Macbook vs PC PP

[a_merker]

Hello!

Me and my boyfriend ride motocross on the weekends and I bought my first DSLR earlier this year when we started. They have needed some tweaking and such, but I have noticed that between my boyfriend's computer and my own, there is a difference in the contrast. His looks over contrasted in some pictures where as on my computer they look just fine. So my question is, how do you know which is the correct representation of the picture? I'm not sure if this can be answered here or is this is better suited to be asked of a computer guy, but figured I would try and see if anyone had any advice for this. Any and all help would be appreciated! Thanks!

[Rentham]

You need to calibrate your monitor(s) with something like this. Until you've done that, neither monitor is technically correct.

[ceremus]

This probably isn't so much as Mac vs PC thing (which basically boils down to software) as it is a difference in screens. LCD's are not created equal, and particularly in laptops the common panel type is called "TN", and this type is very widely used as it's generally the least expensive type of LCD panel. TN is usually OK for general use, it's often preferred for gaming because it's very quick and responsive. It's very sub-optimal for design use in print and photo processing however, for a couple of reasons.

Number one is color reproduction / color fidelity. Most TN screens are inadequate in terms of print processing because even when calibrated they're not always going to represent what you see on the screen versus what gets inked out in paper. In photo processing you can get away with them if you're careful. But even then, one of the tell tale signs you're working on a TN panel is that the colors will fade and shift as you adjust your viewing angle, so what looks fine to you on one screen may end up looking completely different on another.

The second reason is contrast. TN panels are notoriously bad at reproducing darker tones, getting good black tones from them is usually out of the question. Of course getting true blacks from any LCD panel is nearly impossible, you really have to go to a CRT monitor if that's a sticking point for you, but TN panels are probably the worst in this regard.

The ideal photo editing LCD screen are know as IPS panels. The contrast is amazing, it has much better dark tones, and no matter which angle you view the screen from the colors you see remain true. There's no color shifting, no washing out of the screen when you adjust your viewing angle.

The medium-priced to more expensive Dell LCD's are typically IPS panels. There are other manufacturers that use them, but you often need to do your research to see which models they are.

[jdepould]

Mac and PC does affect it to a certain degree. The default gamma on Macs is brighter (sort of) than most PCs.

[a_merker]

Ok I have heard of calibrating monitors, and I did some quick reading before posting this reply. My question now is, would it be better to get an LCD screen that has the IPS panel and if so does it need to calibrated? Or will calibrating a TN panel work? Or is this more user preference? I know on my screen the coloring vaires depending on the angle of the screen and I had read that that could affect it as well. Thank you all so much for the replies, they are all very helpful and I have learned quite a bit!

[ceremus]

I would say that calibration would help, how helpful it is may depend on the quality of the panel. If you get a lot of washed out tones from the screen, typical of low-cost TN displays, it may be a better use of money to invest in a better screen. If the color quality seems generally good then you can certainly calibrate it, just be careful of your viewing angle(s) while editing. And yes, if you want a true-to-life representation of color, whether it's on an IPS or TN panel, you will probably need to calibrate it. Some models are better calibrated out of the box than others, but most will need to be adjusted, it just depends.

Whether or not you need an IPS instead of a TN LCD screen is up to you. I know that I can see the difference, and were I editing professionally I would definitely be working on one. As a hobbyist I have a pretty nice TN LCD from LG, and it serves my purposes well enough. If you're considering it, see if you can track one down in a store to see it in person. I believe many Apple displays (the standalone monitors) use IPS panels, but the one way you will know for sure is if you are viewing the screen from multiple angles and there is no color shifting whatsoever.

[a_merker]

Awesome, thank you so much for the info! I think I will try calibrating the one I have for now, but I'm also going to look into either a better TN or an IPS. Thanks again all for the help; you all are great!