2015 iMac 10 Bit Display

I thought this might be good information for those who might be thinking about getting a new 5k iMac (Late 2015).

I just got mine (27") last month and today got PS CC 2015 installed and low and behold this thing does in fact have a 10 Bit (30 Bit total) Display. Very cool.

I discovered the setting both in Photoshop>Preferences>Performance>Advanced, enabled it, and then did the following...

In Adobe Photoshop CS6 create new file
900 px wide and 300 px tall
RGB color and 16 bit
Use gradient tool to create gray scale gradient from RGB: 64/64/64 to RGB: 96/96/96
Safe file as 16 bit tif file

I then turned on/off the 30 Bit setting in PS and sure enough, the image was banded with 30 Bit off and smooth with 30 Bit enabled.

System Info

Thank you for your infos ! I just got the 27 imac 5k also. Do you notice that the pictures are warmer or something wrong with my eyes ? Which Display Profile you're using sir ?

The display seems to be quite accurate for me and my prints, also match my iPhone exactly. I am using the default "iMac" display profile.

drisley wrote in post #18193752
The display seems to be quite accurate for me and my prints, also match my iPhone exactly. I am using the default "iMac" display profile.

You should really have the display hardware calibrated and then do so once every month or so. All displays drift over time but profiling keeps them consistent and accurate for as long as possible.

Interesting...just checked my 2014 iMac and it was already checked, but I unchecked it and there is a very noticeable difference. I've never had to calibrate mine, it very closely matches my Epson 7900.

ShotByTom wrote in post #18196450
Interesting...just checked my 2014 iMac and it was already checked, but I unchecked it and there is a very noticeable difference. I've never had to calibrate mine, it very closely matches my Epson 7900.

I'm guessing this a bit of forum mischief, since it's hard to believe anybody would be using an Epson 7900 and never even checked the display calibration in a couple of years. I hope you are not serious because the cost of a basic display calibrator is probably no more than you are charging for a single print...

Nope, I've never had a problem at all. I primarily sell canvas prints, but occasionally I print Luster and metallic paper. I know there are die-hard calibration people who swear you MUST use a calibration tool, but I've never had a need for one. There are many ways to get your colors right.

ShotByTom wrote in post #18196986
Nope, I've never had a problem at all. I primarily sell canvas prints, but occasionally I print Luster and metallic paper. I know there are die-hard calibration people who swear you MUST use a calibration tool, but I've never had a need for one. There are many ways to get your colors right.

There must be countless photo labs, retouchers, design agencies, prepress studios and professional printers all over the world who would love to learn your many ways of obtaining perfect colour every time without ever using a calibration tool.

I'm picking up on your sarcasm....and it's not necessary. I understand that you probably calibrate your computers, tablets, phones, TV's and everything else you slap that puck on, but not everyone does things the way you do. There's nothing wrong with that...I've never had a client ask if my monitor has been color corrected.

It wasn't intended as sarcasm. I am genuinely perplexed why you wouldn't spend $100 on a basic calibrator just to ensure the various computer displays in your studio or at home are set up according to industry standards. This is peanuts in the context of a business printing every day.

I understand you may not be working regularly with prepress or design agencies, but as a simple point of workflow consistency it makes sense to calibrate your displays and of course you need accurate printer profiles. For the record I only calibrate the display on my desktop computers. I don't have a laptop and the rest is not used for work.