Best Monitor for Video Editing and Color Grading

Color grading/color correction is a critical step in the post-production workflow.  It is a highly in-demand niche that offers excellent pay and chance to potential work on some of your favorite TV shows or movies.

With high grade clientele like major film studios, Netflix, etc., you will have the pick of the litter in terms of equipment. The highest quality color grading monitors like the Flanders Scientific models can go for $5000 or more. These clientele may have equipment on hand that you can choose to make use of, and in those cases you wouldn't be here reading this guide.

As for the most of us, i.e. working for a media agency, or as a solopreneur or independent filmmaker, we'll likely have tighter budgets and want to get the best quality for a reasonable price. The good news is that there are plenty of options for monitors in affordable price ranges that do a great job at HD color grading (i.e. Rec. 709).

In this guide we'll go through what to look for in your color grading monitor and provide our top picks on the best options on the market right now.

Let's go!

How to Pick the Best Monitor for Color Correction and Grading

HDR vs. SDR

High Dynamic Range (HDR) monitors are truly some of the highest quality monitors on the market, however they may be overkill. At more moderate price points you'll likely be using an SDR (Standard Dynamic Range), and the technology behind SDR monitors can handle the Rec. 709 color space (especially when used thoughtfully with appropriate calibration).

Contrast Ratio

Following color accuracy, contrast ratio is the next most important aspect of a color correction monitor.

Note about ABL (Auto Brightness Limiter) – There is a feature of many OLED monitors called Auto Brightness Limiter. ABL is possible to disable in some monitors (such as the more affordable LG OLEDs), through advanced settings. This may void your warranty, but it will be worth it to leverage the more affordable monitor options that can then be comparable to a higher end, $5000+ Panasonic OLED monitors/TVs.

Use a Calibrator

A monitor calibrator is absolutely crucial to get the most accurate color gamut out of your monitor and insure peak accuracy during your color grading. An excellent monitor calibrator is the X-Rite i1Display Pro, which comes with it's own proprietary software.

NOTE: Even if you opt for the most expensive monitor in the world, it still needs to be calibrated.

The calibration process is quite simple and takes about 3-10 minutes. Follow the directions carefully and thoughtfully and let the built-in software do the work.

Bias Lighting

One caveat on calibration – Glossy screens can skew the calibration, so consider setting up bias lighting. Bias lighting is simply placing the light source behind the screen. Bias lighting is used to prevent eye strain, but in this scenario it is very useful in preventing glare that may skew our calibration. It's very affordable, often around $20 or so. One good product to try is the Bason TV LED Backlight.

The Ideal Color Grading (Multiple) Monitor Setup

This guide is meant to select the best individual monitor for high quality color correction, but the ideal color grading set up will have multiple monitors that aren't optimized for color grading.

Since the final product will be viewed on multiple devices that are certainly not professionally tuned for color accuracy, it's important to have a sample of what your end user will see. Keep in mind the majority of videos viewed online are view on mobile devices.

Therefore the ideal color grading monitor setup will include the following:

1. High Quality Color Grading Monitor – Calibrated, OLED
2. Another High Quality Color Grading Monitor – Calibrated, LCD
3. Consumer Grade Computer Monitor (<$200) – NOT Calibrated
4. iPad or Other Tablet – In MacOS you can use the native Sidecar functionality to use an iPad as a secondary/tertiary monitor.
5. Monitor Calibrator
6. Bias Lighting

Color Grading Monitor Recommendations – Our Top Picks

1. Acer R271

Let's start by discussing the cheapest and most budget-friendly monitor for color grading! The Acer R271 is probably the cheapest monitor that can do color grading well. It's accurate, consistent, and phenomenal. What more can you ask for?

The Acer R271 comes with a 27-inch wide viewing IPS display. It has a zero-bezel design. It's also pretty diverse in terms of connectivity options as you can find VGA, DVI, and HDMI inputs. This display also has a power-saving mode to conserve cost and resources.

The performance of this monitor might put some other high-end monitors to shame. It has a pretty fast response time of 4ms. It has a huge 100,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio. This monitor also has 8-Bit color depth and 16.7 Million Color support. The brightness is decent too at 250 cd/m2.

The monitor has a viewing angle of 178° both horizontally and vertically. It's also MPR II certified. This monitor takes great care of your eyes too as it has a built-in blue-light filter, Flicker-less technology, and Acer ComfyView technology that reduces screen glare.

The only complaint we have about this monitor is there isn't any way to control the viewing angles. But if you're getting a monitor at such a low price, that shouldn't matter much.

