Best Photo Editing Monitors

As I mentioned, there is a lot that goes into a monitor. The technology has come a long way, and so have the specifications. You will want to familiarize yourself with these when searching for a new display. 

These days the spec sheet for a monitor seems to go on and on and include obscure terms such as nits, gamut, refresh rate, and more. Fear not; these are easier to understand than it seems.

Here are three important factors you need to consider when shopping for a new photo editing display. 

Peak color accuracy 

This refers to seeing the colors as accurately as possible on the screen. Color space is an important aspect of photography. It is a defined color combination within a model. Most photographers use the standard Adobe RGB.

Learn the difference between Adobe RGB and sRGB here.

This color space is larger than sRGB, the standard across the web, yet smaller than ProPhoto RGB. ProPhoto is often used for printing and contains even more colors than Adobe RGB. These are the three most common color spaces. 

Optimized color calibration

A properly calibrated screen is a photographer’s dream. This is often overlooked, yet important for creating accurate colors throughout your portfolio. Most monitors need to be calibrated regularly. Some expensive models have a self-calibration tool that works automatically. 

To ensure your monitor displays precise colors, a monitor calibrator or a “colorimeter” is essential. This device is placed over the monitor and works with paired software to reset the gamma and colors, offering greater accuracy and ongoing reliability. 

Gamma is a complex term; essentially, it refers to how vibrant an image looks on a display. Adjusting the gamma is akin to adjusting the luminance of a photograph in Lightroom. Adjusting the gamma of a monitor controls the overall brightness of an image. Having the ability to fine-tune the gamma will help you control and enhance the vibrance of the details in your photographs. 

Unparalleled panel technology

Monitors have come a long way over the past decade. In-plane switching (IPS) refers to how the liquid crystals in the monitor transition from color to color. It offers greater flexibility in viewing angles and is superior for photo editing. 

The viewing angle is something worth considering alongside your workflow. Do you stand when editing? Do you often have a team working with you? Consider these aspects when looking at the ergonomics of a monitor to best dovetail with your workflow. 

Just as important is screen resolution. The more pixels a display holds, the sharper the image will display. This helps avoid over-sharpening your images. The screen size is also an important factor to be considered.