New here, question about brightness of iMac screen...

Joined
Apr 9, 2008
Messages
30
Reaction score
0
Points
6
Hello,

I'm new to the forums. I did a search to see if someone has already asked my question, but I did not find anything. I'm sorry if this is a repeat.

I bought a 20" iMac in January, mainly for my photography business. I had always heard that many photographers and graphic designers prefer Macs, so I researched and bought one. I LOOOVE this thing.

The only problem I'm having is my photos came back from my lab too dark, but they look normal on my screen.

I've since heard that Macs have very bright screens, but mine doesn't seem too bright to me. So my question is, do I just need to turn down the brightness? If so, how do I know how much darker to make it? If that isn't the solution, then what is?

Surely with all the photogs that love Macs I can't be the first one to have this problem. I would really appreciate any help or tips you can offer, or any articles you would recommend I read.

Thanks!

P.S. Sorry about using the word "question" in the title...I can't figure out how to edit it or I would. Trying to follow all the rules!
 
Joined
Feb 2, 2004
Messages
12,455
Reaction score
604
Points
113
Location
PA
Your Mac's Specs
MacBook
The only problem I'm having is my photos came back from my lab too dark, but they look normal on my screen. If that isn't the solution, then what is?
This is likely due to two things.

One, you need to calibrate your display. You can do this by going into "Displays" in your System Preferences. It will walk you through it, step by step.

Two, glossy screens (like the ones on iMacs now) oversaturate colors. What you see on the screen is not what you will see when you print. Calibration will help this, but even with proper calibration, glossy screens still oversaturate and muddle colors.
Glossy screens may look good for games, movies/videos... but if you are doing any sort of graphics work that isn't intended to be broadcast on a monitor (in other words, printed), then your colors will not be 100% accurate.
If that isn't the solution, then what is?
I would recommend getting an external/additional display and make sure it has a matte screen. That way, once you calibrate that display you can use it when you do any sort of work that needs to be printed.
 
OP
S
Joined
Apr 9, 2008
Messages
30
Reaction score
0
Points
6
My understanding is that calibration only fixes colors, not brightness levels.

Any other ideas? I can't get a new screen right now. I'm sure there has to be other photogs out there who use a 20" iMac and get good results. I just need to figure out how to set the screen I have to show me what the photo will really look like printed.
 
Joined
Feb 2, 2004
Messages
12,455
Reaction score
604
Points
113
Location
PA
Your Mac's Specs
MacBook
My understanding is that calibration only fixes colors, not brightness levels.
Not quite.
What you are describing is a clear case of an improperly or uncalibrated monitor.

These links might help explain it better for you:

Monitor Calibration

Monitor Calibration: Is Your Monitor Calibrated?

Monitor Calibration

Monitor calibration and gamma


Now, even a properly calibrated screen will distort color saturation and brightness if it is glossy. Nothing will really overcome that, it is just the nature of that display type.
However, even with a glossy display, proper calibration will allow you to get a more accurate on-screen display of color than you currently have.
 
OP
S
Joined
Apr 9, 2008
Messages
30
Reaction score
0
Points
6
Great. My screen is glossy. So, how can I proof photos on a glossy display? And I'm irritated that no one at the Apple store told me I should get matte. I don't even know if it's an option. They knew I was buying this for my photography.
 
OP
S
Joined
Apr 9, 2008
Messages
30
Reaction score
0
Points
6
Forgot to say thanks for the links. I'll buy something and calibrate it and hopefully that will help.

but I gotta say I'm starting to feel like I wasted $2000 on this computer if I can't even get a true idea of what my pics look like.
 
Joined
Feb 2, 2004
Messages
12,455
Reaction score
604
Points
113
Location
PA
Your Mac's Specs
MacBook
Great. My screen is glossy. So, how can I proof photos on a glossy display? And I'm irritated that no one at the Apple store told me I should get matte.
In their defense, they are salespeople, not artists/designers so they likely wouldn't know the difference.

All is not lost though. Start with the calibration, that will get things much closer than they are now. You may have to do a little trial and error with things in order to figure out the difference. In other words, your screen may look "wrong", but the prints will come out "right"... which is more important in the end.

I would still save up for a second matte monitor later on. Dual screens are always a big plus for anyone doing photography/design/video work.
 
OP
S
Joined
Apr 9, 2008
Messages
30
Reaction score
0
Points
6
Thanks for your help. The other thing is that when I tilt my screen the brightness level changes. (I only notice this with photos, not when I'm reading here or on other websites.) So I don't even know how much to tilt my screen in order to get the correct brightness for proofing. Ugh. I feel sick.

Off to decide which calibration tool to get.
 
Joined
Feb 2, 2004
Messages
12,455
Reaction score
604
Points
113
Location
PA
Your Mac's Specs
MacBook
Thanks for your help. The other thing is that when I tilt my screen the brightness level changes. (I only notice this with photos, not when I'm reading here or on other websites.) So I don't even know how much to tilt my screen in order to get the correct brightness for proofing. Ugh. I feel sick.

Off to decide which calibration tool to get.
The built in calibration is a good start. Your iMac is a great computer and with a little calibration 'tweaking' it should be fine. It will just take some getting adjusted to.