Pros

• Budget-friendly monitor.
• Color grades accurately and consistently.
• A zero-bezel design.
• A pretty fast response time of 4ms.
• A huge 100,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio.
• This monitor has 8-Bit color depth and 16.7 Million Color support.
• The decent brightness level of 250 cd/m2.
• It has a viewing angle of 178° both horizontally and vertically.
• It has a built-in blue-light filter, Flicker-less technology, and Acer ComfyView technology that reduces screen glare.

Cons

• No way to control the viewing angles.

2. BenQ SW271

If the price isn't a decisive factor for you then there isn't a better monitor than the BenQ SW271. Packed with features and colors, this monitor is a perfect companion for professionals that want to color grade or gamers.

The BENQ SW 271 is a 27 INCH monitor. It supports 4K UHD RESOLUTION so you can expect finely detailed visuals. It has a nice looking matte finishing and the build quality is solid. There's also a detachable hood that lets you focus on the visuals on screen.

The performance of this laptop is simply phenomenal. It uses AQCOLOR TECHNOLOGY and has a score of 100% sRGB, 99% Adobe RGB, and 93% DCI-P3. It also has 10-Bit color depth and supports 1.07 Billion Colors. It also features a 14-bit lookup table.

The screen has a decent refresh rate of 60Hz. Though we expected the refresh rate to be a bit more, it's still quite decent. The display is super bright at 350 cd/m2. And it also has a decent count of 163PPI (Pixels per inch). And finally, it has a viewing angle of 178 x 178°.

One thing that we don't understand is why they didn't include an image adjustment mode in HDR. Other than that it's the best monitor for Color grading and you should have no hesitation going for this one.

Pros

• It supports 4K UHD resolution.
• The detachable hood lets you focus on the visuals on screen.
• It has a nice looking matte finishing and the build quality is solid.
• Performs great as it has a score of 100% sRGB, 99% Adobe RGB, and 93% DCI-P3.
• It has 10-Bit color depth and supports 1.07 Billion Colors.
• The screen has a decent refresh rate of 60Hz.
• The display is super bright with 350 cd/m2.
• A wide viewing angle of 178 x 178°

Cons

• No image adjustment mode in HDR

3. ASUS PA329Q 32″ 4K

Indeed, Asus is among the leading brands when it comes to producing high-quality technology solutions. This includes the ASUS PA329Q 32 inch ProArt monitor. This unit comes with an ultra 4K UHD display that can provide quality content each time.

Let's talk a bit about the specs now shall we? The ASUS PA329Q comes as a 32-Inch 4K UHD (3840 x 2160) resolution display. This monitor also has 4 color temperature selection modes The temperature selection mode is vital as not everyone is comfortable at a certain temperature.

This monitor has a stunning performance in terms of color grading. It has a 100% rec.709 & 99. 5% Adobe RGB true Color reproduction. It's pre-calibrated from the factory for higher performance. It also supports rec.2020 and dic-p3 color standards.

This monitor supports HDMI 2.0 It looks professional and comes with ASUS ProArt calibration technology. The calibration technology has a 14-bit LUT (Look-up table). It's also compatible with major calibrators such as the data color spider 5 Series and X-Rite i1 Display Pro.

But on top of being slightly expensive, it also doesn't have flexible OSD calibration. But putting that aside it's a stellar monitor and there isn't any reason why you shouldn't go for it.

Pros

• A 32-Inch 4K UHD (3840 x 2160) resolution display.
• 4 color temperature selection modes
• 100% rec.709 & 99. 5% Adobe RGB true Color reproduction.
•  It's pre-calibrated from the factory for higher performance.
• Supports rec.2020 and dic-p3 color standards.
• Supports HDMI 2.0.
• Comes with ASUS ProArt calibration technology.

Cons

• Expensive.
• OSD calibration isn't flexible.

4. Acer B246WL

Color grading your projects has never been this easy. The ACER B6 Series monitor is designed to provide remarkable, true to life color and detail. Such a unique design makes it perfect for immersive entertainment, gaming, and daily productivity. It's budget-friendly too!

So why is it so great? The Acer B246WL is a 24" monitor. It has an IPS-Type LCD. The build quality is solid and it features a matte finish. It can be swiveled up to 60° and tilted between -5 to 35°. It's also EPEAT GOLD and TCO Certified (As per manufacturer).

So that was the physical attributes. So what about its performance? You'd be glad to know that it performs great too. The monitor has a 1920 x 1200 resolution and 16:10 aspect ratio. It has a dynamic contrast ratio of 100,000,000:1. It also has 8-Bit color depth and 16.7 Million Colors.

