the 27″ PA279CV 4K which features a higher resolution instead.

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Dell UltraSharp U2723QE

Dell is well known for producing high quality monitors and its UltraSharp range is particularly geared towards content creators looking for high performance monitors with accurate colours.

I’ve personally used a Dell UltraSharp as a reference monitor for photo editing for years and have never felt disappointed.

The Dell UltraSharp U2723QE is a 27-inch (68cm) 4K monitor with an IPS panel capable of providing excellent viewing angles. It is a wide gamut monitor, with 100% coverage of the sRGB spectrum and 98% DCI-P3 spectrum. Oddly, Dell doesn’t list the AdobeRGB coverage percentage as a feature.

The IPS panel uses the new “IPS Black” technology, a technology that promises incredible black levels and better contrast ratios than the vast majority of traditional IPS panels.

This monitor also features some interesting connectivity options. First, you have the core options you’d expect at this price point, including HDMI, USB-C, and DisplayPort.

There is also a USB-C hub with four ports for peripherals, an ethernet port to connect the monitor to a local network via a special cable and a DisplayPort output for connecting an additional monitor, in case of a daisy chain configuration .

Whether or not you need all of these ports varies by situation; if you’re connecting the monitor to a laptop that has a very limited number of ports it becomes a terribly attractive option.

If you want a larger screen with similar features, our advice is to also consider the Dell UltraSharp U3233QE which offers similar elements but with 32 inches (81 cm) dimensions.

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BenQ PD3205U

When you start looking for photo editing monitors, it’s easy to come across the BenQ brand. The company produces a range of excellent monitors and many of these are particularly suited to the world of photo editing.

The PD3205U model is no exception. It is a 31.5-inch (80cm) 4K monitor with IPS display.
31.5 inches of extension means having a screen with a large surface area, as well as having a nice IPS panel for excellent viewing angles.

BenQ claims that the monitor covers 99% of the sRGB gamut and calibrates it at the factory, thus ensuring color accuracy and uniformity; in this regard, the monitor also has Pantone and Calman checks for its color accuracy.

This monitor also supports HDR: this means that thanks to it it is possible to watch and create content in HDR. Connectivity is also good, thanks to the support for USB-C, DisplayPort and HDMI. The monitor also features 3 USB ports and an interesting KVM switch, perfect for connecting peripherals such as a mouse or keyboard to multiple computers (example: a laptop and a desktop); the monitor also has built-in speakers.

Despite all these features, the monitor remains one of the most convenient in terms of size and resolution when it comes to products dedicated to the world of photo editing.

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Dell UltraSharp U3821DW

It’s time for another Dell monitor, this time an ultrawide one. If you’re wondering, an ultrawide monitor is nothing more than a monitor with an aspect ratio of 21:9, instead of the traditional 16:9 or 16:10 which are linked to the majority of monitors out there.

In summary, this aspect ratio allows the monitor to obtain greater horizontal space, a very advantageous parameter for photo editing that allows you to have side-by-side images (perhaps for the before and after) during processing.

Of course, an ultrawide monitor takes up more desk space. With the Dell U3821DW, the screen is also curved, a parameter that is definitely advantageous for owners of such a large monitor. In terms of width, we are talking about a product with an impressive 37.5-inch (95 cm) IPS screen and a resolution of 3840 x 1600.

Being an UltraSharp this product was designed with two things in mind: to have accurate colors and to serve the content creators at their best. The monitor covers 100% of the sRGB spectrum and 95% of the DCI-PC spectrum: both of these features make the monitor in question a very attractive broad spectrum product.

The monitor has a long list of connectivity options including 2x HDMI, USB-C and DisplayPort. This monitor also has an Ethernet port, supports KVM on two computers and offers numerous USB ports for peripherals; finally, it should be noted that this monitor is also equipped with integrated speakers.

At the end of the speech this monitor is one of the best ultrawide around when we talk about photo editing.