As far as tilt, my monitors are pretty much immobile. I have them set at a very slight 15 degree (+/-) angle (seen here) and that seems to work pretty well for me.

It might be different for you, but after a little work you will find what works best for you.
 

AJB


Joined
Feb 26, 2008
Messages
44
Reaction score
0
Points
6
Location
UK, near London
Your Mac's Specs
iMac 2.8 24"/ 13" macbook pro / G4 tower & cinema scrren / 12" powerbook / classic curvy G3 laptop!
Scrapulous, don't despair. I have a 24" iMac with a glossy screen and also a 23" Mac matte screen. I run iPhoto, Aperture and Photoshop on and with the screens properly calibrated and brightness fiddled with manually to suit, the differences are not enormous and it is perfectly possible to get the screen and prints to be a close match. Just experiment and keep a note of your settings.

You can save different calibration settings so if the one you prefer for photo print work is different to the one you prefer for other things on the mac, it is quite easy to switch between them.
 
OP
S
Joined
Apr 9, 2008
Messages
30
Reaction score
0
Points
6
Thanks AJB. I feel better about it today. Yesterday I was on frustration overload and just needed to step away from the problem for a bit. Overall I LOOOVE my iMac, I just need to get this sorted out, and I'll be fine.
 
Joined
Apr 29, 2006
Messages
4,576
Reaction score
378
Points
83
Location
St. Somewhere
Your Mac's Specs
Mac Studio, M1 Max, 32 GB RAM, 2 TB SSD
scrapulous, there is one more thing to note. Unfortunately there is a difference in technology between the screens used on the 20" and the 24" iMacs. The 20" screens use TN technology whilst the 24" screens use the superior IPS technology. I have been told that you can see a fair amount of color banding and a poorer viewing angle response from the 20" vs. the 24".

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I thought I would pass this along.

bryphotoguy, anything to add? You seem to be very knowledgeable in this area. Thanks!
 
OP
S
Joined
Apr 9, 2008
Messages
30
Reaction score
0
Points
6
What screen angle/tilt is correct for viewing photos?

My post further down talks about my brightness issues with my 20" iMac. So now I've calibrated, but I'm still having issues with the tilt angle of my screen.

There is a big difference in brightness as I tilt up or down. So how do I know which angle is "correct?" The difference is so great that when the screen is all the way down, it's very bright, and when it's all the way up, it's much darker. So I know somewhere in the middle is probably right, but exactly what angle? How do I know?

And once I find the right angle, if that's even possible, how can I make the tilt permanent? There's no way to tighten this thing in place, is there?
 
Joined
Feb 2, 2007
Messages
3,978
Reaction score
99
Points
48
Location
Chicago, IL
Your Mac's Specs
Quad 2.8GHz Mac Pro, Edge iPhone
Your eyes, if looking straight ahead should be level with the top of the screen. From there, tilt the screen so it's parallel to your face when you are looking at it directly in the center. That should give you the best angle, in my opinion, to view photos with minimal distortion.
 
OP
S
Joined
Apr 9, 2008
Messages
30
Reaction score
0
Points
6
Thanks! I'll try that and see how the photos come back from the lab. Hopefully they match my screen! I may have to play trial and error on this.
 
Joined
Feb 19, 2008
Messages
306
Reaction score
20
Points
18
Location
Manhattan, New York
Your Mac's Specs
2008 8-core mac pro. 4GB RAM 1.5TB storage. Dual LCDs (one IPS monitor for the colour).
Ruh oh...TN panel.
 
OP
S
Joined
Apr 9, 2008
Messages
30
Reaction score
0
Points
6
Okay, I calibrated using the displays in system preferences. Nothing really changed. Well, only very slightly. The photo on my screen is still much lighter than the print.

There has to be a reason why my prints came back too dark.
 
Joined
Feb 2, 2007
Messages
3,978
Reaction score
99
Points
48
Location
Chicago, IL
Your Mac's Specs
Quad 2.8GHz Mac Pro, Edge iPhone
Not everyone can afford $800 monitors with IPS panels like you Scooby Doo. :)

Scrap- if you're going to work that way, try this method. Since the lab will (hopefully) give you accurate prints every week, make your monitor match the output of your monitor to the print.

Color spaces will always be different so the two will never match perfectly.
 
Joined
Feb 2, 2007
Messages
3,978
Reaction score
99
Points
48
Location
Chicago, IL
Your Mac's Specs
Quad 2.8GHz Mac Pro, Edge iPhone
Scrap- I just found your other thread. Why'd you start a new one?

When you say calibrated, do you still mean using the display preferences feature or do you mean with a Spyder or EyeOne?
 
Joined
Feb 2, 2007
Messages
3,978
Reaction score
99
Points
48
Location
Chicago, IL
Your Mac's Specs
Quad 2.8GHz Mac Pro, Edge iPhone
EEK! Where to begin....
The iMac is for your business, right? What do you do, who are your clients/ customers, and how important is color accuracy??

I assumed from your other thread you were an amateur having some fun with digital imaging.
 

Shop Amazon


Shop for your Apple, Mac, iPhone and other computer products on Amazon.
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon and affiliated sites.
Top