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Best Monitor For Designers

Judah Hassan
  Mar 29, 2023 12:16 PM

The requirements for monitors used for graphic design go above and beyond those for the standard screens that are used in homes and offices. Sharpness and clarity are absolutely necessary for the work that graphic designers do, as they typically focus on minute details. Text components and fine line work need to be clear and easily readable, otherwise you're just asking for a headache to come your way. In graphic design, color fidelity is another essential component.


OVERVIEW

Displays have a responsibility to portray tones accurately and provide advanced color management since errors in color can result in significant financial losses in professional settings. You don't want to finish up their design and get printed materials manufactured only to find out that the colors don't match the customer's logo after you've already invested time and money into the project. Your work will be able to satisfy the requirements of even the most particular customers if you use a monitor that is optimized for graphic design.
 


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BUYING GUIDE

Things to consider before buying a monitors for graphic design

 

When it comes to deciding on a monitor or other technological gadget, there are many different specifications and terminology that are bandied around. Finding out what aspects of a situation are significant and which are not can be very difficult. When it comes to graphic design, the three features that are most important are screen size, resolution, and color accuracy. This is to keep things as simple as possible. You don't need to be concerned about things like refresh and reaction rate when it comes to graphic design because they are irrelevant to the field.

 

Screen size

 

Screen size will have a big (no pun intended) impact on your workflow. While you can absolutely work in design programs on laptop screens or small external monitors, creating on a larger display can make your work more efficient and comfortable. A large monitor will allow you to see more at once, so you can scroll around less. It makes it easier to compare things when you need to because you can fit multiple canvases on a single screen. And, you won’t have to squint and crane your neck forward when working with small details.

For most graphic designers, a screen between 27 and 32 inches will be perfect. But, if you like to multitask with multiple windows open at once, or want a more immersive experience, something around 40 inches may be better. Those huge displays offer lots of screen real estate without having to worry about perfectly color matching multiple displays.

 

Resolution

 

Resolution is another essential spec to pay attention to, especially for designers and photographers. Many will say that you absolutely need a 4K monitor for graphic design, but that isn’t necessarily the case. 4K displays do provide some advantages. The detail is exceptional, which can be helpful for certain types of design work. All those pixels come in handy for displaying large versions of your work with room enough for your editing program’s tools and palettes. But, these high-res displays can also get very expensive and may be out of reach for many. 

For some types of design, or someone just starting out, 4K may be overkill. Instead, a resolution of at least 2560 by 1440 will give you a good balance between quality and price. That said, if you can afford a 4K–or higher–monitor, go for it. The Apple Studio Display currently offers 5K resolution, which is nice to have if you’re flush with budget.

 

Color accuracy

 

The third essential feature of graphic design monitors is color accuracy. For some kinds of design, such when you need to print your designs often, this factor may be the most crucial. When your client receives their flyers or business cards, you don't want them to be surprised by a color difference from your mockups. Maintaining a unified brand image requires that the colors you see on your screen be faithful representations of the true colors.

The extent to which the color spectrum (or range) is represented is a factor in color fidelity. An ideal graphic design display would provide full coverage of both the narrower sRGB color space and the more comprehensive Adobe RGB color space. DCI-P3, an even more expansive color space, is typically employed in the motion picture industry. In general, good color performance can be expected if a sizable portion of the DCI-P3 color space is covered.

Aside from that, the other part of color accuracy is where things get quite academic. Delta E is used as a standard for measuring the color accuracy of a monitor (dE). The lower the dE value, the more precise the display. Try to choose monitors with a dE of three or less if you're doing graphic design.

In addition, it is important to remember that even though a good monitor will be calibrated properly out of the box, you will still need to purchase a color calibration tool for professional-level design work. An excellent tool for checking the accuracy of your display is the Datacolor SpyderX.

 

Color gamut is critical

 

Of course, the similarity in accuracy between the NZXT Canvas 27Q and Asus ProArt PA32DC may leave you scratching your head. Why pay over 10 times more for the Asus?