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Eizo ColorEdge CS2731

Eizo specializes in manufacturing high-end display products for a variety of applications, from air traffic control monitors to medical display systems. Eizo also has a range of monitors that are highly regarded for color-focused work.
These products are commonly found on the desks of graphic designers who need the best of the best.

Eizo ColorEdge monitors are specifically aimed at creatives. There are 2 different ranges of monitors: the cheaper (relatively speaking) ColorEdge CS monitors and the higher-end ColorEdge CG monitors.

The ColorEdge CS2731 monitor belongs to the slightly cheaper range. We are talking about a 27-inch (68 cm) IPS monitor with 2560 x 1440 resolution. This monitor covers 100% of the sRGB gamut and 99% of the Adobe RGB gamut.

Your monitor has been designed and calibrated to offer excellent color consistency across the entire screen, with special integrated circuits to ensure color and brightness consistency in every way.

It’s not all! The monitor is compatible with Eizo’s range of protective eyelids, perfect for reducing reflections. The monitor comes with Eizo’s own ColorNavigator software, perfect for allowing for more in-depth color calibration; this software is capable of interfacing with the Eizo external color sensor (which however is sold separately) to have an almost continuous color calibration.

Overall if color accuracy and image quality are key considerations for you, this is an excellent high-end monitor for photo editing at a reasonable price (when you factor in what you get overall). )

If you prefer higher resolution, you may want to consider the ColorEdge CS2740 which offers similar features with 4K resolution at a higher price.

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Dell Alienware AW3423DW

It’s time for a small breakthrough in the form of an ultrawide curved OLED monitor, aimed at the gaming market and produced by Dell’s Alienware brand.
Yes, this monitor is marketed as a gaming monitor but it is more than capable as a photo editing monitor with the features we will list shortly.

This is currently the only monitor on our list to use an OLED panel. These screens are becoming more popular in laptops and the Dell laptop I use for photo editing has an OLED screen. I love both the incredible colors it is capable of and the depth of the blacks, which is really important compared to a classic IPS, where black tends to have colors more similar to dark grays.

You might be wondering why, if OLED is so great, everyone doesn’t make it.
OLED is still a relatively new and therefore expensive technology but nevertheless the prices are finally coming down and the burn-in problem has been solved thanks to important engineering choices.

With that in mind I wanted to include this monitor in our roundup.
I know many people (myself included) don’t just do photo editing on their monitor; in my opinion this is the best all round monitor for anything – photo editing, gaming or movie watching.

Spec-wise, this monitor is a 34-inch (86cm) curved ultrawide with a resolution of 3440 x 1440. It covers 149% of the sRGB gamut, 99.3% of the DCI-P3, and 95% of Adobe RGB while offering high color accuracy; what’s more, this monitor is also HDR-enabled.

The DisplayPort and HDMI connectors are present but USB-C is missing, a good and good omission. On the back there are at least 4 USB ports, useful for connecting various peripherals.

Honestly the main aspect of this screen to take into account is the level of blacks. OLED panels allow you to get a truly realistic black, a real revelation when you realize the grays that other monitors pass off as black.

If you’re looking for a high-performance monitor that works well for both content creation and gaming, this is one to add to your list.

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BenQ SW321C

At the top of BenQ’s monitor range for photo editing is the superb SW321C. It is a 32-inch (81cm) IPS panel with 3840 x 2160 (4K) display.

This monitor is packed with technologies that make it perfect for photographers. First of all, it offers 100% sRGB coverage (while AdobeRGB coverage is stopped at 95%) making it, in fact, a wide gamut monitor which also supports HDR. Color accuracy is high due to factory calibration and verification (like every monitor in the company) and the product itself has built-in hardware calibration tools to ensure consistent accuracy. The monitor, moreover, has a certain level of uniformity with excellent viewing angles.

If you print a lot this monitor has a feature called Paper Color Sync. This feature allows you to configure your monitor to match the paper and printer you are using, so you get an accurate representation of what your printouts will look like.

