Best Monitors for Graphic Design

Graphic design is quite diverse and as such you may find that the monitor one prefers for such tasks is different from what another person would prefer. There are so many considerations that go into finding the best monitors for graphic design. It is also imperative to consider if you will exclusively use the monitor for graphic design or other tasks as well.

One of the traits of true professionalism is finding a monitor that is specific to your needs. Besides the other elements in graphic designing, the monitor is critical and you need to invest in a great screen that will reward all your designing efforts by producing the expected results. The monitor should give you the right settings, color, resolution and so on, such that you can see your end product as it will appear when printed.

A monitor with great viewing angles, accurate color reproduction and a good resolution are some of the key features that you should consider. However, the biggest question would be how to find such a monitor. There are so many monitors on the market that promise to deliver all the essential features that you may be looking for, as far as graphic design goes. While this is good news, it can be quite confusing to pick the best monitor that will serve your specific needs in graphic design.

This article will try and put some of the key elements that will serve as a guide in finding the best monitors for graphic design. Keep reading and the end of the article, you should be able to make an informed purchase.

What You Stand to Gain

There are so many benefits that are attributed to graphic design monitors. When you buy the right monitor for design, these are some of the benefits that you can enjoy:

  • Most of the monitors will come with in-plane switching or IPS panel technology. This will give you rich and accurate color reproduction as well as wider angles to view the screen.
  • The high contrast ratios that the graphic design monitors have will give you images that are sharp and clear.
  • With the calibrated display, you can easily regulate the brightness of the screen. In design, having too much brightness is not really a priority. You want a monitor that will produce dark colors effectively.
  • The display of 10 bits per channel on these professional monitors will enhance the graphics displayed. In order to make the most of this, you should ensure that our PC and graphics card are able to support this.
  • Graphic design monitors have a wide color gamut and this will offer you an extensive range of colors that are displayed.

Disadvantages

  • Some of these professional monitors are not consistent. There are some buyers who have complained about their screen losing some pixels after a while.
  • There have been issues with the stands of some of the monitors meant for graphic design; they seem not to hold the screen in place and keep wobbling.
  • The monitors are quite expensive, and this may be a great setback for those who are just starting out.
  • Some models will not live up to the expectations of the users as far as color accuracy is concerned.
  • Some of the screens are too bright and the settings are limited. This may cause eye strain when you work for longer periods on your monitor.

While these are some of the key drawbacks with the professional monitors, they do not apply to all models. Some models will be perfect, without any flaws, while there may have one or two issues. Compare all the models and pick one that is ideal for your needs and with the least disadvantages.

Who Needs These Screens?

It is important to note that a professional graphic design monitor is the same as any other monitor, as far as functionality goes. The differentiating aspect is the key features. As such, it means that besides the professional graphic designers, any other professional that needs a great monitor can use these screens. As long as you have your needs and budget in place, you will be able to find the ideal monitor. A professional graphic designing monitor can also be used by other professionals like gamers, photographers, video editors, architects and so many more. The qualities and attributes may differ depending on the model and the amount of money that you are willing to put into it.

Specifications to Pay Attention To

In order to get the right monitor, there are a number of factors and features that you should be keen on. As you may have realized, there are so many different models on the market and as such finding the right monitors may need some guidance. Let us look at some of the key features that you should ensure your monitor has so that you can make the most of it in graphic design:

Size: The size of the screen is an essential feature in professional monitors for graphic designers. Please find a monitor that is at least 24 –inches as this will allow you to complete your tasks with so much ease.

Type of Panel: Most of the conventional monitors use a TN panel of display, but this seems to be limited in most cases. The main advantage with a TN monitor is the fast response time that it has. Your focus should be on the modern IPS panel technology, which gives you wide viewing angle and rich color reproduction.

Resolution: A higher resolution will give you the best display options. The least you can go for would be a Full HD resolutions of 1080p, which would serve a 2-inch screen effectively. You can also opt for Quad HD or the WQHD resolutions.

Screen Coating: The choice you will have is between glossy and matte coatings for your screen. For graphic designing, a matte screen would be the perfect fit, since it has the capabilities to prevent reflections on the screen. This is known as anti-glare, and is effective for prevention of eye strain.

Top Manufacturers

  • NEC
  • HP
  • Dell
  • LG
  • ASUS
  • Acer
  • BenQ
  • ViewSonic

Review of the Best Monitors for Graphic Design

There are so many monitors with these capabilities and features, highlighted above. As such, a new buyer may find it quite difficult to settle for the right monitor. In order to make this easier for you, we have reviewed some of the best models that the market has to offer.

