Which screen is glossy or matte? Glossy or matte laptop screen

Again we are discussing a painful topic about which many articles have been written on the Internet. Most of them appeal to subjective arguments of the form: “it seems so to me.” In this article we will do it differently - we will start from the facts, and knowledge of the basics of color management and the literature of the remarkable specialist Alexei Shadrin will help us in this.

What is the advantage of a glossy monitor?

Main advantage glossy monitor in image contrast.

Everyone knows that contrast is determined by the ratio of the energy brightness of the darkest point and the lightest point.

Forgetting that our visual system has contrast adaptation mechanisms. The easiest way to show what it is is visually.

The essence of the phenomenon is as follows: the visual system selects the lightest and darkest objects in FIELD OF VIEW and tunes in to them. In order for there to be an adequate picture on the monitor, it is enough that the lightest and dark spots it was in the field of view that they were on it. And for this it is quite enough not to hang dark objects behind the monitor and not to place lamps there (or not to place monitor in front of the window).

Excessive contrast on glossy monitors

At the same time, glossy monitors have excessive contrast, which we really feel. Visually, she perceives it as “improvement of the picture.” This is due to the fact that under natural evolutionary conditions we are not accustomed to seeing such contrast in a small (relative to the entire field of view) area. This is where the WOW effect comes from - we look at the monitor and it seems to us that the image looks “amazing”!

Glossy or matte monitor for the designer

I will try to present my position as tactfully as possible. Of course, the monitor itself does not make a person either good designer, not bad. However, the glossy monitor has 2 significant drawbacks.

Deception

The first item on my list will not be glare, about which a lot has been written on the Internet. In my opinion, the concept of a glossy monitor itself is much more important, which implies an ARTIFICIAL (!) improvement in the perception of the image on the monitor. Any blonde who takes a photo of her dog or a new manicure can rejoice in the fact that the photo on the screen of her iPhone looks cooler than Rembrandt’s paintings.

The negative component is that the mentioned The “wow effect” can replace the real aesthetic component- you can draw any nonsense and on a glossy monitor it will look “juicy” and beautiful.

And now fellow designers Let's ask ourselves: do we need it? Who are we deceiving in this way?

Well, okay, we’ll look at it on our glossy monitor and be happy for ourselves, but we have to hand over this work to the customer. The layout will be printed. And it will be very sad to see in the final not a masterpiece, as we thought, but dull... creativity that can be described with the words “boring, dull - nothing to look at.”

So, in my opinion, designers are not interested in deceiving themselves by using glossy monitors.

You can hear more about this effect in Shadrin’s lecture, although it talks about the difference between a monitor and a viewing table, but the essence is the same - very high contrast creates a deceptive feeling of beauty.

Just don’t forget to rewind to 8:20, because the lecture itself lasts 4 hours and it’s not at all necessary to watch everything within the article (although many creative people who like to develop comprehensively will find the lecture interesting).

Glare

You can and should fight glare. Even if you have matte monitor, it is still necessary to strive to organize the lighting as correctly as possible designer's workplace. Another issue is that the official ISO recommendations (ISO: 3664 and 12646) are too “draconian” to be universally applied in offices or apartments. In particular, light sources in any case should not be in direct visibility, i.e. everything that can glare should be placed inside the box with the reflector.

But, because in most apartments and offices, there are open light sources (chandeliers, wall/floor lamps, windows), matte surfaces have an advantage over glossy ones, because... make the highlights less saturated and sharp, as if blurring them.

Reflections

Reflections in a glossy monitor are barely noticeable when watching movies, playing games and surfing the Internet. But they are very noticeable on a gray and dark background.

Let me remind you that gray background is the most successful for working with color and least irritating to the eyes. For this reason, prof. program gray and dark gray interface backgrounds predominate. As a result, the brain is forced to perform additional operations in order to recognize, separate and sift out some visual images from others - what is located on the screen and what is reflected in it.

If you have to work for a long time, this contributes to fatigue.

Taking into account all of the above, we can conclude that for the designer the best solution is still a matte monitor.

Glossy or matte gaming monitor

Here the situation is diametrically opposite. In games, perception and entertainment come first. At the same time, in most games there are bright pictures, in which the shortcomings of a glossy monitor become less noticeable. This allows us to conclude that for gaming and watching movies, a glossy monitor is a more adequate solution.

Glossy laptop monitor

The picture on a glossy monitor looks brighter with less backlight power - this is a direct way to save battery power. At the same time, because A laptop is a mobile device, and it’s easier to deal with harsh glare - the monitor can be easily moved and rotated/tilted as desired. Because of this glossy screen finish has become quite popular on mobile devices.

