Re: Setting up HP DreamColor LP2480zx monitor for work in Color

Thank you both for your replies. I was about to reply to your comment Jerry, to say that I was aware that we're not supposed to do grading on a mere "computer display", but the HP DreamColor LP2480zx, as Dan has pointed out, is not your ordinary computer display.

Dan, thanks for the in-depth overview of the monitor as well as the instructions for getting the Mac to recognize the different color spaces. I do have a few additional questions and comments for you.
First of all, on the Reduser.net forums, there is much talk about how the DreamColor is not really a 30 bit monitor since the monitor's LCD "panel" is only eight bit. Frankly, it has been very difficult for me to get the straight dope from anyone regarding whether or not the panel is really 30 bits. I even called HP here in Canada and no one had a clue. I purchased the monitor on the basis of what I read in HP marketing materials, thinking an honorable company like HP would not write fraudulent claims for their products (see DreamColor and HP DreamColor LP2480zx Professional Display: Frequently Asked Questions at this link:
http://h20202.www2.hp.com/Hpsub/downloads/DreamColor_and_LP2480zx_FAQ_June0...

At any rate, on one of the reduser.net forums (http://www.reduser.net/forum/showthread.php?p=337581#post337581) someone pointed out another website where a review was posted:
http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?p=1033337918

The reviewer comes down hard on the DreamColor, saying that it dithers badly. So I did the same test, and, lo and behold, it does dither on my monitor also. I would like to know why it does so? Is there some setting that we have to apply to eliminate dithering? Something strange is going on since I see no dithering on my Dell 2405 monitor when I do the same test. Both are connected to the same graphics card on my MacPro (yes, they aren't 30 bit cards, but like everyone else, I'm waiting for them to appear). So I don't understand why my expensive DreamColor dithers, but my older much less expensive Dell doesn't. This is, of course, clearly unacceptable.

Concerning the Auto EDID update, how can I know/check in Mac OS X that the new colorspace has been detected? I set this setting to "on" but I didn't see any difference.

For your information, RED has its own RAW colorspace, but allows one to assign either RAW, its own "REDspace" or REC 709 in metadata (which can be changed in post). I use the REC 709 for grading in Apple Color.

Thanks again for your help and useful information!

Jean
jdcineaste[at] gmail.com