LCD or CRT? Which way do I go???

[the3vilsix]

LCD or CRT? Any recommendations or personal experiences.
I just purchased a Samsung fully rotational 970p syncmaster. It's quite a tool but I'm having trouble callobrating my screen as well as using the software that it came with since it is pc only (the software).
I'm starting to feel like the overall look of a digital display just isn't going to cut it. Will I have to go out and purchase an oversized CRT in order to get the best viewable quality?
What do you guys use?
Any advice appreciated.
Thanks

[cjoe]

LaCie gear all the way buddy, if you're going to be using a PC. Mac displays are usually good, so think about getting a Mac display, just make sure you've got a decent enough video card to support it.
LCD's have the advantage that they only need calibrating once, if you can get it right. However, CRT's are cheaper muchly these days.

http://www.lacie.com/products/product.htm?pid=10503

http://www.lacie.com/products/product.htm?pid=10597

[Rocketpig]

Another thing to remember is that LCDs do not show as many colors as a CRT. You'll never truly achieve perfect color matching with an LCD.

But since you're viewing things in RGB on your monitor vs. CMYK for print, things are going to be slightly off anyway. I've been using LCDs for about 3 years and it hasn't been a problem for me at all.

[SurfPark]

I think the bottom line is how much you're willing to spend. You could get a huge CRT monitor for a decent price that renders more accurate colors, or a normal sized LCD with more sharpness.

There are also the flat panel CRT's out that are considerably thinner than standard CRT's. There is all the new generation of LCDs with closer color matching but these are more expensive. Which is more important to you at this point: color or sharpness?

[Broacher]

I'd say that with rare top end exceptions, the LCDs are still backseater when compared to CRTs for graphic work. Not the least is the ability of a CRT to keep pixel size a variable. Latency is a huge concern for animation work too.

[LeftBrain Artist]

Just got a Mac Mini - found a brand new third party 17" LCD display for $229 - had a $100 rebate that would've dropped it to $129 but I missed the deadline. Somebody call the Waaahhmbulance.

Color gets weird if you're not looking at the screen from a straight on 90º angle, but its compact, lightweight and the price wasn't bad at all. Shop around online and you should be able to unearth some pretty sweet deals. CRT monitors have better color, and are cheaper for comparable LCD screen sizes, but shipping charges are usually more due to their weight. And as far as RGB color goes, anyone who's been doing graphic design for any amount of time should realize the same image will have 28 different appearances on 28 different monitors, and all 28 users will swear up and down that thiers is the correct color calibration. CMYK? Your onscreen appearance is a reference point. There's a reason printers make proofs.

Personally, I think the LCD has nice color when viewed from straight on, but the color quality will rapidly degrade (desaturating, losing contrast, and taking on a yellow-orange cast) as you shift your viewing angle from perpendicular. The desktop space that is saved and the ease with which it may be moved makes up for that though.

[LeftBrain Artist]

I should also mention that I've got CRT at work, and the LCD at home. I think LCDs are OK for print design (which is what I primarily do) since you should be relying on printouts for judging color. If you do a lot of web and animation stuff, CRTs are the way to go - as Broacher pointed out. If its just for kicking around stuff at home - LCD. If multiple people are going to be watching DVDs on it - CRT. You get the picture.

[CSFX]

I do print Design and i use a G5 so can't really get away from the screen!
However my workmate who does web design he uses a Mistubishi Diamond Plus 250sb- works nicely! :)