Conclusion

I hope I was able to answer such a burning question as “should I use a glossy or matte monitor?” As always, I will be happy to hear your questions and comments in the comments =)

Today it is impossible to imagine modern world without internet and computer. Everyone has such equipment in their home. However, to make using your computer comfortable, it is important to choose the right monitor. On at the moment There are different types of coatings: glossy and matte. We'll look at what's better in today's article.

Features of glossy monitors

Key Feature are more saturated and vibrant colors. The black tint is especially pronounced on such monitors. What to choose - matte or glossy monitor? Glossy monitors have high color rendering.

But it must be said that when using such a screen, glare and various reflections may be noticeable. This puts a lot of strain on the eyes. Other disadvantages include pronounced fingerprints and dust, so maintenance of such a coating should be frequent.

Features of matte monitors

With the same design, LCD panels are distinguished by a special anti-reflective coating. This is what prevents reflection. Thanks to this coating, you can work with your computer under any conditions. The strain on the eyes will be minimal. But at the same time, such monitors have poor color reproduction. They are duller and faded. Therefore, you won’t be able to get maximum pleasure from watching movies or playing games here, especially during daylight hours.

terms of Use

If you are purchasing a monitor for home computer, you need to think about the lighting in the room. From this characteristic you can already decide which monitor is better - glossy or matte. If the room is not too bright, you should give preference to glossy panels with rich color rendition. However, if you plan to work in a room where there is constant bright lighting, or are choosing a monitor for the office, it is better to choose matte screen.

Please note: even a matte screen will not provide 100 percent protection from glare. But their number will be much smaller. The matte surface makes glare less harsh. They are washed out as much as possible.

To work comfortably with a glossy monitor, you should remove open light sources. These are floor and wall lamps, as well as chandeliers. Some people wonder how to make a glossy monitor matte. You can polish the surface, but experts do not recommend this. Thus, it is significantly reduced throughput, the picture becomes cloudy. Therefore, you should decide in advance what the monitor’s finish should be - glossy or matte.

Anti-glare film

It is impossible to predict all the conditions in which we will work. So, the situation may change the very next day after purchasing the monitor. And suddenly there is a need for a matte finish. You can do it on a glossy monitor by gluing an anti-glare film. But you need to understand that it is not as effective as the coating on a matte LCD display. Therefore, you won’t be able to get complete protection from glare.

It is very easy to apply this film:

• At the first stage, you should make sure that it fully matches the dimensions of the monitor (you must remember that not only the diagonal is important, but also the aspect ratio).
• Next, you need to degrease the surface. The presence of dust and other dirt is excluded. Otherwise, after gluing, these defects will be significantly visible on the screen.
• Then the film is glued from one corner to the opposite and carefully smoothed out.

Is a glossy finish beneficial?

If you work with graphic objects, such monitors artificially increase contrast. As a result, the image is more saturated and vibrant. Also, the glossy monitor is great for watching movies, surfing the Internet and playing games. Such a monitor is no less relevant when working with graphic editors. In addition, these screens require less electricity. Because of this, such screens are often used on laptops.

Selecting a screen for working with texts

Which is better - glossy or matte monitor screen? If you are planning to buy a monitor for work, the first priority is eye comfort and the ability to use the screen in any conditions. Experts recommend giving preference to matte screens. Yes, unlike glossy, there will not be a bright and saturated picture. However, the bright light that hits the monitor will not cause glare. This makes it easier to work with text and numbers. The image will always remain clearly readable.

But if you need a monitor for working with images, it is better to give preference to glossy solutions. At the same time, it is important to organize workplace so that glare is eliminated as much as possible. It is better to operate this monitor in dim lighting.

Specifications

Here are the characteristics of a glossy monitor using the Dell S2316H as an example:

• Screen diagonal - 23 inches.
• The matrix response time is 6 ms.
• Display brightness is 250 candelas per square meter.
• Contrast - 1000:1.
• Horizontal viewing angle - 178 degrees.
• Display resolution (maximum) - 1920 by 1080 pixels.
• The pixel size is 0.26 by 0.26 millimeters.
• The maximum number of colors is 16 million.
• Backlight type - LED.
• Rated power - 23 V (0.3 in standby mode).

Below are the characteristics of the matte monitor "Dell P2417N":

• Monitor diagonal - 23.8 inches.
• The matrix response time (from gray to gray) is 6 ms.
• Brightness - 250 candelas per square meter.
• Dynamic contrast - 4 million to one (nominal - 1000:1).
• Viewing angle (vertical and horizontal) - 178 degrees.
• The pixel size is 0.27 by 0.27 millimeters.
• Number of colors - 16.7 million.
• Rated power - 19 V, in standby mode - 0.3 V.

As you can see, the characteristics of these monitors are quite similar. Therefore, many cannot decide which is better - a matte or glossy monitor. Next we will summarize all of the above.