LG 31MU97

LG 31 MU97 is a 31-inch monitor with a very high resolution of 4096 x 2160. This is 4 times the standard full HD resolution of 1080p. The screen also has over 500,000 more pixels than the UHD resolution. As such, you are able to get intricate details of the graphics displayed. This is rated as a 4K digital cinema monitor and will serve the needs of graphic design effectively. You will use the monitor to create quality artwork. The monitor has an IPS display panel, which means that you will get a wider viewing angle and an accurate color reproduction. All your work will remain consistent from the various angles of the display. It comes with Adobe RGB, which will enhance your profession as a graphic designer. The monitor has a single stream transport system and the color standard is that of DCI-P3 digital cinema color. It offers 10 bit-per-channel and this will work with the advanced graphic design applications like Photoshop.

NEC Monitor PA272W-BK-SV

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This is one of the high-end professional monitors that can be used for graphic design. The 27-inch screen has a high and reliable color accuracy that is already calibrated. The color calibration is made possible by the SpectraView feature, which is critical for color display in most applications. The GB-R LED backlight on this monitor will offer you 99.3 coverage of Adobe RGB and all this while it will consume 37% less power than other CCFL backlights. This monitor has an AH-IPS LCD panel, which is combined with the MDSVSENSOR3 calibrator. With these aspects, the monitor will certainly deliver accurate and high-quality color. The screen has a superior performance, capacity considering it has a 1440p resolution, 1000:1 contrast ratio and a brightness level of 340cd/m2. The Picture by Picture mode will display two sources at the same time and this has been known to increase productivity. Being a 14-bit monitor, you will appreciate the quality of work that it generates.

ASUS PA248Q

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Asus has been a consistent player in the monitor industry and the ASUS PA248Q is one of the best monitors that you can use for graphic design. Besides the basic design functions, the monitor will provide you with professional grade color fidelity and reproduction across the display. It has been rated as one of the best monitors as far as color accuracy goes. With a native resolution of 1920 x 1200 and 16.7 million display colors, you will enjoy the versatile nature of the monitor in graphic works. The good news is that the monitor is already pre-calibrated so as to ensure you get the best of it. It has an A+ IPS panel technology, which will enhance color reproduction and provide a wide viewing angle. It comes with 4 USB 3.0 ports, which will ensure faster data transfer. It has the capacity to deliver 100% sRGB color reproduction on the ultra-wide viewing angle.

Dell U2415 Monitor

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Dell U2415 comes with a spectacular color accuracy that is preset. It has a 99% sRGB color coverage supported by the factory calibration. This ensures that the colors you see on the monitor are accurate and that is the same way they would appear in real-life. This color accuracy is enhanced by the vibrant detail on the wide display area. Besides providing you with professional functionality, the monitor has numerous ways to connect your devices and peripherals. There are many ports on the monitor which you can use to charge or project your handheld devices. The screen size is 24 inches and comes with all the necessary features that ensure superb view angle. It is one of the eco-efficient monitors and is dependable. The ergonomic stand will provide you with the flexibility that you may need like height adjustment, tilt, pivot or swiveling the monitor.

BenQ BL2711U

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This BenQ monitor comes with a 4K resolution of 3840 x 2160, which will create intricate details that will bring all your ideas to reality. With 100% sRGB and various modes like CAM/CAD and animation, you can make all your creative inspirations come to life. This monitor will lead to brilliant work in your profession. You will preserve the true colors across the wide display. The monitor is consistent and accurate as far as its colors go and you will get the brightness levels that you desire. All the images will be bright and crisper and the resolution of the screen is 4x the standard Full HD. With the IPS panel technology, you will get a wider viewing angle of 178 degrees on both the vertical and horizontal panels. This will guarantee vivid images from all possible angles. The OSD controller and USB 3.0 will help you collaborate and connect to other peripherals with so much ease.

Acer G257HU SMIDPX

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The Acer G257HU has an ultra slim profile and has an ergonomic stand shaped like the letter X. This will make easier to place it on any space that is available. The 25” monitor comes with a display resolution of 2560 x 1440, which will give you exceptional detail and increase your productivity. As far as the connectivity goes, you can use the DVI, HDMI or the DisplayPort to connect your screen to the PC and other peripherals. You can also use these ports to connect your smartphone or tablet for Full HD display or to power the gadgets. The 4ms response time is ideal for projects that involve moving pictures. The monitor has a contrast ratio of 100 million: 1, which will provide crystal clear images. You can view 16:9 media content using this monitor, which means besides graphic design you can use the monitor for gaming and other professional tasks.

Conclusion

There are so many professional monitors that can be used for graphic design. There are some that are affordable, while others are quite costly. Whichever the case, as long as you put the various factors highlighted above into consideration, you will certainly find a monitor that works for you. It is our sincere hope that the information we have shared with you will help you get the best monitors for graphic design. We wish you all the best in your purchasing journey.