CRT to LCD mistake?

[Longjohns]

I have switched my Lacie CRT (died) for a Lacie 320 LCD .. it arrived yesterday and I hooked it up and right away I hate it... this is my first LCD so I am not sure what is the expected norm. My complaint is that the screen looks like a movie screen- it looks like it has a kinda frosted look, white noise, grainy..well you get the idea. Is this how it is suppose to look? I can't imagine editing a portrait.
I contacted PC Nation and Lacie with this question, they haven't responded yet. You guys are usually faster.

[René Damkot]

First question: Is it calibrated?

The LaCie LCD's I've seen look a bit different from CRT's, but certainly not bad.

[Longjohns]

I did not use 'Spyder' on it, I will try this... I didn't do this cause the IQ is so awful that I can't imagine this making more then a 20% improvement - which will then bring the IQ to a 4 outta 10.
I am thinking my graphic card or hook up is wrong....
I need a new computer... Mac G4 is tired....

[tim]

Are you using a digital output from your PC, or the same output as went to your old monitor? You should be using digital. You might need a new video card, if you can do that for a mac.

[tim]

(but the old output should still be pretty good - I run a 40" LCD TV from the analog VGA port and it looks great)

[Irreverent]

I wouldn't worry about issues yet. I'm sure this is purely a case of acclimatisation. When I first moved to LCD I hated how everything looked sharp and pixelated, and wondered where all my contrast had gone. It took me about a week to adjust..

Now every time I sit in front of a CRT (which is rare - but even a top end CRT) I wonder how people livewith those blurry images that look like they're hidden behind 2 inches of glass.

Don't worry, I'm pretty sure you'll get used to it and come to love it. Just wait for the buyer's remorse to settle down a little, and you'll be fine :)

[Longjohns]

My graphics card on my mac has DVI-I output and the LaCie has a DVI-I input.
So I am thinking that means that I am using digital ??
I have read (today on line) that for high res on quality LCD's that you should run 2 DVI cables from the the video card into the LCD monitor. The reason for this is to increase band width which will increase res.?? Help is this right?
LaCie has not yet visited with me on this yet...
Yeah your prolly right that I just need some time to adjust. I am not seeing contrast rather a kinda blurry image, it makes skin look rough, I 'll be using the healing brush to smooth things out all the time I am afraid... also this monitor so reminds me of a movie screen! I guess I better not whine and get busy using it.

[tim]

Nope - one cable is enough unless the resolution is insane, then it's a requirement not a "nice to have".

[Longjohns]

Thanks Tim,
The LCD spec res is 1600 x 1200 at 60 hz. That is the default res with the monitor.

[Longjohns]

opps....

[René Damkot]

Thanks Tim,
The LCD spec res is 1600 x 1200 at 60 hz. That is the default res with the monitor.
And you are running it at this resolution?
LCD's look bad if you run them at another res then their default.

[shadowcat]

I would never go back to a CRT from my lcd's allot depends on what monitor it is some are crap some are great you should all way's go to a store with them running and look for one that display is how you like it.

[bacchanal]

LJ, I would calibrate with a hardware calibrator, at the least, just so you know that you are in the ball park with brightness and contrast. You may need to adjust (lower) the RGB controls in the display menu to get the brightness low enough (depending on your environment/needs). FWIW, I have a my brightness setting at about 15 and my RGB channels at around 50%. This keeps my brightness in the 120 - 140 cd/m2 range.

The "frosted" sort of sparkly look is a characteristic of S-IPS panels, it shouldn't be blurry though (asuming you're set to the native resolution). You should get accustomed to the S-IPS look after several hours of use, but lowering the brightness of the panel may help with this as well.

[JohnnyG]

I use a Hitachi 21" glass monitor and have never seen (yet) a LCD that looks as good. I don't know what I'll do when this one breaks. I love the bigger LCD's for size but for photos, they don't look as good.