Another interesting function is represented by GamutDuo. This function allows you to view two different ranges of colors side by side in order to effectively compare them all.

To top it all off this monitor features a lens hood system to eliminate glare, all the while great connectivity in the form of HDMI, DisplayPort, and USB-C ports.

If your budget isn’t enough or you prefer a slightly smaller screen, consider the little brother SW271C , equipped with a screen of only 27 inches (68 cm) but with similar specifications.

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Dell UltraSharp UP3221Q

We have already included several dell monitors in our list, all of them of good quality. However, if you want the best of Dell’s range and your budget allows, then the UP3221Q is for you.

It’s a 31.5-inch (80cm) 4K HDR IPS monitor that uses a technology known as mini-LED. While using backlight technology, just like other IPS LCD displays, the backlight is managed through 2,000 mini-LEDs. Most LCD displays use an array of LEDs as backlighting tools but there aren’t that many monitors that use thousands of LEDs in a single package.

The advantage of using so many LEDs is that you can easily circumvent the problem of low contrast, while still offering poor black levels (as with IPS panels). Mini-LED technology, in practice, has similar performance to OLED technology.

All of this technology adds up to a monitor that offers superb color consistency and delivers deep blacks. It is a wide-gamut monitor with 93% AdobeRGB coverage.

Another outstanding feature of this monitor is its built-in hardware calibration and Calman colorimeter. It is therefore not necessary to have external hardware (even if it is supported by a dedicated USB port on the monitor) to calibrate the display.

The monitor also features an anti-glare lid, supports all major connectivity options and offers the ability to connect two different sources with different color gamuts, so you can view them side-by-side.

Overall this is a premium monitor with premium features, at a premium budget as well. It is a product to consider if you have sufficient budget and if you need to create content with HDR support.

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 EIZO ColorEdge CG319X

Eizo makes outstanding monitors and this is one of their flagship models. In this case we are talking about a monitor that can be found on the desks of creative professionals around the world.

Undoubtedly we are talking about a product with a very high price but for those who need the best it is a price that is worth paying. Let’s take a closer look at the features of this monitor.

First of all, let’s talk about a monitor with a 31-inch (79 cm) wide-gamut IPS panel capable of covering 99% of the AdobeRGB color space while having HDR support. Interestingly, the monitor is capable of running at a resolution of 4096 x 2160, slightly higher than 4K while having an aspect ratio of 17:9. This monitor has built-in hardware calibration and the presence of the colorimeter allows the monitor to maintain a certain degree of color accuracy.

At this price point one would expect the monitor to be accurate right out of the box, which it obviously is. Viewing angle and uniformity in image quality are both excellent.

This monitor is equipped with 2 DisplayPort inputs and two HDMI inputs, so as to allow the connection of monitors to multiple sources at the same time. The monitor has 3 USB ports, perfect for peripheral connectivity. This Eizo monitor is sold with an anti-glare lid if desired.

Overall, this is an excellent monitor, but with Dell’s latest UP3221Q and its mini-LED technology, it’s no longer the only choice in this price range.

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Summary of the best monitor by category

We have covered many monitors in this post and have given tons of information about monitors.
We realize that many of you may just want some terse advice on particular price points.

In this regard, we have collected what we think are the best monitors in different categories.
So whatever your budget or whatever your preferences, the following should help you choose the monitor that’s right for you.

• Best budget monitor for photo editing: Asus ProArt PA247CV
• Best Budget 4K Monitor for Photo Editing: LG 27UL500
• Best mid-range monitor for photo editing: BenQ PD3205U
• Best High-End Monitor for Photo Editing: Dell UltraSharp UP3221Q
• Best ultrawide monitor for photo editing: Dell UltraSharp U3821DW
• Best general monitor for everything (photo editing, gaming, content creation, etc): Dell Alienware AW3423DW

Of course the choice of the most suitable monitor could vary but needless to say the list above can be very useful in narrowing down the various options.

