TFT v CRT? Help needed

[Gilly B]

I have been using an Acer AC711 CRT monitor for about 8 years now and always favoured PP and editing on this rather than my laptops over the years. However, since I bought my bespoke Acer 9303WSMi laptop with its crystal bright screen, I have been toying with the idea of using this to edit my images.

This question is bound to get you experts laughing at me, but here goes....

When I load the images onto my CRT monitor, they almost always look underexposed. When loaded onto my laptop, they appear bright and colourful. I use Zoombrowser to load them and Camera Raw 4.0 to convert them. How do you guys determine what is the exact/correct image brightness on the laptop screen? Everytime I move the screen backwards and forwards the image appears over/under-exposed. :shrug:

Do you soley rely on the histogram?

Thanks

 

[fraggle101]

you should try to avoid useing the laptop to edit pictures.. its too variable Gilly...

 

[Gilly B]

you should try to avoid useing the laptop to edit pictures.. its too variable Gilly...

Are you saying that a CRT is a better option or saying a TFT/LCD is fine providing you keep it in the same position? The latter is my dilemma - what is the correct position? or do I rely on the histogram?

By the way Fraggle, I will probably stick to the CRT, but only after I have finished what I started on the Lappy.

 

[Canon Bob]

Gilly,

Monitors (both CRT annd TFT) are calibrated to be viewed perpendicular (90 degrees) to the screen. CRT's don't suffer too much luminosity change as the viewing angle changes but TFT's do. The better quality TFT's (the ones with a higher contrast ratio) cope quite well and reasonable shifts in viewing position shouldn't trouble you.

On the personal side.....TFT's are better for long term viewing as there is less stray light and radiation emitted.

Bob

 

[Chappers]

Gilly

You should really stick to one option to get the images correct.
I use Lightroom on both my desktop and laptop, but the laptop is really only used when I'm on location and then only as a storage /viewer application. All edits and corrections are done on the desktop with a calibrated monitor. I suspect that the problem you have is down to the two different screens you are viewing the images on.

Lap top screens are not the best in the world for correctly evaluating images ( Macbook pro excepted).

John C

 

[Slapo]

When I load the images onto my CRT monitor, they almost always look underexposed. When loaded onto my laptop, they appear bright and colourful. I use Zoombrowser to load them and Camera Raw 4.0 to convert them. How do you guys determine what is the exact/correct image brightness on the laptop screen? Everytime I move the screen backwards and forwards the image appears over/under-exposed. :shrug:

Do you soley rely on the histogram?

Thanks

Almost, histogram rarely fails me.

Also, don't use the notebook LCDs when you edit your shots. Most of them, especially the extra reflective ones, have a layer (which works with the reflective layer) that enhances contrast significantly and they're very often set to max. brightness.

To do a quick check whether it's worth doing any edits at all on any monitor, check if this 'test' looks OK on your monitor: http://www.displaycalibration.com/

 

[DiddyDave]

The chaps at Leach processing labs only use huge (old too) CRTs with big hoods on to avoid stray light

I was there on a visit about 18 months ago and they were moaning no-one makes high enough quality CRTs anymore and TFTs are 'crap' by comparison

That said, I do all mine on a TFT and find it fine; though I only do sensitive work in the evenings or with the window blinds up

You can get used to working with anything in time, so long as your viewing experience is pretty much the same light/angle

DD

 

[pxl8]

One thing to watch for using a laptop is that often the screen colour temp is set to 9300k and there's no way to change it which can have a serious impact on calibration.

 

[robsohn]

Gilly, first thing you need to do is calibrate your monitor, then you can compare CTR with laptop and you will realize that there is no point to do post processing on laptop screen .