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

Hello Jean,

[For new readers: I work for HP.]

First things first: Yes, the LP2480zx DOES have a true 30-bit panel (10 bits per channel). It was created specially for HP, for this product.

Let me say it again: Yes, the LP2480zx DOES have a 30-bit panel.

And once more: 30-bit panel! Yes!!

The marketing materials are correct. :-)

In fact, the discussions on REDuser (which I will try to get onto) are wrong in another respect: The processing is at 36 bits (12 per channel), not 30. Therefore, there are two paths to blessing, as it were:

1 - 8-bit pixels are color-transformed with 12-bit math and sent to the 10-bit panel. This reduces color error / increases color accuracy. And the 12-bit math helps to ensure that you don't get similar colors collapsing to the same color, for example.

2 - 10-bit pixels (when you get that 10-bit graphics card!) are passed straight through to the panel; at least in "Full" mode. Of course, in a color managed mode such as Rec 709, there'll be some reduction of the monitor's native color space to map onto the Rec 709 color space, which means that not all 1.07 billion colors are available. It's hard to say what the real number is, but if you imagine, say, 800-900 million it wouldn't be too far off. Still much better than an 8-bit panel. :-)

Regarding the apparent dithering seen by you and others, well, I've seen it too. From what I recall, it gets improved/fixed with newer firmware and with recalibration. But I'm following up with the engineers who work on the product, and I will let you know.

In the meantime, please let me know the firmware version of your display (look in the "Information" section of the OSD). Note that if I end up recommending that you update your firmware, you'll need a Windows PC or laptop to do it. We don't at this time have a Mac version of the firmware update tool.

Dan