[Nightmare]

I use a Hitachi 21" glass monitor and have never seen (yet) a LCD that looks as good. I don't know what I'll do when this one breaks. I love the bigger LCD's for size but for photos, they don't look as good.
You might not have a choice. Over the last couple of years most manufacturers have quit producing CRTs. They are becoming increasingly difficult to find, let alone one from a good brand. I work with a much designers and as the LaCie CRTs started dieing, they switched over to LCDs. I haven’t heard any complaints from them.

To the OP, make sure you are running it at your LCDs native resolution. I don’t know much about LaCie’s LCDs (used their CRTs for years), but I have not experienced what your describing with any of the 4 LCDs I have.

[tim]

And you are running it at this resolution?
LCD's look bad if you run them at another res then their default.

This sounds like the likely problem to me.

[Irreverent]

I use a Hitachi 21" glass monitor and have never seen (yet) a LCD that looks as good. I don't know what I'll do when this one breaks. I love the bigger LCD's for size but for photos, they don't look as good.

This may or may not be a problem, depending on whether you are getting accurate results.

Precision displays shouldn't be designed just to look good, they are designed to be accurate, just like the monitor speakers used in recording studios are designed for accuracy, not to flatter.

You need to be able to trust your display to highlight any potential problems with the image, and a display that flatters images is less likely to do that.

TVs ought to be designed to look good, because they are displaying final output material that has already been through a mastering process.

For production work however, you would want something that is telling you exactly what is going on with a high degree of accuracy at all times, whether or not it flatters the material you are working with.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not suggesting that accurate displays ought to look awful - because they clearly shouldn't. Rather, a good display doesn't sacrifice accuracy for the sake of extra brightness or contrast, or richer, more saturated colours, to give a few examples.



I'm not sure if this is what you meant or not when you said "good", but it's certainly something to bear in mind.

[Longjohns]

I am using the res default ... this isn't good ?... then what should it be???
Thanks for your help everyone!

[Irreverent]

You'd know if it wasn't set to default cos everything would look overly blurry.

If you're in windows, right click on the desktop and choose Properties, then navigate over to the settings tab and confirm that the resolution is set to 1600x1200.

If your older display was a different resolution, say 1280x1024, then there's a chance you may be running at this setting. It's unlikely though, to be honest.

[Longjohns]

Thank you Irreverent! I am running at 16-12
I worked all day on a cover and I am not very thrilled with this LCD... But I will continue for a week longer.
I was the same way when I got the Wacom tablet, I hated it but it was expensive so I put the mouse away and wouldn't allow myself to use it and now I love the Wacom and hate the mouse.. go figure! :grin:

[Irreverent]

That LaCie ought to be a really nice display. The movie screen quality you're referring to is probably a lack of reflection from the glass of a CRT, which in turn ups the contrast of the image.

On a S-IPS display blacks will not render to true black, and you might find this a little strange at first. Do stick with it, assuming there are actually no faults with it, and it will all seem very natural soon, After a while I imagine you'll find CRTs to be a little blurry by comparison.

[mcmadkat]

Ok, have you checked both the sharpness and clockphase settings? I find that LCD do look a lot sharper than CRT anyway.

[Longjohns]

Ok here's an update...
I have had this LaCie LCD for 4 days and as of today I am thinking I like it! Its funny mcmadkat I had already done just what you suggested this morning and it is a big improvement.

I do have one more question, Is there a difference in IQ if the monitor is hooked up using analog or digital?

Yes the screen still has that movie theater quality and its hard to get used to but I can't see sending this back cause I am at a total loss as to what I'd replace it with.
( in the same price range)
Should I get a new graphic card? If so what? ( I have ATI RV250)
Thanks everyone... I am very happy you advised me to stick with it... If you hadn't I would have sent it back the day it arrived.
Gotta love P.O.T.N. :grin:

[tim]

Digital should be marginally better than analog. The video card shouldn't make much difference to appearance or performance AFAIK.

The main thing you can do wrote with an LCD is not running it at its native resolution, then not calibrating it.

[Longjohns]

Thanks Tim. I have switched this cable 3 times ...I don't know if I am seeing a difference or not.. its all suggestive...