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Are you looking for a monitor for image processing and photo/video editing with very good color representation? Different people have different wants and need for a monitor depending on how they intend to use it. If you are looking for a monitor for video and photo editing, you need a monitor that is optimized for these purposes.
In this article, we have listed and taken a closer look at some of the best and most popular monitors for photo and video editing. Further on, we’ll also take a closer look at some of the most important things to take into consideration when making your pick.
How big you want your monitor to be depend primarily on the size of your desk and your budget. 24-inch and 27 inches are suitable for most photographers. If you have a lot of space, you can also think about 34 inches.
My recommendation is still a 24 inch monitor. I find the combination of size, resolution (Full HD), and value for money optimal. Why exactly I describe in more detail below under the topic of resolution.
If you edit photos and videos professionally, you need a 4K monitor for photo and video editing. A 4K monitor is four times sharper than a Full HD monitor, so every detail is pin-sharp. Ideal when you want to remove a small but distracting object from your photo. A monitor for image processing is characterized by a wide coverage of commonly used color profiles such as sRGB, Adobe RGB and DCI-P3. This means your monitor will display the same tones as your editing software and you can choose from many different colors. These monitors come pre-calibrated by default or offer calibration options so you can get started right away.
Without further ado, let’s dig in!
Best monitor for photo and video editing
LG 27UL500-W 4K
The LG 27UL500-W 4K is a 27-inch 4K Ultra High Definition monitor with a maximum display resolution of 3840 x 2160 pixels, internal color calibration, black stabilizer (contrast compensation), and extreme color accuracy that covers 98% of the sRGB color spectrum.
All the technical refinements and the affordable price make this monitor an ideal screen for image editing and photographers.
Key benefits
- 27 inch
- 4K Ultra High Definition
- 3840 x 2160 pixels maximum display resolution
- 98% coverage of the sRGB color spectrum
- affordable price
LG 38WN95C-W QHD+
If you are looking for a large ultra-wide monitor for your image editing work, then the LG 38WN95C-W QHD+ monitor with a maximum display resolution of 3840 x 1600 pixels and 99% coverage of the sRGB color spectrum could be the right one for you.
The modern, slightly curved design allows much more space to work and is also ideal for multitasking. You can work on several projects side by side and simultaneously.
Key benenfits
- 38-inch
- QHD+ resolution
- 3840 x 1600 pixels maximum display resolution
- 99% coverage of the sRGB color spectrum
- Ultra-wide monitor
Dell UltraSharp U2719D
The Dell UltraSharp U2719D is the ideal image-processing monitor in the medium price range. A 99% coverage of the sRGB color spectrum and Full HD resolution with a maximum display resolution of 2560×1440 ensure the right color and sharpness.
Key benefits
- 27 inch
- QHD resolution
- 2560×1440 pixels maximum display resolution
- 99% coverage of the sRGB color spectrum
- In-Plane Switching (IPS) technology ensures consistent, vivid colors across a wide viewing angle
Viewsonic VP3881
Viewsonic VP3881, a 34-inch ultra-wide monitor curved monitor with WQHD+ resolution and 100% sRGB color spectrum coverage, comes in 5th place. If you’re looking for a large, curved monitor for photo editing, video editing, and graphics work at an affordable price, the Viewsonic VP3881 could be for you.
Key benefits
- 34-inch (curved)
- WQHD+ resolution
- 3440 x 1440 pixels maximum display resolution
- 100% sRGB color spectrum coverage
- HDR10
Dell P2419H
The Dell P2419H is an affordable monitor that offers excellent bang for the buck. At the same time, due to its affordable price, it does not have much to offer technically. If you are looking for a cheap monitor, then this monitor might be interesting for you. It’s really only recommended for people who don’t have much budget or own a small laptop and want to have a larger image for editing with the monitor.
Key benefits
- 24 inch
- Full HD resolution
- 97% sRGB color coverage
- 1920×1080 pixels maximum display resolution
- Inexpensive
LG 32UN880-B
The LG 32UN880-B is a monitor that was developed to meet the higher demands of architects, graphic designers, photographers, and videographers. 4K resolution and up to 99% sRGB color coverage speak for this monitor. Furthermore, the design makes it very easy to set up the monitor ergonomically.