What to look for in a Photography Monitor

Professional monitors offer a dizzying amount of features. When considering purchasing a photography monitor, your goal is to maximize the accuracy of what is displayed on screen. Several key characteristics affect color, performance, and image quality.

Among these, the main ones are:

• Full coverage of sRGB /Adobe RGB color spaces
• Various options for the gamma value
• A powerful 3D LUT
• A low delta E
• Screen uniformity compensation
• A panel built with good technology
• A dark surface
• Hardware calibration
• Quality designs
• Good connectivity
• Ideal screen size and resolution

Below you will find a summary of what you should be looking for in each of these areas.

Color space coverage

The best monitor for photography offers as wide a color space as possible. Gamut is the full range of colors visible to the human eye. Making the most of this range is what makes the colors of a photo, illustration or painting truly beautiful. The range of colors produced by digital devices varies from model to model, as well as the results you will get. This applies to cameras as well as processing software, monitors and printers.

Color spaces represent certain color sets included in the infinite palette of possible colors. Each color is obtained through an abstract mathematical model. A larger color space will contain more colors. The human eye can see about ten million colors, which is therefore the physical limit of our color space.

Different digital devices are designed to work with different color spaces . The wider the range of colors a device can use, the better. In theory, an infinite number of color spaces can be defined. In practice, digital photography, video editing, graphics and color processing technologies all rely on a handful of standard color spaces.

The CIE color space defines the entire spectrum visible to the human eye. The sRGB and Adobe RGB color spaces are very popular, especially in photo editing. They are represented graphically as triangles included in the CIE space.

Here are some trivia about the most common color spaces:

• sRGB is the lowest common denominator standard for color space, and has many applications, such as on the Internet.
• Adobe RGB is a well-known standard especially among graphic designers, photographers and other creatives and is used as an editing space.
• NTSC, EBU, Rec.709, and Rec.2020 are color spaces often used for video, film, and TV broadcast.
• No monitor can reproduce colors that are outside its color space. For example, a monitor that only covers the sRGB space may not show all the colors included in Adobe, which is wider.

Here’s a typical example: You take a photo with a camera that uses the Adobe RGB color space, then view the same image on an sRGB screen. The image you will see on your monitor will have some colors missing. Saturated colors that are outside the sRGB gamut will still be present as data, but cannot be displayed.

Here’s yet another example: Imagine you’ve taken photos with a device that uses the sRGB color space. If you view these images using a generic display that covers only a portion of this color space, some colors will not display.

Conclusion: When viewing photos on a monitor with a color space that is smaller than that of the device they were taken on, the missing color data will reduce the level of detail. The result will be unclear images and less vivid colors.

Color space tips for a photography monitor: Professional-grade monitors for photo editing and color processing include very large color spaces that deliver great accuracy and vivid, detailed colors. You will need a monitor that offers at least full coverage of the sRGB space. Monitors with Adobe RGB color space are the best option for photo editing.

Gamma presets and options for tuning

Simply put, gamma is what makes images displayed on a screen vibrant. Adjusting the gamma is crucial to get the best possible result for your shots. The term gamma has various meanings. For digital devices, gamma can be defined as the mathematical value by which the brightness (also known as luminance) of each pixel is encoded. The goal of gamma is to make a digital image look as vibrant as possible.

Here ‘s a pro’s opinion :

Gamma is an important but rarely understood feature of all imaging systems. Gamma defines the relationship between the numerical value of a pixel and its luminance. Without gamma, shadows captured by digital cameras wouldn’t appear as they do to our eyes (on a standard monitor). Gamma is also called gamma correction, gamma encoding, or gamma compression, but all of these terms refer to a similar concept. Understanding how gamma works can help you improve your exposure technique, as well as get the most out of image processing.

What’s important to know is that monitor gamma affects how individual pixels of an image are displayed. Monitors use the gamma of the display to adjust the output of an image. A higher display gamma results in darker images with more contrast.

