NEC P221W and poor text readability

[lucaslem]

I have just received this monitor yesterday, having finally replaced my 10yr old CRT. I will surely have some calibration questions when I receive Spectraview, but in the mean time I wanted to know if it is normal to find that text looks bad?

Text has always looked nice and smooth both on my CRT and my 15" macbook pro screen, yet I'm very surprised to find it rather painful on this new monitor. I have played with font-smoothing options, and wile I get a subtly better result by using "Medium-best for flat panel", it's still a far cry from nice smooth type I am used to.

Given that, in addition to being an advanced amateur photographer I am also a graphic designer, this is a bit of a disappointment which I was not expecting after having done extensive research on this monitor. Everything else is as good as anticipated.

[Paul Sumi]

I have just received this monitor yesterday, having finally replaced my 10yr old CRT. I will surely have some calibration questions when I receive Spectraview, but in the mean time I wanted to know if it is normal to find that text looks bad?

The first thing I would check is to make sure you are using this monitor at its max resolution, which is 1680 x 1050 at 60Hz.  In addition, it would probably help to update your video driver if it is not the latest.  Did your OS recognize the monitor as new hardware?

Also, would help to know your OS, video card and what sort of connection is used to attach it to your computer.

Paul

[lucaslem]

Thank-you for your reply Paul,

Here is the info:

MacBook Pro (late 2007 model), Intel Core 2 Duo, 2.6 GHz w/ 4GB RAM. I'm running OSX 10.5.8.

As for video card info etc, here is what I get from the system info:

GeForce 8600M GT:

  Chipset Model:   GeForce 8600M GT
  Type:   Display
  Bus:   PCIe
  PCIe Lane Width:   x1
  VRAM (Total):   256 MB
  Vendor:   NVIDIA (0x10de)
  Device ID:   0x0407
  Revision ID:   0x00a1
  ROM Revision:   3175
  Displays:
Display Connector:
  Status:   No Display Connected
P221W:
  Resolution:   1680 x 1050 @ 60 Hz
  Depth:   32-Bit Color
  Core Image:   Hardware Accelerated
  Main Display:   Yes
  Mirror:   Off
  Online:   Yes
  Quartz Extreme:   Supported
  Rotation:   Supported
  Television:   Yes

I had no issues setting it up and connecting it directly with the included DVI-D cable (no adapters). The computer recognizes the display and has it set to 1680x1050 by default. As per your comment about updating my video driver, I'm not sure if it needs to be updated nor do I know how to go about that.

The issue is especially noticeable with black text on white background, but overall it's present. Given how often I work with type in indesign and illustrator, it is a bit frustrating.

Thank-you,
Lucas

[Paul Sumi]

Lucas, it looks like everything is set up correctly.  But I'm not a Mac OS guy so I can't tell for sure.

Assuming you are based in the U.S.,  I have found NEC tech support to be very good with questions I have had:

http://www.necdisplay.com/SupportCenter/Co...cts/?section=ds

800-632-4662

techsupport@necdisplay.com

Paul

[lucaslem]

Thank-you Paul.

I am in Canada and called US tech support last night. Not too impressed as I had to convince the tech that 1680x1050 was indeed this monitor's native resolution.

BTW, until I receive the calibrating kit, which preset would you suggest I use for photo editing? I'm not extremely well versed in all this and I find the documentation to be pretty light in explaining what they actually represent.

Thanks so much,

Lucas

[Paul Sumi]

BTW, until I receive the calibrating kit, which preset would you suggest I use for photo editing? I'm not extremely well versed in all this and I find the documentation to be pretty light in explaining what they actually represent.

I have a NEC 2600 and I made my own custom preset based on my working environment and preferences. This is my SpectraView II setup for editing files for printing to an inkjet:

Monitor brightness: 110 cd/m2.  Most recommended starting points tend to be from 120 to 140 cd/m2, but YMMV depending on how bright your work space is.

Gamma: 2.2 (not the 1.8 for MAC OS)

Color temp: 6500 deg

Contrast and black point is set by the software.

Paul

[lucaslem]

I have a NEC 2600 and I made my own custom preset based on my working environment and preferences. This is my SpectraView II setup for editing files for printing to an inkjet:

Monitor brightness: 110 cd/m2.  Most recommended starting points tend to be from 120 to 140 cd/m2, but YMMV depending on how bright your work space is.

Gamma: 2.2 (not the 1.8 for MAC OS)

Color temp: 6500 deg

Contrast and black point is set by the software.

Paul

Hmmm, until I receive the software (no download available on site, only CD!) I an not sure I have any more options but to select from the presets from the OSD (Native, sRGB, Programmable, Option1, Option2). In terms of brightness for example, I can access the 0-100% scale, but nothing in cd/m2. Perhaps there is something else I am missing.

