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Glossy or Matte?

In theory, glossy screens are sharper because the light rays are not being diffused (scattered) by the rough antiglare surface (all else being equal). I personally prefer glossy if you don't spend a lot of time around direct sunlight because I'm a stickler for deep blacks and glossy wins on contrast.
 
Digital Skunk said:
As usual the topic will call upon all sorts of supporters for each screen type. Soon the "Photographers" that claim to be "color critical" will be here explaining why they can't use a glossy screen to color correct their images, those that DO know how to edit will laugh our butts off at the inexperience.
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Colour matching on a glossy screen is of course possible but it is more difficult than using matte. One reason being that screen calibrators are less effective on glossy screens.. hell, the LED backlight on my LCD causes enough trouble. It makes no difference to me as I do all my work on an external display (for real-estate issues more than anything) but you can't argue that matching issues on gloss are solely contingent upon 'inexperience'. It is simply more difficult to accurately match for CMYK. This is one of the reasons you will never see a hi-end external display with a glossy screen, the added contrast/saturation which, is increasingly variable on angle, throws off calibrators and ultimately your colours.
 
I haven't thought about this... and it just hit me. (I'm buying my first mac soon as it updates)

I am assuming if I will be outdoors a lot... say doing some research or writing a paper under a tree. I should go with a Matte since sun glares might be an issue? Although I heard the glossy screen looks much better.
 
digitalpencil said:
Colour matching on a glossy screen is of course possible but it is more difficult than using matte. One reason being that screen calibrators are less effective on glossy screens.. hell, the LED backlight on my LCD causes enough trouble. It makes no difference to me as I do all my work on an external display (for real-estate issues more than anything) but you can't argue that matching issues on gloss are solely contingent upon 'inexperience'. It is simply more difficult to accurately match for CMYK. This is one of the reasons you will never see a hi-end external display with a glossy screen, the added contrast/saturation which, is increasingly variable on angle, throws off calibrators and ultimately your colours.
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You are correct, but the first rule of color toning is to never ever trust what your eye sees. That's why the numbers (or info palette in Photoshop and other apps) is the sole reference you use. Color calibrations will work for a short time before they have to be reset, and your eye is constantly changing regardless, so things will always look different. The only trusted source is going to be the color values your print shop/printer tell you, and matching them up with the information that your computer tells you on the screen.

p.s. When it comes to the larger display's I would go matte as well, but with my portable that I may be using for work and some play, I could swing either way depending on how good the screen looks.
 
Having worked around both glossy and matte screens in a variety of environments I've come to love matte. It's entirely a personal preference - I just hate the 'hard' reflections that I get from a glossy screen. Right now for example, my glass-framed artwork on the wall is reflecting the windows right at me, but my LCD is reflecting nearly nothing. And yes, I'm looking at them from the same angle :) It can take some getting used to when watching video or TV, but I use this 26" as my monitor and TV both and I've never had any complaints.
 
Matte I think is better all around. If you are in a car and traveling and need to type something, then there is almost no glare. If you are outdoors and are doing something, no glare. And if you brighten the screen all the way to the max, I don't think you want anymore brightness or color or your head will start to hurt. Matte just plain covers you.
 
caldavey said:
Matte I think is better all around. If you are in a car and traveling and need to type something, then there is almost no glare. If you are outdoors and are doing something, no glare. And if you brighten the screen all the way to the max, I don't think you want anymore brightness or color or your head will start to hurt. Matte just plain covers you.
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Really the glare is not that bad.

I just bought a MacBook after 5 years of using a PowerBook. I never bothered to take my PowerBook outside because it would become too washed out to see anything unless I brought the screen up directly in front of my face.

Maybe matte LCDs have improved since then but the glossy screen on my MacBook looks 100% more clear in daylight than my matte PowerBook did. The glare can be ignored if you tilt the screen right or don't focus on it.

Yes, the glossy is bright, but it can be dimmed and there are screen dimmers available that aren't that expensive.
 
I've always preferred Matte and the new LED MBP displays are greatly improved IMO.

Also, it's worth noting how much of a difference your color profile can make. I was originally not satisfied with the black levels and contrast on my Matte MBP but I found a great color profile which produces very nice colors.
 
ive only ever used matte screens and thought i wanted that for sure but after a while i feel like my screen has lost some of its brightness. glossy looks a lot sexier but matte is more functional.
im a little lost as to which i prefer now
 
e12a said:
Please search. Out of the dozens of glossy vs. matte threads, surely you can find your answer in those.
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Miserable git! If everyone simply searched then this would be a library instead of a forum. Does someone posting a new thread really cause you so much distress?

Leave the thread started alone!
 
pterodactyl said:
I am purchasing my first macbook pro and have a simple cosmetic question: Glossy or matte screen?
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I didn't read all the posts, because it really is personal preference, and you're not likely to know until you've tried! You probably already know Matte, because most all LCDs have been matte. If you can borrow someone's glossy screen for a while, try it out first.

I got a MB, so glossy was the only option. I am fine with it. I actually like it better in some ways. BUT I don't do computing on the go -- mainly just around my house. For example, I have the laptop with me on the couch as I watch TV. There is a lamp directly behind me. Never had a reflection issue. You can always adjust the screen just a little and any glare goes away.