Experts agree that a gamma value of 2.2 offers the right perceptual relationship between various tones. Nowadays most monitor manufacturers develop displays with a default gamma of 2.2, and most displays have a native gamma of 2.2. A good professional grade monitor for photo editing allows the user to easily adjust the gamma to make adjustments. The correct term for this is monitor gamma calibration, and digital color professionals consider it a critically important function.

Here ‘s what another professional thinks about it: “Gamma correction is important for accurately displaying an image on a computer screen. Gamma correction controls the overall brightness of an image. Images that are not properly corrected can look washed out, or too dark… Changing the gamma correction not only affects the brightness but also the ratio of red, green and blue.”

The most common values ​​for gamma presets are:

• Gamma 1.8 – Improves visibility and detail in dark scenes
• Gamma 2.0 – Enhance detail and lighten dark scenes
• Gamma 2.2 – Native value for general use
• Gamma 2.4 – Enhances detail and makes colors more vivid in bright scenes
• Gamma 2.6 – Enhances black and white scenes, great for document viewing

Recommended gamma options for a photo editing monitor : Gamma determines how vibrant and lifelike your images will turn out to be. A native gamma of 2.2 is taken for granted. Make sure your monitor allows you to adjust other gamma settings. Presets can make your life easier.

A powerful LUT

The best pro-grade monitors for photo editing have a Look up Table (or LUT) built into their hardware. LUTs greatly enhance a monitor’s color reproduction capabilities, and offer dynamic scaling that adds color gradations depending on the image being displayed. LUTs automatically apply complex correction calculations to adjust gamma for optimal color mapping.

The power of a LUT is measured in bits. A higher bit rate indicates better color-tuning abilities and a wider color palette. Common monitors are usually 8-bit. These general purpose monitors offer a palette of 16.7 million colors. Professional monitors for photo editing are equipped with 10, 12 or 14 bit LUTs. The best LUT, the 14-bit one, offers approximately 4.39 billion colors, which is 260,000 times more color accuracy than a non-professional monitor.

LUTs are available in the two standard formats 1D or 3D. Colors displayed on monitors with a 3D LUT are better than those with a 1D LUT, which has more limited capabilities. By offering more shades, 3D LUTs produce smoother and more harmonious color gradations. The colors reproduced by a 3D LUT are also more vibrant and accurate.

Recommended LUT for a photography monitor : Having any kind of LUT is better than not having one. Most full-featured professional monitors will include a 14-bit 3D LUT.

Low delta E value

Delta E measures how accurately the human eye perceives the difference between two colors. In photo editing, it is a tool that can indicate how accurate a monitor’s color reproduction is. Delta E (which can also be denoted by ΔE or dE) is the change in visual perception of two given colors. This value ranges from 0 to 100. Differences of less than zero are not perceptible to the human eye. A value of 100 indicates that one color is the exact opposite of the other.

The delta E value of a photography monitor is always specified. To meet users’ needs for color accuracy, this number represents how closely the color displayed on the monitor matches the “perfect” color value. The lower the number, the better the performance of the monitor.The delta E of the human eye has a value of approximately 1, and a value lower than this cannot be perceived. In reality, getting “perfect” delta E in a monitor is not possible: even the most expensive display cannot have zero delta E.

Top-of-the-line displays can boast a delta E of 1 or slightly lower. The next best priced, high-end displays have a delta E of less than 2. Many mid-range color-focused monitors have a delta E of less than 3 or 4. moderate of displays with good technical specifications and a delta E of less than 2.

Recommended Delta E for a photography monitor : Delta E is a “kind of lower the better” specification. Many professionals find that a delta E of less than 2 is perfect for their needs.

Screen uniformity: panel technology and compensation

On-screen color uniformity is crucial for both accurate viewing and image editing. The factor that most affects the color uniformity of a monitor is its viewing angle. The wider the viewing angle, the less loss of image quality and color will occur when your view moves away from the center of the screen.

