how monitors work

  • Thread starter Thread starter admyc
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admyc

Hello

I am reading a book on Photoshop, in it it states that "Ideally when
you work on images in Photoshop you will do so using a 24-bit monitor
capable of displaying over 16 million colours". How can you have a
24-bit monitor, doesn't a computer monitor just respond to the analogue
signals input into it? Surely it is the video card that is 24bit not
the monitor.

I am assuming that computer monitors work like TVs in that the signal
sent to them is analogue and variations in its voltage varies the
strength of each RGB element. If this is the case then surely the
monitor is able to produce an infinite amount of colours and it is
limited only by the signal sent to it which is limited by the
computer/graphics card. So surely to speak of a 24bit monitor makes no
sense.

If I have got it totally wrong please let me know.

Any info gratefully recieved.

AM
 
I am reading a book on Photoshop, in it it states that "Ideally
when you work on images in Photoshop you will do so using a 24-bit
monitor capable of displaying over 16 million colours". How can
you have a 24-bit monitor, doesn't a computer monitor just respond
to the analogue signals input into it? Surely it is the video card
that is 24bit not the monitor.
Click to expand...

I'm not really sure. It might depend on the monitor type. I don't
think you need to worry about it.

Are you wondering whether that statement should affect your next
monitor purchase? However expensive, a quality monitor is a very
important component of most personal computer systems, and
especially so if you are manipulating graphics.

Have fun.
 
Hello

I am reading a book on Photoshop, in it it states that "Ideally when
you work on images in Photoshop you will do so using a 24-bit monitor
capable of displaying over 16 million colours". How can you have a
24-bit monitor, doesn't a computer monitor just respond to the analogue
signals input into it? Surely it is the video card that is 24bit not
the monitor.
Click to expand...

Yeah, the book is sloppy. Some monitors might not be capable of
handling the color range of a modern graphics card, but that would not
be true of any newer ones.
I am assuming that computer monitors work like TVs in that the signal
sent to them is analogue and variations in its voltage varies the
strength of each RGB element. If this is the case then surely the
monitor is able to produce an infinite amount of colours and it is
limited only by the signal sent to it which is limited by the
computer/graphics card. So surely to speak of a 24bit monitor makes no
sense.
Click to expand...

DVI-capable monitors work differently than how you describe, but
you're right... it's the computer's graphics card that determines
color depth (e.g., 24 bit), not the monitor.

Charlie
 
LOL, how do they work ? stuffed if I know, push the on button
magic..

The vid card turns all the high tech dribble into pretty pics, that'
all you need to know
 
Hello

I am reading a book on Photoshop, in it it states that "Ideally when
you work on images in Photoshop you will do so using a 24-bit monitor
capable of displaying over 16 million colours". How can you have a
24-bit monitor, doesn't a computer monitor just respond to the analogue
signals input into it? Surely it is the video card that is 24bit not
the monitor.

I am assuming that computer monitors work like TVs in that the signal
sent to them is analogue and variations in its voltage varies the
strength of each RGB element. If this is the case then surely the
monitor is able to produce an infinite amount of colours and it is
limited only by the signal sent to it which is limited by the
computer/graphics card. So surely to speak of a 24bit monitor makes no
sense.

If I have got it totally wrong please let me know.

Any info gratefully recieved.

AM
Click to expand...

Your understanding is essentially correct. What they probably meant was a
24 bit video card.

It would be possible for a monitor to have a sloppy enough video section
that it didn't reproduce color with sufficient precision (analog video
amplifier non linearity, noise, etc) but modern monitors are usually good
enough so that isn't generally a problem.
 
Hello

I am reading a book on Photoshop, in it it states that "Ideally when
you work on images in Photoshop you will do so using a 24-bit monitor
capable of displaying over 16 million colours". How can you have a
24-bit monitor, doesn't a computer monitor just respond to the analogue
signals input into it? Surely it is the video card that is 24bit not
the monitor.
Click to expand...

Well, I guess the makers of Photoshop are just covering their ass. I don't
think there has been a monitor sold in the last decade or so that was not
capable of displaying 16 million colors. But some older ones are out there
that would not display as many colors. "SVGA" refers not only to
resolution, but also (24-bit) color depth. Most people don't realize that.
But If there are any monitors still in use that won't reach -or exceed-
800X600 @ 24-bit color depth, those puppies must be antiques. :) -Dave
 
Hello

I am reading a book on Photoshop, in it it states that "Ideally when
you work on images in Photoshop you will do so using a 24-bit monitor
capable of displaying over 16 million colours". How can you have a
24-bit monitor, doesn't a computer monitor just respond to the analogue
signals input into it? Surely it is the video card that is 24bit not
the monitor.

I am assuming that computer monitors work like TVs in that the signal
sent to them is analogue and variations in its voltage varies the
strength of each RGB element. If this is the case then surely the
monitor is able to produce an infinite amount of colours and it is
limited only by the signal sent to it which is limited by the
computer/graphics card. So surely to speak of a 24bit monitor makes no
sense.

If I have got it totally wrong please let me know.

Any info gratefully recieved.

AM
Click to expand...
You pretty much have it. One thing to remember if you are doing a lot of
photo editing etc. on your system is calibration. My DVI LCD has options for
a couple of profiles (actually it's the video card) and I use one for my
everyday use and the other for photo editing. I also take a laptop out with
me when I am away from my PC and make sure that it is calibrated as exact as
possible to my PC screen. What is comfortable to my eyes in everyday usage
may not be the most exact colorwise as what I need for photo editing. There
are several low-priced (maybe even free) color calibration apps around, but
the one I like has this plastic thingy that sticks on your screen and you
basically just follow the instructions to get very accurate color rendition.
Most all of the fairly recent video cards and monitors support
32bit/millions of colors displays so I wouldn't worry about that at all.

Ed
 
Ever heard of monochrome?Point is some monitors cannot display everything
the video card can deliver.
 
When dealing with production work, panatone color schemes, CRT monitors(and
some newer LCD's), printers, and last but not least, color profiles, It is
my understanding that 24bit decision is based on color matching reasoning.
Influenced also by the video cards in MACs and their features (or the lack
there of) in the then MAC dominated video/graphic industry.
 
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