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Archive 2014 · Monitor Luminance: 80cd/m2 or 120cd/m2?

bushwacker
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Monitor Luminance: 80cd/m2 or 120cd/m2?

Hi Guys,

This one is getting me confused lately. When processing\editing images in PS or LR what's the standard [ proper brightness setting? ] luminance of the Monitor? People say it's 80cd/m2 and 120... then some same say do not go over 120 cd/m2 others 100 cd/m2 and then some say choose within this range 80 - 120.

here's the problem when I print my images under a profile [ I meant when adjusted\edited ] with 120 luminance the images look darker then at 80 it's bright.

also at 120 settings it started hurting my eyes.

thanks.

Mar 24, 2014 at 05:53 AM

Nickle S.
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Monitor Luminance: 80cd/m2 or 120cd/m2?

bushwacker wrote:
Hi Guys,

This one is getting me confused lately. When processing\editing images in PS or LR what's the standard [ proper brightness setting? ] luminance of the Monitor? People say it's 80cd/m2 and 120... then some same say do not go over 120 cd/m2 others 100 cd/m2 and then some say choose within this range 80 - 120.

here's the problem when I print my images under a profile [ I meant when adjusted\edited ] with 120 luminance the images look darker then at 80 it's bright.

also at 120 settings it started hurting my eyes.

thanks.

BW,

What type panel is your monitor, TN or IPS? A typical TN will be natively brighter than an IPS so the white luminance should be lower on the former, say about 100 and closer to 120 on an IPS. Another factor is your ambient lighting when editing.

And are you using a colorimeter system (puck & software) for calibration?

Nicholas
www.copperhillimages.com

Mar 24, 2014 at 07:17 AM

Bernie
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Monitor Luminance: 80cd/m2 or 120cd/m2?

On my iMac (whichever type that is), I set my luminance to 100. Any lower than that and I found my display colors to get muddied. You may find somewhat different results.

Prior to printing, I apply a standard curve that I've developed through experimentation to get the print on paper. Depending on the image ( I do onesy, twosy) I often tweak this curve (and make other adjustments) for the image and paper I'm printing on.

Mar 24, 2014 at 09:01 AM

John Wheeler
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Monitor Luminance: 80cd/m2 or 120cd/m2?

Hi BW - The best advice I have read in multiple places is
- ISP display
- Color calibrated and profiled monitor using color managed approach
- and for the monitor brightness "the ideal monitor brightness is the one that visually matches the brightness of your prints viewed under controlled viewing conditions.
the numbers are totally irrelevant."
- Bottom line is that the perceived tonality of your print depends on the illumination of the print. Here is a link that covers that discussion fairly well: http://www.luminous-landscape.com/forum/index.php?topic=45600.0 Turns out that the 80-120 cd/m^2 covers many common lighting situations yet not all.
------------------------
Just my opinion and there are obviously many others. Hope this gives you a useful angle to consider.

Mar 24, 2014 at 10:29 AM

hugowolf
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Monitor Luminance: 80cd/m2 or 120cd/m2?

bushwacker wrote:
...here's the problem when I print my images under a profile [ I meant when adjusted\edited ] with 120 luminance the images look darker then at 80 it's bright.

It really depends on your working environment. In a dim room with no windows or working after sunset, 80 cd/m² generally works. In a bright room with northern window light, I work at 140 cd/m²

It also depends on print viewing conditions.

It sounds like somewhere around 100 cd/m² would work for you.

Brian A

Mar 24, 2014 at 10:40 AM

Dragonfire
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Monitor Luminance: 80cd/m2 or 120cd/m2?

I'm running an NEC with Spectraview and I use 140 for internet and personal viewing and 80-100 for printing.

The NEC software lets me change almost instantly.

My setup came from NEC via their support line.

Mar 24, 2014 at 10:58 AM

FLSTCSAM
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Monitor Luminance: 80cd/m2 or 120cd/m2?

I am also using an NEC monitor with Spectraview, and use 156 cd/m2 for general viewing and 95 dc/m2 for printing.

These values don't have to be set in stone. Just set a luminescence value that produces a print that matches your monitor.

Sam

Mar 24, 2014 at 11:41 AM

howardm4
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Monitor Luminance: 80cd/m2 or 120cd/m2?

same here. Spectraview @ 95 cd/m2 for printing/softproof

Mar 24, 2014 at 12:07 PM

skibum5
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Monitor Luminance: 80cd/m2 or 120cd/m2?

bushwacker wrote:
Hi Guys,

This one is getting me confused lately. When processing\editing images in PS or LR what's the standard [ proper brightness setting? ] luminance of the Monitor? People say it's 80cd/m2 and 120... then some same say do not go over 120 cd/m2 others 100 cd/m2 and then some say choose within this range 80 - 120.

here's the problem when I print my images under a profile [ I meant when adjusted\edited ] with 120 luminance the images look darker then at 80 it's bright.

also at 120 settings it started hurting my eyes.

thanks.

It depends upon the lighting conditions in the room. DUring the daytime if there are windows I try to use 120 or so, indoors with solid lighting around 100, night time in a dim room around 80,

Mar 24, 2014 at 06:13 PM

EB-1
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Monitor Luminance: 80cd/m2 or 120cd/m2?

I use 100 on my Eizos.

EBH

Mar 24, 2014 at 07:15 PM

bushwacker
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Monitor Luminance: 80cd/m2 or 120cd/m2?

Nickle S. wrote:
BW,

What type panel is your monitor, TN or IPS? A typical TN will be natively brighter than an IPS so the white luminance should be lower on the former, say about 100 and closer to 120 on an IPS. Another factor is your ambient lighting when editing.

And are you using a colorimeter system (puck & software) for calibration?

Nicholas
www.copperhillimages.com

I have an IPS monitor and X-rite i1 Display Pro calibration device. Good thing about this is you can select the luminance target you want say 95cd/m2.

Mar 24, 2014 at 08:55 PM

Paul Mo
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · Monitor Luminance: 80cd/m2 or 120cd/m2?

Plus it depends on the monitor. I have mismatched monitors with one being set at 100 and the other at 120 - it's the only way to get the two different brands close.

Mar 25, 2014 at 01:44 AM

Alan321
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · Monitor Luminance: 80cd/m2 or 120cd/m2?

You will want multiple settings and hence multiple profiles.

For normal editing and viewing something like 120-140 Cd/m2 will look realistic. i.e. a photo taken in bright sunlight will look nice and bright. Too much higher and you'll need sunglasses to view your monitor.

For printing you will need to know how bright the viewing setup is. e.g. will they be viewed outdoors in sunlight or indoors under incandescent lighting ? Try to figure out the appropriate Cd/m2 for that viewing setup and then create a monitor profile that has the same brightness. This one will look rather drab on the monitor but it is a closer match to the print. However, you can get closer still if you reduce the monitor contrast to whatever the print has - typically 180-200:1 for matte prints and up to about 250:1 for glossy prints. Now your monitor will look really drab.

You can do basic editing and viewing with your brighter monitor profile and then make a copy or virtual copy of that image and work on it with the drab monitor profile. Your print will then look pretty much as you would expect.

As a guide, in a medium sized room with 4x40W fluoro tubes the brightness off the blank printer paper was 89Cd/m2 so that is what I use for the monitor when working on to-be-printed versions of an image. The rest of the time I use 120-140 depending on how much white is on the screen. Spreadsheets are too bright at 140 but photos are ok.

- Alan

Mar 25, 2014 at 08:03 PM

bushwacker
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · Monitor Luminance: 80cd/m2 or 120cd/m2?

to all thank you very much...

Mar 27, 2014 at 04:32 AM


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