Let's sum it up

Which is better - matte or glossy monitor? First, let's highlight the advantages and disadvantages of glossy solutions. Among the advantages it is worth highlighting:

• High color rendering.
• Bright and rich colors.
• Pronounced black color.
• Suitable for working with graphic objects, as well as for watching movies.

Among the disadvantages:

• Contaminants are visible on the surface.
• There are glares when exposed to sunlight.
• Your eyes get tired faster.

Now let's highlight the advantages of matte screens:

• Anti-reflective coating available.
• Less eye fatigue.
• Suitable for working with texts and numbers.

Among the disadvantages:

• Less response in games.
• Faded and dull colors.
• Graininess (mainly relevant for cheap options).

So, which is better - a matte or glossy monitor? As you can see, both have their pros and cons. If you need a monitor for gaming, watching movies, or working with images, you should give preference to glossy solutions. Matte ones will be relevant when working with texts (which is why such screens are widely used in offices) and are undemanding in terms of lighting, since glare is invisible.

Which laptop screen is better: matte or glossy?

The matrix is ​​one of the main elements of the laptop, the whole necessary information read by the user directly from the monitor. Because of poor quality images, it may become impossible to get the job done, even with other great performance features. laptop computer. A logical conclusion follows from this: saving on the quality of a monitor when buying a laptop is not advisable. The question arises: which laptop screen is better?

IN modern realities Manufacturers are striving to create a screen in terms of energy consumption and cost, while maintaining high-quality image transmission, brightness, resolution, high contrast and color rendition. In the process of innovative development, glossy, mirror screens. Today, most laptops are equipped with these screens.

Which laptop matrix is ​​better and why?

Choosing between matte and glossy laptop displays, it is worth considering their disadvantages and advantages. There are a sufficient number of high-quality laptops with both glossy and matte matrices.

It is worth noting that glossy displays have a number of disadvantages compared to matte ones: they get dirty faster, fingerprints are more visible on their surface; Using such a laptop is quite difficult in a brightly lit room and outdoors, since the screen reflects the sun's rays and other bright objects. The glossy finish has a higher quality contrast and brightness of the viewed image, but glare and increased eye strain are their drawbacks. But in the production of glossy screens latest generation Anti-reflective coating is used, so glare appears on the screen only in bright light. Also to eliminate deficiencies glossy screen You can use a special protective matte film.

Matte laptop screens are still more popular than glossy ones. This is explained by the above-mentioned disadvantages of a glossy finish.

Basically, a laptop is purchased at long time, therefore, the buyer should choose high-quality equipment that meets his individual needs in order to avoid unwanted ones.

When you buy a laptop or monitor, you are faced with a choice: matte or glossy? Which screen coating is better? The thing that turns into a “mirror” in the light of the Sun, or the one on which the colors seem faded?

We hope this article will help you decide.

Glossy vs matte

Where did this opposition come from? After all, both glossy and matte monitors use the same LCD panels.

However, manufacturers produce glossy and matte monitors, and buyers are faced with the agony of choice.

Let's look at the advantages and disadvantages of each coating.

Glossy displays are more “bright”. They have more saturated, intense and contrasting color rendering; especially deep black color. That's a plus.

However, they shine in the Sun. This is a minus. If you often work at fresh air or your workspace is near a window, glare may disturb you.

Matte displays have an anti-reflective coating that reduces glare. Therefore, in rooms with bright artificial or natural light, it is more comfortable to work behind such monitors.

The disadvantage of matte displays is their fading. The colors look a little duller on them.

Pros and cons of glossy and matte monitors clearly demonstrates the photo on the cover. On the left is matte Dell, and on the right is glossy Apple.

What to choose?

It all depends on your goals.

If you're looking for a desktop monitor and the room isn't very lit, you'll probably want a glossy finish with more vibrant colors.

If you are buying a laptop and plan to often work outdoors (on the terrace on a sunny day), then look for a matte display. Similarly, when buying a monitor for desktop computer in very good lighting conditions (table by the window, powerful lamps). But remember: the AR coating on a matte display will not protect you 100% from glare, but it will be slightly less noticeable than on a glossy screen.

Of course, it is impossible to create ideal conditions for the entire life of the screen (especially if we are talking about a laptop). Today your desk is far from the window, and tomorrow you have been moved to an office that is flooded sunlight. Therefore, when choosing a glossy or matte display, you are making a compromise in any case.

(The photo shows not only laptops with a matte (left) and glossy (right) finish, but also different models different generations. Please do not make direct comparisons.)

If it were possible to make a monitor where, at the click of your fingers, the matte finish would change to glossy (and vice versa), many would be happy. After all, this would allow you to “tune” the monitor to specific conditions. But this is impossible.

Therefore, the opposition “glossy vs matte” will probably continue to exist. After all, how many people there are, so many opinions.

Source

Which monitor – glossy or matte – did you choose and why?