The whole LCD versus CRT debate.

radiantm3 · Mar 14, 2006

I know there have been numerous discussions regarding CRT vs LCD in the design world (more specifically related to print). Most people come to the conclusion that a high-end CRT is the better choice. I was just wondering what some of your thoughts were on what Apple says about it.

If you visit their color section (http://www.apple.com/pro/color/workflow/), read the first page. I know apple's just trying to sell their products, but is there any truth to what they are saying? I'm just wondering what those with a lot of experience in the print industry and also have experience using high end CRTs alongside Apple's latest line of cinema displays think.

Josh · Mar 14, 2006

In every pro design/photo/print shop I've been in, I've never seen an LCD being used.

CRTs+hood seems the way to go.

radiantm3 · Mar 14, 2006

Josh said:
In every pro design/photo/print shop I've been in, I've never seen an LCD being used.

CRTs+hood seems the way to go.

To play devil's advocate here, I noticed a lot of design studios are years behind in technology. A lot of them are still running OS9 with powermac g3's and g4's and still using photoshop 7. And even if they are up to date on their hardware and software, I'm thinking a lot of them will keep using the same displays because they still work fine (if it ain't broke, then why fix it?). My point is, just because most studios are using CRTs doesn't make them better. Most studios use Quark. Does that make Quark better than Indesign (subjective answer of course).

ATD · Mar 14, 2006

I'm running a Dual 2.0 and a Quad, OSX 10.4, one with a 23 " Apple Cinema Display and the other with a Barco Reference Calibrator (LCD). The ACD is no match next to the Barco.

radiantm3 · Mar 14, 2006

ATD said:
I'm running a Dual 2.0 and a Quad, OSX 10.4, one with a 23 " Apple Cinema Display and the other with a Barco Reference Calibrator (LCD). The ACD is no match next to the Barco.

Are both displays calibrated? Can you be more in depth as to how it's no match? I'm just curious.

stoid · Mar 14, 2006

I work in a publications office on a college campus, and we use LCDs (Apple plastics with the ACD connector)

In terms of color accuracy for printing, I've seen a monitor that I thought was accurate enough to trust for process (i.e. PANTONE) jobs, and you always have to get the swatch book out anyway. So I prefer LCD because the size is large enough that pixel density doesn't make me squint, and there is no flicker.

ATD · Mar 14, 2006

radiantm3 said:
Are both displays calibrated? Can you be more in depth as to how it's no match? I'm just curious.

To be fair the Barco is hardware calibrated and the ACD is software. I know a good number of people who have hardware calibrated a ACD and stated that there is little to no change in the calibration. Some will say it can be calibrated to a DeltaE of 1 like a Barco but I have yet to see for myself. I'm still doing research on that I will change my mind if I see that for myself, I do like the ACD. Until that happens I got to trust the Barco.

Felldownthewell · Mar 14, 2006

Josh said:
In every pro design/photo/print shop I've been in, I've never seen an LCD being used.

CRTs+hood seems the way to go.

At the place I intern at (commercial photography) they use LaCie monitors. there are two CRTs attached to G4s (running CS2) and a 19in LaCie LCD attached to a G5 quad, all with hoods. Honestly, I can't tell the difference, except that the LCD is brighter and had a little bit better color brightness.

JasonElise1983 · Mar 18, 2006

My office upgraded computers about a year ago. We got Dual 2Ghz G5s and 22-inch LaCie Electron Blue CRT monitors for the designers. Out art director uses a 22-inch Apple Cinema LCD display that we've had for a while. I think the new company that bought us out is looking to getting her either a 23 or a 30inch LCD for one reason and one reason only. They using a digital color proofing system that is only certified accurate on Apple LCD monitors (and another brand i can't remember). Everyone is getting out of the CRT marker, even LaCie, so i would look into LCD. They actually look really good.

sushi · Mar 18, 2006

JasonElise1983 said:
My office upgraded computers about a year ago. We got Dual 2Ghz G5s and 22-inch LaCie Electron Blue CRT monitors for the designers. Out art director uses a 22-inch Apple Cinema LCD display that we've had for a while. I think the new company that bought us out is looking to getting her either a 23 or a 30inch LCD for one reason and one reason only. They using a digital color proofing system that is only certified accurate on Apple LCD monitors (and another brand i can't remember). Everyone is getting out of the CRT marker, even LaCie, so i would look into LCD. They actually look really good.

I've some friends in the business.

In two cases, their work centers were upgraded. Both to ADCs.

It seems to me, that CRTs are on their way out even for this area. LCDs are getting quite good.

Again, not a professional, just based on what I've been seeing.

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The whole LCD versus CRT debate.

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