Outside of a device’s viewing angle, images lose contrast. They become blurry, unclear, colors lose saturation, brightness and contrast are reduced. For photo editors and other color-conscious users, this deterioration in image quality makes it difficult to view, evaluate, and process an image.

The type of panel used in a monitor determines its maximum viewing angle. The TN panels guarantee a horizontal viewing angle of 170 degrees and a vertical one of 160 (170º /160º). Panels with the best technologies, such as IPS ones, guarantee both a horizontal and vertical viewing angle of 178 degrees (178º/178º). The newer AMWA panels offer the same maximum viewing angle. IPS panels, however, remain the gold standard for professional-grade displays.

Optimal color reproduction, however, will always be in the center of the screen. Even the highest quality panels suffer from slight variations in color and luminance on different areas of the screen. Imagine a display divided into a number of equivalent sections: as brightness varies across the surface of the screen, the same color will look different in each of these sections. The best photography monitors try to overcome this problem by including a color uniformity compensation function.

Color compensation adjusts chromaticity and dims brightness. As a result, the best professional monitors deliver consistent color across the entire screen. A technical specification that identifies uniformity compensation through brightness adjustment is indicated with the wording Lv < 5%, which refers to the fact that variations in luminance will be kept within the limits of 5%. General purpose monitors have a variation of up to 30%.

Screen Uniformity Tips for a Photography Monitor : Features that improve the accuracy of colors on the screen surface are a hallmark of professional monitors. A viewing angle of 178º/ 178º is mandatory. You may also need a color smoothing feature that scales across a wide range of color spaces.

Good quality panel

The type of panel a monitor is manufactured with affects several performance characteristics, which include:

• Viewing angle
• Color reproduction
• Contrast ratio

Flat panel LCD monitors use panels with TN, VA and IPS technologies. TN panels cannot provide the performance required for a photography monitor. IPS and VA (AMVA) technologies ensure a wider viewing angle, higher contrast ratio and better color accuracy. These panels eliminate image distortions and color variations, ensure convenience and improve the overall user experience.

IPS displays have always been the monitor of choice for professionals. Lately, AMVA panels have also begun to offer professional-grade performance with color. However, according to many professionals, IPS monitors still reign supreme. These panels offer the best support for a monitor’s color space technologies, and provide greater color depth and contrast ratio, which help achieve better color accuracy.

IPS monitors have become cheaper and more affordable. That’s why they’re chosen by more and more photography enthusiasts and other color-conscious users. Here is an example of a 27 inch IPS monitor .

Photography monitor panel technology tip : Most popular TN monitors have a limited number of color features. Look for an IPS or AMWA panel. Keep in mind that most professionals prefer panels with IPS technology.

Screen surface

The screen surfaces of a monitor can be glossy or matte. A glossy surface offers crisp, vibrant images. The saturation of the colors and the depth of the dark tones make the glossy screens great for gaming and watching movies. As far as photo editing is concerned, however, glossy screens are not a good option, since, especially in the brightest areas, they tend to reflect everything in front of the mirror almost like a mirror.

Matte screens, on the other hand, prevent reflections, making them the obvious choice for working with images. Professionals also believe they are the best choice for accurate color calibration. In a bright room, images will look better on a matte display than on a glossy one. If you intend to use the monitor in a brightly lit room, you should get a monitor with a matte screen.

Photography Monitor Surface Recommendations : Most professionals prefer matte surfaces that reduce reflections. While glossy surfaces offer richer images, many also consider them overly saturated.

Possibility of color calibration

Adjusting your monitor’s calibration improves brightness, contrast, and the way colors are reproduced. The gamma settings we discussed above are just one example of the many parameters for calibrating a monitor. Professionals consider color calibration to be crucial in digital photography.

No professional or even amateur photographer should ever work on images using an uncalibrated monitor. It’s a minimal investment that will ensure that the photographs you share on the internet or send to a photo lab will display or print exactly the way you intended. What’s the point of creating an image that only looks good on your monitor?