Key benefits
- 31.5-inch
- IPS display
- 4K resolution
- up to 99% sRGB color coverage
- 3840 x 2160 pixels maximum display resolution
- HDR10
ASUS ProArt PA278QV
We’ll be honest and say that his monitor is not very good compared to the other alternatives. However, if you’re on a budget, it could be a suitable option. The ASUS ProArt PA278QV monitor is a monitor for hobbyist photographers and hobbyists at an affordable price.
Key benefits
- 27 inches
- WQHD resolution
- Color space coverage of 100% sRGB and 100% Rec. 7092560 x 1440 pixels maximum display resolution
- affordable price
Dell Ultrasharp P2720Q
When it comes to monitors, computer manufacturer Dell has been a well-known figure for some time. With the Dell Ultrasharp P2720Q, Dell offers a 27-inch 4K screen that is ideally suited to the needs of photographers and videographers. The integrated calibration function is remarkable as it can be controlled by schedule and ensures that users do not have to mess with the calibration.
In addition to the ability to reproduce 100% AdobeRGB and 90% of the DCI-P3 color space, the Dell has some other interesting features: A special coating keeps the display glare-free, for example. The scope of delivery also includes a light protection hood, which enables effective work.
The UP2720Q offers two Thunderbolt/USB-C ports, with which the monitor can easily connect to modern PCs and notebooks. It can charge notebooks with up to 90 watts. Four USB 3 ports, some with an additional charging function, predestine the Dell UP2720Q as a docking station for computers, smartphones, and cameras. Connection to older computers is provided by the presence of a display port and two HDMI connections.
Pros & Cons
- Excellent equipment
- Integrated calibration sensor
- Thunderbolt port
- USB docking station
- Supplied light protection hood
- 3-year guarantee
- Only 60 Hz refresh rate
- Only 250 cd/sqm brightness
Asus Proart PA32UCX
The Asus Proart series presents itself as solid and modern. The 32-inch Proart PA32UCX is one of the few monitors currently to have a mini-LED display, as is currently used by Apple in some Macbooks and iPads of the Pro series: This is an addition to the common LED technology around so-called zones, which can regulate their brightness separately.
This significantly improves the contrast display compared to classic LED panels. There are 1,152 of these zones on the PA32UCX. The monitor reproduces 10-bit color and can cover 99.5% of the AdobeRGB, 99% of the DCI-P3, and 100% of the sRGB color space.
Various HDR formats are also on board, as is a practical Thunderbolt 3 port for connecting to modern notebooks. The Asus Proart PA32UCX is pre-calibrated at the factory, but there is no hardware calibration.
Thanks to numerous interfaces, it can be used as a docking station and charges notebooks with up to 60 watts. Unfortunately, its high performance and flexibility, together with the latest screen technology, also result in a relatively high price.
Pros & Cons
- 32 inch with mini LED technology
- Outstanding contrast ratio
- Very bright (600 cd/sqm)
- Hardware calibration
- High price
Best monitor for photo and video editing – Buyer’s guide
Different purposes and usage areas have different needs and requirements. Gamers that intend to only use their monitor for gaming have one set of requirements and people who intend to edit photos and videos have different sets of needs and wants.
What do you need to have in mind when looking for a monitor for photo and video editing? That’s what we will look closer at below.
Is an ultrawide monitor worth it for image editing?
In my opinion, a monitor with an aspect ratio of 16:9 or 16:10 is good for photography. Your camera usually produces images with an aspect ratio of 3:2 or 4:3. An ultrawide monitor with an aspect ratio of 32:9, for example, makes little sense here because you don’t need the space in width.
Which resolution – Full HD, WQHD, or 4K?
A higher resolution is better because you can of course display more on your monitor. What do I mean exactly? When you edit your images in Photoshop or Lightroom, you simply have more space for the tools, layers, and palettes.
For example, buying a 15-inch monitor with 4K resolution because the programs displayed are then much too small. Windows 10 has a scaling for this circumstance, but in my experience, it does not yet work properly for all programs.
Which terms mean which resolutions?
- Full HD: 1920x1080px
- WQHD: 2560x1440px
- 4K: 3840x2160px
I, therefore, recommend 24 inch monitor with Full HD, from 27 inches with WQHD, and from 34 inch with 4K.
