Color rendering
As usual, we measured the difference between ideal colors and those actually displayed on the screen. This was done with the help of a LaCie BlueEye Pro, which is actually a Gretag sensor combined with a software suite developed by LaCie. The verdict here: colors aren’t accurate and black levels aren’t deep enough. Concerning this last area, it’s unfortunately a known and recurrent defect of IPS technology while TN and PVA have made considerable progress. These last two types of panels now offer black levels that are about twice as deep at those of an IPS at equal brightness values in white.
You may recall the larger the difference between actual and ideal colors, the higher the DeltaE value and the less the screen is accurate. More precisely, here is how to interpret the graphs:
- Delta E > 3 : the desired color is noticeably different from the one on the screen.
- 2 < Delta E < 3 : color quality is satisfactory, but a graphic designer probably wouldn’t be content
- 1 < Delta E < 2 : colors are accurate.
- Delta E < 1 : the result is perfect.
DeltaE by default
IPS 8 ms : Dell 3008WFP-HCBesides color rendering, there is a point that concerns more and more people, depth of black. We took measurements with a constant brightness of 200 cd/m² in white and then at 100 cd/m².
Depth of black (cd/m²) with white at 200 and then 100 cd/m²
The deeper black is and the closer to 0, the better. The contrast of images will appear superior on these monitors. After that, color fidelity should be good so that we can truly have the best display.
The 3008WFP-HC claims to have a contrast ratio of 3000:1 not even in dynamic but in standard mode. Under our sensor, results proved to be much more modest in default settings as well as after calibration due to its washed out blacks. For comparison, good monitors go under 0.20 cd/m² while the best have measurements less than 0.15 cd/m². In the world of TVs, which is slightly in advance, we measure as low as 0.07 cd/m² on certain models equipped with PVA panels. By the way, the same goes for plasmas.
So in the end the 3008WFP-HC is a bit disappointing in this area.
More concretely for grey rendering…
Unless you are an expert in monitors (and even then) it is difficult to imagine what these differences can represent. What is the most bothersome, however, is when we can immediately see color dominances on the screen. This can affect all colors but is particularly noticeable in grays where the eye can quickly see when blues or reds are overrepresented.
Here are the screen’s grays which are reproduced as they have been measured by our sensor. For comparison, on the bottom line are the ideal grays.
Whether the screen you are currently using is calibrated or not, you should still be able to see the differences between the two lines.
IPS 8 ms : Dell 3008WFP-HCWhat does an average dE94 of 5.5 mean? Typically, this can be a noticeable blue dominance as is the case here. You don’t have to be a professional to see the difference between the grays above and below as well as the presence of blue on the top row. In short, with factory presettings colors are not balanced.
It’s amazing to see in 2008 that some manufacturers still offer screens that are this poorly adjusted out of the box. This is while some entry level 22’’s for under 300 Euros come with good color fidelity.
The argument is that those who opt for such a 30’’ for this price will correct colors via calibration. This isn’t wrong but it still doesn’t mean that we wouldn’t prefer to limit the damage and have accurate colors from the start.
