While one may not give much credit to awards, the truth is that they still reflect a choice. But when a company as Technicolor states that a monitor offers the most accurate color possible, you probably have to believe the statement.
The TIPA -Technical Image Press Association awards have seen, in my opinion, better days. Knowing the project since its inception, I’ve seen TIPA extend their range of awards in such a way that almost everything and everyone receives a prize… and the organization is widely criticized for something that once they criticized EISA – European Imaging & Sound Association, another award giving organization.
Still, one has to understand that the TIPA awards are bestowed by the organizations 27 judges, editors drawn for imaging magazines from 15 countries on five continents, and to qualify products must have been launched in the previous 12 months. Released in September 2015, the monitor from BenQ, say the judges, offers professional photographers, retouchers and graphic designers top quality performance.
According to TIPA, BenQ’s SW2700PT 27-inch monitor is aimed specifically at photographers who want IPS technology and 99% Adobe RGB colour space coverage, as well as a brightness level of 350 lux and high contrast for rendering deep blacks. The monitor’s other remarkable assets include inputs and outputs such as Display Port, DVI and HDMI, with USB 3.0 ports, SD card reader and a unique OSD controller. BenQ SW2700PT can be hardware colour calibrated which is essential for serious photo retouchers and graphic designers alike. Last but not least, a detachable hood underlines the professional attributes of this affordable but in essence high-end monitor.
The Technicolor certification of BenQ’s PV270 is a completely different story. As the recognized authority on color and image authenticity, Technicolor is trusted amongst media and entertainment industries around the world from top Hollywood directors to animators and game developers. Technicolor Color Certified devices are tested and verified during the manufacturing process to meet the same strict standards for color accuracy, matching the same color gamut, white point and gamma standards used throughout Hollywood and other entertainment industries.
This means that when a monitor receives is Technicolor Color Certified, like the PV270 just was, it is able to work as a high-end display for advanced cinematic and video post-production… according to Technicolor. Just to put things in context, Technicolor Color Certified is a designation reserved for devices— PC monitors, laptops, all-in-ones, and tablets —that satisfy the required Technicolor specifications during the device’s manufacturing process to meet the same strict standards for color accuracy used in Hollywood and throughout the media and entertainment industries. All Technicolor Color Certified devices display colors accurately, consistently and exactly as the content originators intended. Anyone can enjoy shopping, entertainment and gaming experiences with full confidence that the color you see onscreen is accurate.
“BenQ is a manufacturer of premium monitors used by professionals, with some meeting the strict requirements to be Technicolor Color Certified,” said Manuele Wahl, Senior Vice President of Technology and Trademark Licensing at Technicolor. “With these monitors content creators, videographers, and photographers, for example, can be assured they’re viewing and editing their work in the most accurate color possible.”
For colorists and editors demanding uncompromised color accuracy and high resolution, the PV270 meets those requirements for professional video editing, visual effects, and color correction and management. Being Technicolor Color Certified, the feature-rich PV270’s color performance is Hollywood-ready. This monitor’s 27” IPS display boasts QHD (2560 x 1440 pixels) resolution with expansive color spaces covering 100% Rec.709, 96% DCI-P3 and 99% Adobe RGB required in digital cinematic video post-production and photo retouching. With hardware calibration and a 14-bit 3D LUT, an average Delta E≦1.5 is achieved to deliver extreme color accuracy and reproduction for a high-impact, true-to-source viewing experience.
According to the information provided by BenQ, several features on the PV270 allow additional convenience and increase work efficiency. The X-Rite powered Palette Master calibration software assists hardware calibration for conformance to artists’ requirements. An optional Software Development Kit (SDK) allows studios or calibration software provider to be more involved in customizing color calibration settings. With 24P support, videos can be viewed with correct timing at their native cinematic frame rates. The built-in backlight sensor quickly stabilizes the monitor’s brightness while the brightness uniformity feature maintains consistent brightness across the viewing surface. The GamutDuo function allows artists to simultaneously review images on-screen side-by-side from two sources using two different color standards (e.g. Rec.709 and DCI-P3). With color related production expanding to worldwide collaborative efforts, the PV270’s Color Display Clone software can be used to detect differences in ambient light to automatically adjust the displayed color temperature for consistent color performance across remote offices and environments.