Snappy_Girl Loc: Southern USA

I checked the "Search" function, but did not find a satisfactory answer.

I am using an older computer with a CRT monitor. It seems to work well as I view and edit my images. But I have been thinking about buying either an LCD monitor or an LED monitor, but they seem to lack the vibrant color of my old CRT type.

So, maybe some UHH members could share their thoughts on what I should do. If I keep the old CRT monitor, can the CRT tube be replaced these days if it fails? Or are they obsolete?

Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

Ann

Danilo Loc: Las Vegas

I think the Cathode Ray Tube has gone the way of the dinosaur, and probably it's best it has. If you make the switch (I recommend an LED monitor, as large as you can afford) you'll find yourself using less electricity, and generating less heat, and taking up less space.
I recommend one that allows tilting the screen, so when you're viewing from your comfortable seated position you can view the screen as close to perpendicular as possible. I had to put shims under mine to achieve correct viewing (kind of primitive). If you view from higher or lower you don't get the right image.
As to color: Are you certain the vivid color from your CRT screen was correct, or could it be exaggerated?
Just some ideas for you to ponder, Ann. Check some out at your Walmart, or whatever, and remember: you're not viewing them under the same conditions you'll have at home, it's WAY brighter in Walmart, or Best Buy than in most of our homes. Trust me, they look much, much better when you get them home.
Best of luck to you, whatever you choose! :lol:

Snappy_Girl Loc: Southern USA

Thanks for your comments. I was looking at monitors in Best Buy, and I realize that their lighting was much brighter than I would have at home. I have liked my old CRT because the screen view and the printer output are almost perfectly matched.

Thanks for your help. Ann

Danilo Loc: Las Vegas

If it matches your printer output, that really throws a bug in the ointment, doesn't it? Damn the good luck!

donnz Loc: Auckland, New Zealand

Hi I bought a led AOC monitor, a high quality video card and heaps of ram, my photos look sharp and clear on screen.
But all my pics look too dark on uhh and my laptop and iPad.
you mentioned matching printer with your CRT mines lousy .
I wish it was easier
I shoot in raw , pp them in Lightroom export and review them on the laptop, and then adjust for color , pain huh?
Don

TucsonCoyote Loc: Tucson AZ

Snappy_Girl Loc: Southern USA

I realize that the screen image and the print can never match perfectly, but mine are extremely close. Yes, I am lucky. I read about the problems some people seem to have.

Snappy_Girl Loc: Southern USA

That is one of my concerns related to a monitor replacement. What else will I have to replace? Video card, new drivers, etc. Seriously, I don't know how you can get any kind of good results using a laptop for viewing and editing.

I have used a simple program, QuickGamma, for color adjustments, and I have had good results.

Snappy_Girl Loc: Southern USA

Thanks. I have been down that road, but found nothing to satisfy my concerns. It looks like LCD and LED monitors have a ways to go to equal the CRT types.

Danilo Loc: Las Vegas

Hey Don, you're not alone on this, lots of people find their prints are darker than their monitor displays them. I know of some who have had to dial the "brightness" or "luminescent" DOWN as much as 50% from default settings on their monitor. You may need to do the same.
A print will never look identical to your monitor because it's being viewed by reflected light, and your monitor displays by transmitted light. But you can get it close.

Danilo Loc: Las Vegas

You should be able to do a simple unplug/plug-in exchange, Ann. Some folks go with different video cards, but it's not really necessary, they do it because they want to.

TucsonCoyote Loc: Tucson AZ

......YES ! and it would be nice to see pictures somewhere close to "natural" in colors and brightness, otherwise what is the use of photography !
For those of you into the artsy fartsy stuff save your breath I understand your side of things. :)

kitcar Loc: Liverpool.Merseyside. UK

I have an ancient Samsung (SyncMaster 151s) monitor & my prints were darker (change of printer) so my mind went back to my old dark-room, paper & chemical days i/e a test strip to find the correct exposure.
I brought the image up on PS, selected a section of the image with Marquee tool then - Image, Adjustment, Brightness/Contrast & brightened the selection by a couple of notches. Deselcted then repeated the execise several more times then printed, noteing the one selction that suited my purpose. Don't forget to take note of the settings of the variouse selections. It worked for the lightness or darkness but for colour correction, it's beyond me.

Mason Jar Loc: Mason, OH

Today, there are several monitors that have exceptional resolution. Heck, you can get an Apple with "Retina Display" actually better than the eye can see. Now in order to dispose of that CRT monitor you have to pay them to dispose of it.

Pedro2156 Loc: Manchester UK

New Monitors and printer output profiles are a very difficult thing to get right. The first thing you need to realise is that an image on any monitor will not match that of a printer because one is a back lit image and the other is reflective (Or something similar).
In terms of which monitor to purchase make sure it is an IPS monitor as a minimum, probably 16:10 ratio, but that is a little subjective from your point of view, minimum of 90% SRGB gamut and has a DVI or HDMI output.
Then choose your size, the bigger you go the more you add weight, footprint size and cost, but you do get more real estate to play with. Remember you do not purchase monitors every day, but you may will use it every day.
THEN, and very importantly, YOU MUST calibrate your monitor and printer. If you are using a third party printing service, then make sure you install their profiles, and soft proof/hard proof your images before sending to them. Also get hold of a test print from the printers and make sure your brightness matches the print, the best you can, this is never perfect. remember calibration does not affect brightness, only colour gamut.

A lot to take in, and there are many articles written about colour calibration, a HUGE subject on it's own. But the first few pointers are a good place to start when purchasing a new monitor.