iMac for editing

[JohnT]

Anyone here using one of the glossy-display iMacs for serious image editing? How do you handle the display? Does it calibrate?

[AspenLeaf]

I'd love to hear about the same thing - will be working on getting a new computer after Christmas..

[srwatters]

I just bought my 11 year old daughter a 24" iMac and the screen is gorgeous. The only issue that I could see is if your work area has a bright background that would cause reflections on the glass cover. It's not an issue for me because my office area has a dark pallet. I will most likely buy the new 27" model with the IPS display after the holidays and turn my rev A Mac Pro into a file/backup server. I might even try using my current 23" Apple Cinema Display as a second monitor. That's a ton of desk real estate, but sure would look pretty

Best bet is to mosey on down to the Apple store and have a look-see.

And yes they calibrate fine...

[PhotoWiz]

Originally Posted by srwatters

the Only Issue That I Could See Is If Your Work Area Has A Bright Background That Would Cause Reflections On The Glass Cover.

Best Bet Is To Mosey On Down To The Apple Store And Have A Look-see.

And Yes They Calibrate Fine...

+1

[JohnT]

Yeah, I've looked at them plenty of times at the Southlake store, but the screen is what's always concerned me since Apple did away with the matte.

Thanks!

[srwatters]

So... If you've seen them, what do your eyes tell you? Personally all the whoopla about glossy vs matte is moot if you have a proper office editing environment. That's why all the high end displays have hoods etc. to keep stray light off the display. Then again, I like to edit in a cave at night

[JohnT]

Originally Posted by srwatters

So... If you've seen them, what do your eyes tell you? Personally all the whoopla about glossy vs matte is moot if you have a proper office editing environment. That's why all the high end displays have hoods etc. to keep stray light off the display. Then again, I like to edit in a cave at night

Well, at the store, there's all sorts of reflections on the screen. That's why part of my question was how do you handle that in an editing environment. I edit in a pretty dark room myself so it would probably be fine, and I could construct some sort of hood if necessary.

[ggeen]

I use a 24" iMac for all my editing but I do my editing in a darkened room. The only other problem I have is if I have the television on, then I get the reflection from that as well. So editing means I only get to listen to music on from the radio or iTunes.

Have you considered surrounding the editing area with a black curtain or something? Just thinking if it were possible, to section off a corner where you could edit. Moving the curtain allows for access to the space again. Just a thought.

[JohnT]

Originally Posted by ggeen

I use a 24" iMac for all my editing but I do my editing in a darkened room. The only other problem I have is if I have the television on, then I get the reflection from that as well. So editing means I only get to listen to music on from the radio or iTunes.

Have you considered surrounding the editing area with a black curtain or something? Just thinking if it were possible, to section off a corner where you could edit. Moving the curtain allows for access to the space again. Just a thought.

Thanks for the suggestion. I already have a blackout shade over the window, which makes it pretty dark in here. If the iMac doesn't work out for me, I can return it (although, I hate doing returns on expensive items).

[dmora]

Why do i have visions of sitting under a black cape using an iMac as if it were an 8x10.

[peeker]

I have a MacBook Pro with a glossy screen and a 23" Cinema Display. I use Spyder3 Elite color calibration on both.

I had the option to return my laptop as I bought it within 30 days of them releasing the matte finish laptops. When I previewed the matte finish, I was not impressed. I had gotten so use to the glossy finish, I couldn't go back. There are rare occasions when the glossy screen reflection bothers me, and they are rare.

I use both monitors both independently and together when editing. Although the screen is not exactly the same as the new 27" IMac, I can state that the colors between my two monitors are close. The difference is the richness and depth in color is greater on the MacBook Pro glass display. Not better, just richer. I will often do cursory editing on my laptop when I have time, then compare the editing on my Cinema Display before printing and there are very few times that I change much.

Lastly, I am not as anal about the perfect match between these two monitors, because the another variable is the printer. There comes a point when it is "good enough".

Hope this helps.

[JohnT]

Thanks, Scott, that definitely helps.

[hhscr]

Scott,

What are you using for calibrating the 24 imac. I have the spyderpro2 but it does not get the brightness down low enough.

[srwatters]

Sorry for not answering... Slipped through the cracks.

It's a known issue that the luminance (brightness) on all flavors of the LED iMac is too high. There are a couple of software packages that will twiddle with the hardware to turn down the level. One is called Shades (Shades | Software | Charcoal Design). The web page says it can cause issues with colors, but most posts I've read don't have any issues when using a colorimeter like the X-rite Eye One. The other software is called DarkAdapted (DarkAdapted). I haven't used either one because on my daughter's machine (24" iMac) I can get the luminance down to about 140. Still a little bright if I was using it, but for her it's just fine. If I buy the 27" beast, I will most likely use one of those in addition to my 23" Apple Cinema Display for editing.

Good luck!

[jstevensphoto]

I use a 24-inch Imac with Aperture for editing. Thought seriously about moving to photoshop, since that's what most of my friends use, but I just like the simplicity of Aperture. As for the monitor, it is very bright. I have never calibrated it for color. Thought about buying the calibration software at the Southlake Apple store, but haven't as yet. I have been using Wolf for my printing up to now and the large prints do not match my monitor, at all. I think that is partly the monitor and partly how the techs at Wolf calibrate their machines.