Graphics card and performance
If you’re using a high-resolution monitor, then your PC or laptop should also support it. The graphics card plays a crucial role here. Full HD is no problem for almost all graphics cards, even for the smaller onboard variants. While newer onboard graphics cards also support resolutions such as 4K, this is not always the case with older ones.
A dedicated entry-level graphics card is almost always worthwhile for image processing, for which higher resolutions are not a problem.
Color Spaces – sRGB, Adobe RGB, and ProPhoto RGB
Roughly speaking, the color space tells you which colors the monitor can display.
The two color spaces sRGB and Adobe RGB are particularly common, with Adobe RGB having the larger color gamut.
So how do you decide which of these color spaces you need? If you show your images primarily on the monitor, then sRGB. If you primarily print your images, then AdobeRGB.
The ProPhoto RGB color space is even larger than Adobe RGB, but in practice, it is only supported by a few print shops.
I use sRGB because I print my pictures for exhibitions from time to time, but my pictures can primarily be seen on the internet.
Brightness – adjust to the room
Panels – the technology in the graphics monitor
The technology of the screen should also be decisive in your choice of a monitor for image processing. The other values depend on it. Without going into the details of the technologies here, I would recommend a monitor with an IPS panel. This is relatively independent of the viewing angle and offers good color space, brightness and contrast.
No matter which device you choose, I recommend calibrating your monitor. I use a Spyder4Pro for this. The current version of this calibration device is the Datacolor SpyderX Pro.
Viewing angle
When choosing a monitor for graphic artists and photographers, the viewing angle should also be considered. It is a measure of whether the image always looks the same to the viewer, regardless of whether they are directly in front of the screen or more to the side.
Connections: HDMI and DisplayPort
A monitor for photographers and graphic designers should have an HDMI connection and a DisplayPort. The latter makes it possible to display up to a billion colors, as long as the operating system and the graphics card play along.
What are the different monitors for image processing?
The main difference between monitors is the type of image generation. The CRT monitors that were common in the past have long since been replaced by modern LCD screens, which enable significantly finer colors and color gradations. 8-bit monitors display up to 16.8 million colors, and 10-bit monitors over a billion colors.
In order to be able to fully process the necessary information, the computer’s processor, main memory (ideally DDR4 RAM), graphics card, operating system and image processing program must also be designed for this.
Twisted Nematic (TN)
The twisted nematic technology, also known as TN panel technology, impresses above all with its fast response time. With this technology, each individual pixel contains rod-shaped liquid crystals, which by default are aligned horizontally to the image plane. An electric field is used to ensure that all liquid crystal molecules align themselves vertically. This rotation makes them translucent. This causes the corresponding element to appear black.
In color screens, there are three sub-pixels for each pixel, colored red, blue, and green. More or less light reaches these pixels depending on the current strength in the respective field. In this way, additive color mixing creates part of the overall picture. Due to the constantly constant backlighting of the liquid crystals, a TV panel cannot offer correct black values.
In-Plane Switching (IPS)
This technology is similar in structure and function to twisted nematic technology. However, the liquid crystals are arranged in parallel on top of each other and are not twisted by 90 degrees. As soon as voltage is applied, they absorb the background light and become dark as a result.
They achieve darker black tones than TN panels, but can still offer little “real” black. Because all effects happen on the same plane, the distance to the viewer stays the same. This results in a significantly higher viewing angle stability. The color representation is also more intense.
Because the voltage-generating electrode on the back reduces light transmission, the backlight needs to be stronger than that of the TN panel. The power requirement is therefore higher than with TN models. The same applies to the response times.
Vertical Alignment (VA)
Also known as Multi-Domain Vertical Alignment (MVA), the structure of this technology is in fact the same as that of the TN method. When there is no voltage, all liquid crystals lie vertically in the pixel panel.
Since no light beam from the backlight can pass through this panel, all pixels appear black to the user. In this way, VA panels achieve the best black values among the three variants. When a voltage is applied, the LC molecules rotate 45 degrees. This changes the pixels from black to white. The color display is also realized here via three subpixels per pixel.
Which monitor for photo editing is right for me?
