Nov 11 2011 - Anyone who works on computers for graphics knows that color representation is critical. Having a display that can produce the most accurate colors to the real world is vital to the artist, designer or photographer when working on their computer. The average consumer LCD monitor typically fails to meet their exacting color standards. Of course, it is critical to ensure that any LCD for graphics is color calibrated. So, if you are looking for an LCD monitor for your PC used in graphics work, check out my selection of the best LCDs in various sizes for color and graphics work.
1. Best 22-inch - HP ZR22w
©HP Inc.
While there are a large number of professional monitors on the market with extremely high color gamuts, they also tend to carry very high price tags. The HP ZR22w offers a nice compromise between cost and color support. The 21.5-inch screen uses IPS technology and features a 1920x1080 resolution. Color support is good with excellent saturation. Brightness is a bit low compared to many displays at just 210 cd/m^2 but most screens are set too high and over saturate the colors and wash out the bright colors. Connectors include DisplayPort, DVI and VGA but it does not support HDMI which is a bit disappointing. The stand supports height, tilt, swivel and pivot. Prices start around $290. Now, HP no longer lists this as an active product but it can still be found, if you can't find it, a nice alternative is the Dell UltraSharp U2212HM but it doesn't have as wide of a color gamut.
2. Best 24-inch - HP ZR24w
©HP Inc.
HP's ZR24w is similar to the ZR22w in terms of performance and features but with the larger 24-inch IPS panel. It covers the full sRGB gamut and nearly all of the AdobeRGB gamut. Resolution is 1920x1200 which is more traditional for wide screen computer monitors compared to many now using the 16:9 aspect ratio. Connectors include DisplayPort, DVI and VGA but not HDMI. Also included is a 4-port USB 2.0 hub. The stand features height, tilt, swivel and pivot adjustments. Prices should be under $400. If it is difficult to find, then the Dell's UltraSharp U2410 is a nice alternative but more expensive.
3. Best 27-inch - Dell UltraSharp U2711
©Dell
Dell's UltraSharp U2711 offers two things that most other 27-inch displays do not. The first is a higher 2560x1440 resolution that makes for a very sharp, high resolution display. Dell also color calibrates the display for both sRGB and AdobeRGB color profiles from the factory with a full report of its performance. This gives the display some of the best color support available (100% of sRGB and 96% of AdobeRGB) on the market and with a reasonable price tag compared to some other professional models. Connectors are plentiful with DisplayPort, HDMI, two DVI, VGA, component and composite. Also included is a 4 port USB 2.0 hub and 7-in-1 media card reader. The stand supports height, tilt and swivel adjustments. Prices range from $899 to $1099.
4. Best 30-inch - NEC PA301W-BK-SV
©Dell
If you are a series graphics professional that wants a very large high resolution display that doesn't compromise on color, then the clear choice is the NEC PA301W-BK-SV. In addition to having an IPS display that offers near 100% coverage of the AdobeRGB color gamut, it also comes with the SpectraView color calibration tool and software to keep that color accuracy over the life of the monitor. It features the typical 2560x1600 resolution for 30-inch displays but has a slightly lower brightness but that is generally a good thing to prevent color washout. Connectors include two DisplayPort and two DVI-D. It does feature a built-in USB 2.0 hub as well. The best part is that the stand fully supports height, swivel, tilt and pivot adjustments. Pricing is quite high at $2200. If the pricing is an issue, the Dell UltraSharp U3110 is much more affordable with prices starting around $1300.
