Achieving accurate and consistent color is critical for creative professionals in post-production, photography, design, and other visual media workflows. Let’s highlight some of the most vital display specifications and technologies for color grading, and showcase some of the best monitors for color grading.
This reliance means using a top-shelf monitor optimized for color grading. These are top-rated monitors purpose-built for color work. These displays empower creators to grade accurately so their work will look its best across all devices and platforms.
When selecting the best reference display for your budget and needs, key factors to consider include gamut coverage, factory calibration, internal LUTs, uniformity, and built-in and external calibration tools.
Best Monitor Features for Color Grading
Certain specifications are mandatory when selecting a display intended for pro-level color grading. Consumer monitors are optimized for office work or web browsing. Color grading monitors require higher color precision and customization to meet creative demands.
When choosing the best monitors for color grading, key features include color accuracy, gamut coverage, bit depth, contrast, and uniformity. Seeking displays strong in the following performance areas helps ensure color professionals get a monitor matched to their specialized grading needs for efficient, accurate workflows.
Color Accuracy & Uniformity
On color accuracy and uniformity, look for monitors with a low average Delta E value (≤2) to guarantee accurate color reproduction that matches the source media. Factory calibration provides out-of-box precision, while built-in or external calibration tools, like a colorimeter, allow custom profiles to suit specialized workflows and maintenance over time.
Innovations like Uniformity Technology maintain rock-solid color and brightness consistency across the entire screen, ensuring colors render accurately regardless of your viewing angle or monitor placement.
Color Space
Aim for a monitor close to 100% coverage of key color spaces like sRGB and Rec. 709, critical for photo and video editing. Models with wider color gamuts like DCI-P3 or Adobe RGB also help enhance gradient transitions and vividness.
Rec 709 is a gamut of colors that represent the industry standard, although P3 is also becoming a standard. At a bare minimum, look for something that will reproduce 99% of the rec 709 color space as a minimum and 100% optimally. The monitor of your choice should accurately represent a gamma of 2.2 for photo and web output, while a gamma of 2.4 is best for TV, short docs, and short films.
Bit Depth
10-bit color reproduction enables over 1 billion color combinations for smooth color and luminance gradients essential for precision color grading. 10-bit delivers superior performance, but 8-bit with dithering (FRC) can suffice where 10-bit is cost-prohibitive. Avoid monitors limited to 8-bit at all costs as they only reproduce around 16.7 million colors, cause banding, and produce artifacts.
High Contrast Ratio
True hardware contrast ratios of a minimum of 1000:1 provide clearly defined accurate blacks. As well as dynamic range, and shadow detail for accurately judging color adjustments during grading. This will also help represent a sharp image without muddying your blacks. Make sure to avoid gimmicks like auto or dynamic contrast that are software-based and geared towards consumers, not professionals.
Connectivity
Ideally, you’ll want to look for SDI or HDMI inputs and outputs. Color grading or reference monitors use these to connect to software such as Davinci Resolve via a clean output. You can then use a deck link card, LUT box, UltraStudio Monitor, or an UltraStudio Monitor 4k if you want to monitor in 4K resolution instead of 1080p.
These hardware options allow you to bypass the computer’s graphics card. This provides a clean and accurate source image out of your DSLR or cinema camera. As it won’t be influenced by the operating system or its quirks – like color sync.
Calibration
The above features are of the utmost importance. However, calibrating your monitor is essential to get the most out of even the best monitors for color grading. Hardware calibration is the best choice, but users will only find this feature on higher-end models. Use the provided colorimeter or purchase one separately. A 3D LUT can be created and stored on the monitor, away from the computer and OS.
Best Monitors for Color Grading
BenQ SW272Q 27” 16:9 PhotoVue Photographer IPS LED HDR Monitor
Bring life to your photos and videos with the BenQ SW272Q, a monitor meticulously crafted for color-critical work. BenQ designed this monitor for photography, video editing, graphic design, and other creative professionals who demand precise color reproduction.
The SW272Q features BenQ’s AQCOLOR technology for displaying colors precisely as intended, with a wide 99% Adobe RGB and 98% DCI-P3 color gamut coverage. It is calibrated to achieve a Delta E color difference of less than 1.5 out-of-box for remarkable color precision. The fine-coated panel eliminates glare and reflections, while BenQ’s uniformity technology ensures consistent brightness and color uniformity across the entire screen.
With HDR10 support, P3 color preview mode, and compatibility with leading hardware calibration software, the SW272Q gives creators an excellent canvas for video editing and advanced color grading workflows. It also has a USB-C port for charging devices and data transfer and a Hotkey Puck for quick access to monitor settings.
Backed by industry-leading color certifications, the BenQ SW272Q brings cutting-edge color performance and essential productivity features for creative work.
Eizo ColorEdge CG2420 24” 16:10 Wide-Gamut LED Monitor
For unwavering color consistency, look no further than the Eizo ColorEdge CG2420. This hardware-calibrated monitor delivers pinpoint accuracy, ideal for professionals who demand perfection. This monitor features built-in calibration sensors and ColorNavigator software for streamlined workflow automation and quality control.