If I had either/or (i.e. MBP) I might tend towards matte, because you know what it's like. If you don't need a MBP and want to save $600 and like everything else about the MB, then I'd say don't be afraid of the glossy.

One thing someone showed me in person -- take a flashlight (pretend it's the sun or a strong light source) and shine it directly on both screens. It's too hard to describe what the outcome is, but try it at your local apple store on both screen types. You'll see the glossy actually handles the glare better than the LCD (which becomes nearly unreadable).
 
As someone else pointed out, glossy is sexier while matte functions better. With matte you get more precise colors and don't get and glare on the display.
 
gescom said:
I had the same concerns as you do and finally went matte. I figure my MBP for the sake of portability couldn't enable me to control lightsources.
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IMHO, matte works better in changing environments including outdoors.

Radio Monk33 said:
I find matte easier on the eyes personally.
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Likewise. Extended use of a glossy screen gives me a headache.

TimJim said:
Matte, little less bright but much less glare.
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Exactly.

caldavey said:
Matte I think is better all around. If you are in a car and traveling and need to type something, then there is almost no glare. If you are outdoors and are doing something, no glare. And if you brighten the screen all the way to the max, I don't think you want anymore brightness or color or your head will start to hurt. Matte just plain covers you.
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Agreed.

JSchwage said:
As someone else pointed out, glossy is sexier while matte functions better. With matte you get more precise colors and don't get and glare on the display.
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When you look at a screen 10 plus hours a day, your eyes will appreciate a matte screen over glossy.
 
New rule:

Anyone who's already posted (or will post) should add in what they do most with their computer. I just wanna see what the correlation between matte/glossy & typical computer use is. Example: Glossy all the way! I mainly use blah blah blah (whatever applications).


So for me, I plan on getting a MBP here soon, but have been working on an iMac for the past 6 years (its screen is obviously matte). From what I can tell the glossy screens look awesome, and the glare doesn't bother me. But hey, I haven't really used a glossy screen long enough to say.
 
I can understand this new rule. I will be getting a 17" MBP matte just to see what it's like. I have a 15" glossy right now and do video editing and photos editing and some graphic design. I use FCP Studio 1, Adobe CS3, Aperture, and various multimedia apps for compression.

Professionally I am a lab tech (photo editor/tonal correction) and I don't have any issue with glossy screens whatsoever. They are crisp, there is a glare but not much at all (just turn the screen down) and they smudge real easily but for the colors that they give I don't think I will change my opinion of them, they are great.

I will try matte to see if there is a big difference between glossy and matte when I constantly use them but if I don't see much of a difference and miss the colors that the glossy screen give me then I will send my book back and get a glossy screen.
 
I love glossy at work (software dev), and I enjoyed the glossy MacBook I had very much just because things are so vibrant and I haven't ever been bothered by glare. I will, however, be getting a matte MBP soon as I hope to use it for Logic Studio's MainStage (effects during live gig) and I definitely thought the glossy would be an issue with the crazy stage lighting.
 
I have a matte iMac 24" white, and just sold a MacBook glossy.
Both fine for word pr. and web, but the MacBook glossy screen was terrible at photo editing and watching movies. The screen had such a narrow viewing angle that at no angle was the screen evenly lit.
I'll avoid glossy until i can test it well before buying, which was not the case with the MacBook. Reflections on the glossy did at times interfere. I didn't find the colors richer on the glossy compared to the matte. I say test the blacks before you buy. Bring a darkish movie (LOTR is a good one to test with) to the showroom and see how it performs. LCDs in general are not great at blacks, but the MacBook really annoyed me.
 
I have a 15.4" glossy screen and love it. I never use it outdoor or under direct light source, so glare is not much of an issue. I just use my mac for basic stuff like typing up essays on word and web browsing, works great for me.
 
I played with both side by side in the apple store. The glossy stands out more but I cant stand seeing my reflection in the laptop ( and thats just in the store lighting.... I can only imagine what would happen outside) I make web sites and do lots of photo shop so I need it to look the same. Changing my viewing angle on the glossy screen changed the colors appearence slightly. Thats not acceptiable. Also finger prints dident show up as much and looked nicer overall. Unless you like your screen to look like someone just pulled it out of a pool.
 
I have used my first 12" G4 PB (matte) and my current 15.4" MBP (matte) outside at the racetrack for data acquisition (graphing and video) interpretation and now I am looking forward to my glossy MBA for the same purpose. The matte is tough to keep clean in an outdoors environment. I guess I should have bought a ToughBook! :D

I understand how people could be bothered with the glossy screen reflections outside, but for my use, the glossy is MUCH better. Better contrast, better "pop," and the several people craning around for a view at the laptop on top of a sedan on a sunny pit lane don't seem to squint as much with a glossy display. I vote glossy!
 
caldavey said:
Matte I think is better all around. If you are in a car and traveling and need to type something, then there is almost no glare. If you are outdoors and are doing something, no glare. And if you brighten the screen all the way to the max, I don't think you want anymore brightness or color or your head will start to hurt. Matte just plain covers you.
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I usually pull over if I have to type something. Bridge abutments sure come at you fast!;) Seriously, I found that matte is next to impossible to see outdoors. I'll find out this summer if glossy is any better. But in every other respect, I vote glossy.
 
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