Generic monitors offer only minimal features to ensure the accuracy of these types of adjustments. Professional monitors include color spaces and gamma presets that make these tasks easier and more accurate.

To get an accurate monitor calibration, you need to use a colorimeter. Color measurement accessories and software offer a large number of functions. Colorimeters sit on the screen to measure and adjust the color that is displayed. This method ensures the most accurate possible reproduction of the colors of the original image.

The best photography monitors offer a feature called hardware calibration. This is done by software that connects the graphics card to the monitor. With hardware calibration, the colorimeter modifies the monitor’s internal LUT, and stores the optimized results in the monitor’s display. The result is faster and more accurate.

Photography Monitor Calibration Tips : Gamma presets and color spaces are a good start. Using a colorimeter will give you the best results. A monitor with built-in hardware calibration offers greater accuracy and fewer headaches.

Ideal screen size

To work with photo editing it is advisable to use a screen of at least 24 inches. The optimal solution is a size of 27 inches or more. The goal is to be able to comfortably view your work while still having room for all your tools. Many decide to adopt a second screen: using two monitors allows you to view the image full screen on one screen and work on the other.

Recommended screen size for photo editing : Choose the largest possible screen size (and best resolution) you can afford within your budget and workspace. Also consider using a second screen to improve convenience and productivity.

Ideal resolution

Screen resolution refers to the number of pixels a monitor can display both horizontally and vertically. 4K monitors have a horizontal resolution of 3840 pixels and a vertical resolution of 2160 (3840 x 2160).

The higher the resolution, the more information your screen can handle. With a high resolution monitor you will be able to see more of the image you are working on without needing to scroll up or down. Having more pixels also means being able to count on greater image clarity. Higher resolution monitors offer sharper images.

When it comes to resolution, most professionals agree that the higher the better. For a 24-inch monitor, opt for an FHD resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. For a 27-inch monitor, QHD 2560 x 1440 resolution is ideal. For 32-inch monitors, however, 4K (3840 x 2160) UHD resolution is optimal. UltraWide (21:9) 1440p monitors (which are often curved) are also good options. When it comes to screen size, there are some important considerations to make:

First: don’t think that screen resolution depends on screen size. Two screens of the same size can have different resolutions. Second, LCD displays should be used at their native resolution. Choose a monitor with a native resolution equal to the one you will be working with. Third, if you’re thinking about getting a 4K display, make sure the software you’re using is compatible. A 4K screen can be a great tool for photo editing, which works well with both Photoshop and Illustrator.

Recommended resolution for a photography monitor : Look for the highest possible resolution for your chosen monitor size.

A good design

A monitor with good design elements allows you to work easier, more efficiently and more comfortably. Frameless monitors are great for maximizing your productivity and available workspace, whether you use one monitor or two. An adjustable swivel stand adds configuration options to your workspace. A matte finish on the screen will reduce glare and make both calibration and viewing easier. An ergonomic design and the ability to adjust the swivel and height will maximize comfort. Ambient light sensors dynamically adjust screen brightness, while presence sensors automatically dim the backlight when you leave your workspace.

Flexible connectivity

Look for the widest possible variety of USB, DisplayPort, and HDMI ports. Having more options will allow you to connect more easily with both the devices you have now and with those you will use in the coming years. USB 3.0 ports give you the ability to charge your connected device, while USB 3.1 Type C ports give you the ability to both charge and play audio. The ability to daisy chain two or more devices together will improve the flexibility of your workspace.

Conclusions

Professional monitors for photo editing produce much more accurate color than generic monitors. A professional monitor offers many color features that will allow you to get the most out of your images. If you are involved in viewing and processing images via monitor for work or hobby, the time has come to finally see images more clearly.

Common screens can’t offer color accurate images. By investing in an image editing screen, you will gain in terms of color gamut, calibration possibilities and color management functions, and you will be able to view more detailed and color accurate images. Luckily, there are now many affordable monitors available that will suit all of your photo editing needs.