With a wide color gamut covering 99% of Adobe RGB, the CG2420 produces vivid, accurate colors for photography, design, print production, and video editing. The 1500:1 contrast ratio and proprietary algorithms offer a true black display critical to video post-production. The flicker-free IPS panel ensures wide 178° viewing angles. At the same time, patented Digital Uniformity Equalizer technology guarantees color and brightness consistency across the screen.
The monitor has a fully ergonomic stand with extensive tilt, swivel, and height adjustments for usability. It also comes with a light-shielded monitor hood and has a slim bezel design for multi-display setups. As well as being backed by a five-year warranty. The ColorEdge CG2420 delivers excellent color precision and adjustability for creators who need consistency in their creative workflows.
Asus ProArt Display PA329CV 32” 16:9 4K Ultra HD HDR IPS LED Monitor
Unleash your creative potential with the expansive canvas of the ASUS ProArt PA329CV. This 32-inch 4K IPS monitor boasts factory-calibrated color fidelity, empowering you to bring your ideas to life with stunning precision.
PA329CV features 100% sRGB and Rec.709 color gamut coverage along with Delta E <2 for true-to-life color reproduction. The 4K UHD resolution and HDR-400 certification produce sharp, vivid visuals. At the same time, the ergonomic stand with tilt, pivot, swivel, and height adjustments provides customizable comfort.
Convenient connectivity options include DisplayPort, HDMI, and a USB-C port that supports 90W charging and USB hub functionality. Exclusive ASUS ProArt Preset and ProArt Palette software offer advanced color controls for specialized workflows. Also bundled is a space-saving C-clamp and integrated wall mount.
Backed by Calman verification and integrated eye care technologies, the ProArt PA329CV empowers creative professionals with essential image quality, adjustability, and workflow customization for unlimited creativity potential.
Apple Studio Display 27” 5K Retina Monitor
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Immerse yourself in a world of detail with the Apple Studio Display. The 5K Retina screen delivers over 14.7 million pixels, 600 nits brightness, and support for one billion colors powered by an A13 Bionic chip.
The Studio Display complements the latest Macs with a seamless all-in-one design featuring a 12MP Ultra Wide camera, Spatial Audio speakers, and three studio-quality microphones. True Tone technology automatically adapts to ambient lighting, while the nano-texture glass option reduces glare.
The Studio Display has a highly adjustable stand and VESA mount compatibility for creative flexibility. Thunderbolt 3 and three USB-C ports provide advanced connectivity with 96W charging to fast charge a MacBook Pro.
With P3 wide color gamut and HDR support, the Apple Studio Display brings next-level performance to creative workflows. The Center Stage feature keeps users perfectly framed during video calls. Backed by Apple’s exceptional build quality and ecosystem integration, this display unleashes the full potential of any Mac creative studio.
LG 27EQ850-B UltraFine 26.9” 16:9 4K
Dive into the inky depths of the LG 27EQ850-B. This 4K OLED boasts self-lit pixels and advanced Pixel Dimming for true black levels and a 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio, offering unparalleled vibrancy and precision.
The 27EQ850-B meets 99% coverage of the DCI-P3 and Adobe RGB color spaces for remarkably vibrant and accurate color reproduction suited to video editing, photography, graphic design, and more. True 10-bit color support produces over one billion hues for smooth gradients and HDR content creation.
Connectivity options include USB-C with 90W charging, dual DisplayPort, HDMI, and three downstream USB ports. Convenient hardware calibration and multiple color modes provide color accuracy for various professional workflows. The height/tilt-adjustable stand enables ergonomic viewing.
As an exceptional pro-grade monitor with industry-leading contrast and rich colors, the 27EQ850-B empowers creatives to produce their best work and craft pixel-perfect visuals. LG’s commercial-grade reliability and one-year warranty provide peace of mind.
BenQ SW321C 32” 4K Photo and Video Editing Monitor
Command color with absolute confidence with the BenQ SW321C. This 32-inch powerhouse delivers professional-grade accuracy and a suite of color-critical tools, empowering photographers, designers, and editors to achieve their vision with unwavering precision and realistic image quality, covering 99% of the Adobe RGB gamut and 100% sRGB color spaces.
10-bit color depth and advanced Uniformity Technology produce over 1 billion colors on screen with dependable uniformity. BenQ factory calibrates each SW321C and includes a calibration report to guarantee out-of-box color accuracy of Delta E ≤ 2. Further calibration is assisted by the Palette Master Element software and supported by leading hardware calibrators.
Optimized for efficiency, the UHD 4K monitor has USB-C connectivity for video, audio, and 90W charging alongside tools like Paper Color Sync to simulate printed output. The Hot Key Puck G2 allows quick access to color modes while the shading hood prevents glare. Video professionals will appreciate built-in HDR10 and HLG decoding, plus support for major calibration and video editing software.
As the total professional imaging solution, the BenQ SW321C empowers creators across photography, design, print, and video with complete color precision and an efficient workflow.
Conclusion
For creators looking to upgrade to a color grading monitor without a massive investment, these displays offer improved color depth, accuracy, and usability at reasonable prices. Ranging from 27 to 32 inches, they provide sizes well-suited to most desktops and rooms.
With wide color gamuts, Delta E values below 2, and features like uniformity technology and internal LUTs, they deliver strong color performance essential for entry-level color grading across photography, video, design, and other visual media.
Empowered by these more capable displays, all types of content creators can meaningfully elevate their color game and give their visual creativity renewed clarity.