At 300 cd/m2 this display seemed alright in terms of brightness. It has a built-in speaker. And in terms of connectivity you'll find 1 x USB Type-A, 1 x DVI, 1 x DisplayPort Input and 1 x VGA port.

Though this monitor doesn't have an adaptive sync technology, keep in mind that this is a budget-friendly monitor. And for its price, it brings the best performance with it.

Pros

• The build quality is solid and it features a matte finish.
• Crystal clear IPS-Type LCD.
• Budget-friendly.
• It can be swiveled up to 60° and tilted between -5 to 35°.
• EPEAT GOLD and TCO Certified.
• It has a 1920 x 1200 resolution and a 16:10 aspect ratio.
• A dynamic contrast ratio of 100,000,000:1.
• The display has 8-Bit color depth and 16.7 Million Colors.
• Decent port selection.

Cons

• Doesn't have an adaptive sync technology.

5. BenQ ZOWIE XL2540 24.5 Inch

If you're into gaming and like high refresh rates and all that good stuff then stop and take a look at the BenQ ZOWIE XL2540. Known for its high refresh rate and vibrant colors, this monitor is perhaps the best in its price range!

Let's talk about a few special features first. The BENQ Zowie comes with a special equalize technology. With this technology, the screen accelerates to improve visibility even in dark visuals. Furthermore, the color vibrancy feature provides enhanced flexibility to improve color performance.

As for the performance, it's one of the best. It comes with a Lightning-fast 240 Hz refresh rate. It also has a superfast response time of just 1ms. The monitor also has 20 levels of color vibrancy, you can easily customize the viewing requirements and preferences to suit your needs.

The monitor has a removable shield that helps keep the focus on the screen. You can navigate the menu, save custom display profiles, and change monitor settings with just the push of a button. It also supports Full-height, tilt, and swivel adjustment

Though the viewing angles are a bit narrow, that'll hardly matter because of the impressive performance of this monitor. So if you can afford this monitor then go for it!

Pros

• The special equalize technology accelerates the screen to improve visibility
• The color vibrancy feature provides enhanced flexibility to improve color performance.
• A Lightning-fast 240 Hz refresh rate.
• 20 levels of color vibrancy
• A superfast response time of just 1ms.
• The monitor has a removable shield that helps keep the focus on the screen.
• It supports Full height, tilt, and swivel adjustment

Cons

• The viewing angles are a bit narrow.

6. Acer Predator XB272

Known as one of the best monitors for gaming, the Acer Predator XB272 is one of the best when it comes to color grading. Though it's priced a bit higher than its competitors, the performance is worth it. So let's check it out!

The Acer Predator has an active area of 27". It has a TN panel and a Full HD resolution of 1920 x 1080. And as the monitor is mainly directed at gamers, it has a high refresh rate of 240Hz. This monitor also uses G-SYNC technology from Nvidia.

The Predator comes with an Ergostand that lets the monitor swivel, pivot, or tilt freely. This monitor tilts from -5°- 20°, vertically adjusts up to 5 inches and rotates up to 90°, and tilts from 5° to- 20.

The Acer's Predator XB272 comes with an Ultra Low Motion Blur (ULMB) technology that makes moving objects appear perfectly sharp. It's also VESA compatible meaning you can fit this monitor in tight places with ease. The monitor also has an eye-protective feature that provides 0 flicker visuals.

Though some people might complain as to why it doesn't support 4K, it's not a big deal. As it comes with such a vibrant and colorfully accurate screen it's more than capable of handling your tasks.

Pros

• A decent active area of 27".
• A high refresh rate of 240Hz.
• This monitor uses G-SYNC technology from Nvidia.
• This monitor tilts from -5°- 20°, vertically adjusts up to 5 inches and rotates up to 90°, and tilts from 5° to- 20.
• The Ultra Low Motion Blur (ULMB) technology makes moving objects appear perfectly sharp.
• VESA compatible.
• Has eye-protective features.

Cons

• No 4K.

Conclusion

Choosing a good monitor for your projects or games is essential. With the best monitor for color grading, you can be sure of improved productivity and performance. As a professional, you have to own the proper tools to ensure the best results.

Aside from delivering top-notch images and videos, these screens can also suit other entertainment purposes. Furthermore, most high-end screens are designed to be durable and provide long-lasting performance. Equip your desk with one of these units and take your performance to the next level.

Best Monitor for Video Editing and Color Grading

Source: http://www.vfxpro.com/best-monitors-for-color-grading/

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