How to Choose the Best Monitor for Photo Editing

When processing photos for clients, you probably want to get in and out of the editing bay as quickly as possible. But it can be challenging to find the right professional display or monitor that fits into your workflow and budget. Don’t worry, we’re here to help with three things to keep in mind when considering a professional display. That way, you can find the perfect look and get back to shooting.

Color Accuracy

Whether it’s weddings, portraits, or street photography, the most important factor is always color. With this in mind, we recommend a monitor like the 27” EZIO ColorEdge CG2700X 4K monitor, which features a built-in color calibration sensor and is factory calibrated for 99% coverage of the Adobe RGB gamut, making it ideal for print format. The sensor can be configured to automatically calibrate the display at a designated time, and it only takes about three minutes. A separate sensor reads the lighting conditions of the room and adjusts the monitor’s gradation, color, and brightness settings to match, so you can get straight to editing instead of spending time fiddling with the color setting.

OLED displays such as the 31.5” ASUS ProArt Display OLED PA32DC 4K Monitor are also worth checking out. Unlike the traditional IPS panel found in the EZIO ColorEdge and similar displays, OLED monitors don’t have a backlight. Instead, they run electricity through individual Organic Light Emitting Diodes (OLEDs), which deliver improved image quality, faster response, and deeper contrast with no backlight bleeding. For example, the ProArt Display OLED features a stunning 1 million:1 contrast ratio with a 0.1 ms response time. It is also calibrated for Delta E <2 color accuracy, covering 99% Adobe RGB and DCI-P3 gamut. A built-in motorized flip colorimeter works alongside the ASUS ProArt Calibration and Calman and Light Illusion ColourSpace CMS software to ensure color accuracy.

However, the improvement in quality is not without some drawbacks. Firstly, OLED displays are considerably more expensive than traditional IPS monitors. Also, even though the technology has fast caught up, many OLED displays aren’t as bright as IPS monitors. But perhaps the biggest issue is OLED’s higher vulnerability to burn-in, which is when bright static elements are left on the screen for so long that they become permanently visible on the screen. However, it takes hours for these elements to burn in, and there are plenty of ways to help avoid it – like using screen savers and varying your content layout – but it’s still worth thinking about as you choose your monitor.

Size and Resolution

When working with photographs, bigger is almost always better. At a minimum, we recommend at least a 27” display with a 4K resolution, like the BenQ PhotoVue SW272U. However, with Delta E <1.5 accuracy, a 16-bit LUT, 99% Adobe RGB and 100% sRGB coverage, and a handy Hotkey Puck G3 controller to help streamline your workflow, the PhotoVue more than makes up for size.

Generally speaking, 32” displays and above allow you to more easily see your layouts. At the same time, a higher resolution lets you clearly see sharp details while allowing you to fit more windows onto your desktop. This is especially important when working with large print formats using 45MP cameras, making the 32” Apple Pro Display 6K monitor an obvious choice. Its 6016 x 3384 resolution Retina display supports Apple’s Extreme Dynamic Range (XDR) technology, which delivers a 1 million:1 contrast ratio and a 1600 nit peak brightness level using 576-LED array. The LEDs are individually calibrated and use an integrated algorithm to modulate their intensity, providing the same color quality and performance as many OLED displays without the potential downsides such as burn-in. Apple’s True Tone technology uses two ambient light sensors, one on the front and the other on the back, to adjust the color intensity of the display to match your environment. We also suggest picking up the Apple Pro Stand for easy magnetic mounting and the ability to adjust for portrait and landscape viewing modes.

Other 6K HDR monitors include the 32” Dell UltraSharp 32, which features 99% DCI-P3 and 100% sRGB coverage, a 2000:1 static contrast ratio, 5 ms response time, and 450 nits brightness. As an added benefit, there is a built-in 4K 8MP webcam and dual-array mic system, ensuring that you look and sound your best while conferring with clients. Both the Apple Pro Display and the Dell UltraSharp 32 also support built-in daisy chaining. If your space allows it, you may want a dual or more monitor configuration to help better organize your windows and applications.

Budget

As a rule, you should go for the best color accuracy and highest resolution monitor your budget allows. That’s because it’s usually better to make a one-time investment that you can stick with as your needs grow instead of having to spend extra time and money to upgrade later. But we realize that it can be difficult to afford a top end display when you’re just starting out in your career. That being said, there are some excellent 27” 5K (5120 x 2880) resolution displays that provide professional quality visuals without burning a hole in your wallet.

Chief among them is the Apple Studio Display, which supports wide P3 color and True Tone technology like the Apple Pro display. Integrated photography (P3-D65), design and print (P3-D50), Internet (sRGB) reference modes allow you to quickly optimize the color space, white point, gamma, and brightness to fit different projects. It also has a 12MP Ultra Wide camera built-in with a studio quality three-mic array and an A13 Bionic chip powering features such as Center Stage auto-framing, ensuring clear communications with clients. Having a built-in Dolby Atmos six-speaker surround sound system doesn’t hurt either.

Another monitor well worth considering is also the ASUS ProArt Display PA27JCV. Sporting a 3000:1 contrast ratio, 500 nits peak brightness, and Delta E <2 accuracy with 99% DCI-P3 / 100% sRGB coverage, this display is ready for creating professional content. It also includes 10 presets that let you switch between Native, sRGB, Adobe RGB, and other color modes. The LuxPixel anti-glare, low-reflection (AGLR) coating is designed to minimize reflections while maintaining colors accuracy and sharp details for a paper-like effect. Additionally, a built-in KVM boosts your multitasking by allowing you to use your laptop and desktop systems simultaneously with a single mouse and keyboard in picture-by-picture or picture-in-picture mode.

For more information about these professional displays, including additional features, specs, and highlights, be sure to check out their detailed product pages. Or drop us a line below, and we’ll do our best to answer all your comments and questions.