Posted by Amy Hopp on October 23, 2009 at 11:13 PM
I just switched from a CRT to an LCD and purchased an NEC MultiSync P221W. I realize there is a difference in sharpness from one to the other, but my new NEC is too sharp - to the point where I can't stand it! All photos look oversharpened. I don't see anything anywhere as far as sharpness adjustment. Is there such a thing with an LCD? Does calibration help this? Right now it's straight out of the box - no adjustments made. I'm really frustrated and need some input from you LCD wizards...
Posted by David Bostedo on October 24, 2009 at 1:03 PM
Amy - Some LCD monitors do have a sharpness setting - but I don't know about yours. Calibration could possibly help a little - if the monitor is way to contrasty, it may look over sharpened.
But I think maybe you'll just have to get used to LCD sharpness. They are definitely sharper than a CRT, so sharpening done in CRTs will tend to look oversharpened on LCDs. Something to keep in mind is that most people are seeing your online images the way you see them now. (CRTs are pretty much dead, and I've barely ever used one for anything photo related.) Also, if you make prints, they should still be coming out the same, despite what you see on screen.
Perhaps someone here who has made the same transition, since I haven't, could give some better advice...
Posted by Jim DeWitt on October 24, 2009 at 2:30 PM
Amy -
I'm fairly certain I don't qualify as an "LCD wizard," but I have worked with NEC MultiSync LCDs. You don't tell us much about the computer driving the video, and that can have a lot to do with the display's appearance. If you have analog input, adjust the Fine control from the LCD menu and see if that helps. If you aren't using analog input; i.e., DVI or one of the other digital inputs, then your best option is to pull down the contrast a bit and see if that helps.
Amy, I read in a thread here that LCDs' default brightness is extreme and excessive, and that the default (or set-at-the-factory) color temperature isn't good for seeing colors accurately. I got 2 Planar LCD monitors early this year to replace my ancient and dying CRT, and I started adjusting them by (first, writing down the original settings) using EPaper Press's online calibration page. It has good information and links for further fine-tuning.
Discussion
4 repliesBut I think maybe you'll just have to get used to LCD sharpness. They are definitely sharper than a CRT, so sharpening done in CRTs will tend to look oversharpened on LCDs. Something to keep in mind is that most people are seeing your online images the way you see them now. (CRTs are pretty much dead, and I've barely ever used one for anything photo related.) Also, if you make prints, they should still be coming out the same, despite what you see on screen.
Perhaps someone here who has made the same transition, since I haven't, could give some better advice...
I'm fairly certain I don't qualify as an "LCD wizard," but I have worked with NEC MultiSync LCDs. You don't tell us much about the computer driving the video, and that can have a lot to do with the display's appearance. If you have analog input, adjust the Fine control from the LCD menu and see if that helps. If you aren't using analog input; i.e., DVI or one of the other digital inputs, then your best option is to pull down the contrast a bit and see if that helps.
The on-line help at NEC isn't bad.