Lucas

[Paul Sumi]

Hmmm, until I receive the software (no download available on site, only CD!) I an not sure I have any more options but to select from the presets from the OSD (Native, sRGB, Programmable, Option1, Option2). In terms of brightness for example, I can access the 0-100% scale, but nothing in cd/m2. Perhaps there is something else I am missing.

Lucas

Yes, a lot of us have ranted about the fact that the SpectraView II software only comes on CD.  Why can't NEC make it a download, like the updates?  

Is your CD ordered, or is NEC out of stock?  Fortunately, I was able to wait until the CD was delivered before doing any serious work with my 2690.

Until you get your copy, sorry but no real suggestions.  If you were previously using hardware/software calibration, you can try that (if the monitor is supported).

Paul

[JPrimgaard]

To the OP.

I am using both the 2690 and the P221W side by side.  They are both calibrated via Spectraview and text appears the same on both monitors.  

Sorry, as I don't have any suggestions for you, just pointing out that the P221W is indeed capable of matching the output of the 2690 in this regard.

Jake

[WillH]

Yes, a lot of us have ranted about the fact that the SpectraView II software only comes on CD.  Why can't NEC make it a download, like the updates?  

Is your CD ordered, or is NEC out of stock?  Fortunately, I was able to wait until the CD was delivered before doing any serious work with my 2690.

Until you get your copy, sorry but no real suggestions.  If you were previously using hardware/software calibration, you can try that (if the monitor is supported).

Paul

SpectraView is available for purchase online in the US for immediate download:

http://www.necdisplay.com/supportcenter/mo...view2/purchase/

[Paul Sumi]

SpectraView is available for purchase online in the US for immediate download:

http://www.necdisplay.com/supportcenter/mo...view2/purchase/

Hi Will,

That's good to know, thanks for that update.

Paul

[lucaslem]

To the OP.

I am using both the 2690 and the P221W side by side.  They are both calibrated via Spectraview and text appears the same on both monitors.  

Sorry, as I don't have any suggestions for you, just pointing out that the P221W is indeed capable of matching the output of the 2690 in this regard.

Jake

Thanks for jumping in Jake. I think it's just taking some getting used to a digital display perhaps. Basically, anything with curves (type or even a smooth circle drawn in with vector tools in PS) has edges which look "pixelated" or for lack of better terms, as if poor anti-aliasing was an issue. I am used to perfectly smooth edges with the CRT (and even my macbook pro screen). It's especially noticeable with black on white.

Like I said, perhaps just time to get used to a new system. Because I was unable to find a reseller in montreal with this screen in stock, and therefore unable to see it "live", I ordered it online based solely on reviews. Therefore, I don't have a point of reference.

Lucas

[lucaslem]

SpectraView is available for purchase online in the US for immediate download:

http://www.necdisplay.com/supportcenter/mo...view2/purchase/

I am in Canada unfortunately, so CD it will have to be. Thanks for the info though!

Lucas

[bokehcambodia]

I also use that screen and did not encounter said problems.

Wrote a blog post about the NEC here:
http://www.bokehcambodia.com/the-right-scr...otography_blog/

[Adam L]

I am also getting used to this new monitor.   Not having a monitor technical background I've simply used the factory settings using the Adobe RGB color space.   I"ve also set this up to change the brightness based on the ambient light....and this is where my concern comes in.

My monitor will change brightness at random, and it changes it with a heavy hand.   I wanted to think its because the light changed quickly as if a cloud covered the sun but this has happens when there has been no change to ambient light.

I've also purchased a system without the Spectraview software.   Based on what I've read, this monitor should hold color well so my thought was to delay this until after I was able to see how close the prints matched the monitor.  Could this be part of the reason why the brightness changes?  

[Jack Flesher]

I noticed the same bad text out of my NEC 3090 when I first installed it.  Turns out OSX 10.6 removed all of the font smoothing strength preferences since the Apple Cinema Displays handled them internally based on size.  Below is the code you use to fix it for non-Apple displays in Snow Leopard.  When done, you'll end up with a "-" sign in the checkbox next to your Font Smoothing dialog in system Appearance preferences -- don't click in that or you kill the code you just entered.  

Here is the terminal code, type out exactly then hit return: defaults -currentHost write -g AppleFontSmoothing -int 1  

Note you use a "1" at the end for light, a "2" for medium and presumably a "3" for heavy, though I've never tried it.  I found 1 to work best for me on my 30" as 2 was a tad too heavy. (Ideally there would be a 1.5, but I tried that and it was the same as 1.)  You need to relaunch finder to have these take effect (Opt + click and hold on Finder icon in dock and choose "relaunch").