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LCD and CRT questions

D

DodgerLD

Member
Hi,

I'm using a 17" CRT at the moment (MAG Innovision).

A scratch mysteriously appeared after a few days, and it has a dead pixel (never heard of a dead pixel on a CRT? -- neither had I).

Anyway, with the upgrade I'm about to do, I'd like to get a new monitor, but I'm not sure I'm that happy with the pixel density of LCD monitors -- I hate being able to see the individual pixels. I found the text (even with clear type) to be rather blurred when I had a look at a few displays at various computer shops.

So, with that in mind, I have a few questions:

1. Are today's LCD monitors OK/ideal for design work/photoshop, etc.?
2. Would you suggest I go for a 19" screen (CRT or LCD) as apposed to a 17" one? And why? (not sure I could afford a 19" LCD here in South Africa)
3. What is up with all you people with 20"+ monitors? LOL

Basically, I'm looking for some general advice, and it would be great to hear some of your experience, especially from those who use their systems for design work.

TIA.

D.
 
I've had a dead pixel on a CRT (NEC MultiSync) before. I don't know how that works either, but my guess is the shadow mask got some particulate in it.

I'd recommend you a 20" LCD@1600x1200. They have a good pixel density compared to others. The best pixel density lies in notebooks, of which some are even more dense than CRT monitors.

ClearType isn't required by any means, it is just used to emulate the soft look of text on CRTs (which in itself is blurry to some people).

1. LCDs are GREAT for CAD work due to their perfect geometry and perfect convergence. For Photoshop, if you want PERFECT/professional grade colors, you'd have to spend a lot. At that point they match the best CRTs. Otherwise they are just fine. The colors on 8-bit LCDs are nice and vibrant. 6-bit LCDs will probably be inferior to CRTs when it comes to color reproduction, but 8-bit LCDs have great color. I'm saying 6-bit as 6 bits per subpixel (18-bit) and 8-bit means 8bpsp (24-bit).

Aperture grille CRT vs. 8-bit S-PVA LCD color accuracy: http://www.behardware.com/articles/594-...ng-syncmaster-770p-pva-6ms-1500-1.html
The lower the color delta the better. Look at the calibrated ones. This is just your average consumer LCD. It does not have LED backlight and 10-bit gamma LUT like real expensive ones do, yet it still displays the colors faithfully.

Edit: side note: LCDs typically require nonlinear gamma to display the whole range of colors correctly. If you set an 8-bit LCD next to a CRT at default, it's usually a given the CRT will be better. Many people have no idea about nonlinear gamma.

2. 19"? Not if you care about pixel density.

3. I don't know. 😛

Everyone has a different opinion about monitors. Some people can't stand LCDs, some people hate CRTs, some people hate both like they killed their baby or something. They'll rant on and on how about one sucks. The best thing is to check it out for yourself.
 
1. Yes, some of them are good for these purposes. Just make sure you don't get a fast TN panel display, since they display only ca. 262,000 colors with the rest dithered, plus the viewing angles (esp. vertical) are poor. You would need a good monitor with S-PVA, P-MVA or S-IPS panel. 8 bit color (full 16.7 M) and better angles. For serious work, many LCDs require some calibration / tweaking but so do CRTs...

2. 19" = 1280*1024 = 0.294 mm pixel dot pitch. That's pretty large, if you ask me. It's your call but they are for sure more... hmm, how to say it, "grainy" than 17 inchers.

3. 20+ inches - higher resolutions, smaller pixels, larger screens which are nice e.g. for gaming, and often widescreen functionality which some people like.
 
Whoa ... I don't even think I could afford a 19" LCD here in S.A., nevermind a 20"! LOL

Q2 was more in reference to a 19" CRT as apposed to a 17". I don't think I could go bigger than 17" as far as LCD's are concerned.

The budget for my entire upgrade is only $985. I should probably spend no more than $400 on the monitor itself.

Thanks for your help so far.

D.
 
I knw you on a tight budget but do consider Viewsonic 19" VX924/VX922, just had a demo and i can say these are mind blowing!
 
Originally posted by: craige4u
I knw you on a tight budget but do consider Viewsonic 19" VX924/VX922, just had a demo and i can say these are mind blowing!
Click to expand...

Those are 6-bit TN panels and are meant for mostly gaming.
 
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