Color gamut is a key reason. A monitor’s color gamut describes the range of colors that it can display. This is often measured relative to a specific, industry-standard color space, such as sRGB, DCI-P3, Rec.709, or Adobe RGB. If a monitor has a color gamut that can display 99 percent of DCI-P3, that means it can show 99 percent of all colors included in the DCI-P3 color space.

That’s why a wider color gamut is better than a narrow color gamut. A monitor with a narrow color gamut literally can’t display some colors, which means they won’t appear correct on that monitor.

 

A high resolution is preferrable 

 

Generally speaking, more pixel density is better than less pixel density on a display. If the resolution is high enough, more of the image can be seen at once without having to zoom in, and the image will appear more clear and detailed. While 4K is ideal for today's high-end graphics design monitors, 1440 is sufficient for most users.

This task you undertake is crucial as well. For example, if your graphics design focus is web design, you probably won't need a very high resolution. However, high resolutions are in high demand among photographers because they facilitate more efficient editing of high-resolution images captured with digital single-lens reflex cameras (DSLRs) or even smartphones.
 

It’s good to have options

 

Even though the best monitors for graphics design have great default visuals, designers often need to adjust monitor settings to meet personal or client preferences. The sRGB color space may be all that's needed for one task, while DCI-P3 is needed for another, and so on.

All of the displays below allow for some level of customization, with additional features available on the more expensive ones. That's where the Asus ProArt PA32DC really shines. It looks great right out of the box, but it can also be adjusted to meet a wide variety of color space, gamma, and color temperature needs. The image quality can be fine-tuned with the built-in calibration tool.

 

Display type

 

Without diving deep into monitor technology, you’ll typically want to look for a monitor with IPS or in-plane switching. These displays still rely on LCD (liquid crystal display) tech, but they often offer far superior color reproduction and much wider viewing angles than their competition. This tech can help fend off typical shortcomings like monitors that get darker or introduce color shifts as you approach the edge of the screen.

 

Anti-reflective screens

 

Just like with camera lenses, reflections are bad news when it comes to monitors. They reduce contrast and have a negative overall effect on the on-screen image. Ambient lighting can also cause odd color casts on the screen, which can affect its performance. Some displays rely on anti-reflective coatings or matt surfaces in order to cut down on reflections. That’s something to consider if you work in a space with a lot of ambient light or windows. Some models include hoods that shield the screen from ambient light.

 

Price

 

The price of a model often reflects its quality, but not always. So your job is to choose wisely. Picking something that’s best within your budget is ideal.

 

FAQs

Does a graphic designer need a 4K monitor?

A graphic designer does not necessarily need a 4K monitor. While 4K will provide excellent levels of detail, a plus for design work, the cost of a 4K monitor can be extremely high. You can still produce quality designs at a lower resolution. We would recommend something with a resolution of at least 2560 by 1440.

Q: Are OLED monitors good for graphic design?

OLED monitors are good for graphic design. They offer exceptional contrast and color, which is essential for graphic design work. That said, they do get costly compared to other options. So while they are nice to have, they are not a must-have if your budget doesn’t allow it.

Q: How much does a monitor for graphic design cost?

A monitor for graphic design will cost anywhere from $250 to $6,000. The price will vary depending on aspects like resolution, size, and display type. The cost gets quite high as you get into higher resolutions and sizes.

Q: Are curved monitors good for designers?

Curved monitors are good for designers, especially when you get into large monitor sizes. This is for a few reasons. First, curved monitors actually lessen distortion. With a large flat screen, the monitor’s edges will be further away from your eyes than the center, which will produce distortion. With a curved screen, the curve puts the entirety of the monitor at roughly the same distance from your eyes. You also get a wider field of view with a curved screen because it will fall more naturally into your field of vision. All of this also means that a curved screen will be easier on your eyes than a large flat screen, which is a plus when you spend long hours staring at a screen.

 

IN CONCLUSION

 

A monitor that is suitable for graphic design should have three primary characteristics: a screen that is of a respectably large size, a high resolution, and correct colors. Beyond these considerations, the specific screen size and functionality you require will depend on your personal preference, the kind of design work that you do, and whether or not you intend to use the device for anything but design.

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