Which monitor is best for you depends on various factors. The right screen size plays a role here, as does the importance of color-accurate display and the need for special features, such as height and tilt adjustability or the option of color calibration.
Large monitors for professional image processing
When choosing the right monitor for professional photographers, graphic artists, and designers, the main factors are the image area and the resolution. After all, their work depends on a detailed representation of the image. A screen size of 30 inches or more (approx. 76 cm) is recommended.
Optimum contrasts and color values for graphic design
Monitors for designers must display contrast and color values accurately. Models with IPS or VA panels are ideal for this. Although the VA panel is a bit behind the IPS technology in terms of color fidelity, the viewing angle independence is almost the same. Overall, VA monitors represent a good compromise between image qhttps://www.ephatech.com/why-seo-is-important-in-e-commerce/uality, performance, and color fidelity and are a good alternative to IPS displays thanks to their lower price.
Curved monitor for tight spaces
Curved models can help where two screens are needed but there is not enough space. Thanks to their curvature, these displays automatically offer a larger display area. In addition, the overall picture can be seen at a glance. Incidentally, such a monitor is also ideal for video editing and gaming, as the viewer is drawn more into the action thanks to the special depth effect. In the field of video editing and video editing, the curved monitor also has the advantage that it offers enough space for long timelines.
Best monitor for photo editing: This is what matters
You may have wondered about the sRGB and AdobeRGB settings on your camera. What is the difference and what choice should I make? If you’re asking yourself these questions, your best bet is to stick with sRGB. This is a color space that most monitors cover almost 100 percent – the larger color spectrum AdobeRGB, on the other hand, often only covers 70 percent or even less. Only the best monitor for image processing serves this. With all others, color shifts can occur and the photo or image may appear dull and color-distorted.
The best monitor for image processing, on the other hand, flickers more: screens for photographers and graphic artists cover at least 90 percent of AdobeRGB.
Anyone who works in the CMYK color spectrum in a print shop, photo agency, or pre-press area, for example, should pay close attention to this in the test and comparison. High viewing angle stability thanks to modern IPS technology, a brightness of more than 250 candelas per square meter and a good checkerboard contrast of at least 150:1 are also recommended. It is also important to calibrate the monitor regularly.
How important is the connection technology?
In the meantime, three connection technologies for monitors have prevailed: HDMI, USB-C/Thunderbolt, and DisplayPort. All three technologies can be adapted to each other within certain limits, but the connection should be kept in mind, depending on the computer used.
Many modern laptops only have USB-C and/or Thunderbolt ports, which can be easily connected to HDMI or display ports on the monitor using inexpensive adapters. Conversely, it becomes more difficult: If a monitor only supports USB-C or Thunderbolt, it cannot be converted into an HDMI interface on the computer side.
However, to keep the tangle of cables to a minimum, it is advisable to make sure when buying a monitor that the interfaces on the computer are supported.
4K monitors are now standard
Although there are many good WQHD screens (resolution: 2,560 x 1,440 pixels), some of which are also sold by the manufacturers, the 4K standard with quadruple Full HD resolution (3,840 x 2,160 pixels) can now be considered a must-have to be considered.
Exceptions may be older computers that cannot yet handle high-resolution monitors. However, every modern computer can control 4K screens without any problems. With an effective resolution of around eight megapixels, these screens are ideal for optimally displaying photo and video material.
How big should my monito be?
In connection with the resolution, the size of the screen is of course also important in order to ensure optimal display. Most users find sizes between 24 inches and 34 inches to be comfortable.
If the screen is significantly larger, it already has “television format” – the viewing distance may then go beyond the scope – and the device sometimes no longer fits on the desk. Above all, the lower limit marks the availability of the corresponding devices: There are simply hardly any monitors that are less than 24 inches in size.
Brightness and color rendering
Of course, a monitor should above all be as bright as possible, if only to achieve the best results in daylight, for example. Information on this can usually be found in the technical specifications of the monitor, where “nits” or “candelas per square meter” are usually mentioned.
Important: Nit and Candela/sqm are the same. The higher this value, the brighter the screen, but that’s not the only factor: Good color reproduction – recognizable by the size of the so-called lookup table (LUT) – as well as a color representation of at least 10 bits for the lowest possible color fringes are serious in every case Screen for photo and video editing mandatory.
