[opendtv] New Apple Cinema displays and HD
- From: Craig Birkmaier <craig@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: OpenDTV Mail List <opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 29 Jun 2004 08:28:09 -0400
I was reminded of our recent discussion about color gamut when i saw
the announcement of new Apple Cinema displays this morning. Yesterday
Apple updated their LCD display line, with several notable changes.
First, the addition of a 30 inch model with 2560 x 1600 pixels, with
a density of 100 pixels per inch (ppi). Apple also replaced the 17
inch display with a 20 inch panel with 1680 x 1050 resolution. All
Apple panels now use 100ppi resolution, which the company claims is
the best compromise for the display of text, graphics and natural
images.
The new displays now use a standard DVI interconnect (as opposed to
the proprietary DVI connector offered in the past), which means that
they can be used with PCs as well as Macs.
There are some interesting images and diagrams on the pages for which
I am providing links.
This is a good place to start:
http://www.apple.com/displays/
Check out the "roll over" image on this page that shows the relative
size and image area that can be viewed on each display.
This page provides some background on the technology:
http://www.apple.com/displays/technology.html
The following discussion of color gamut versus CRT displays comes
from the Technology PDF file that can be accessed from the links
above:
Color gamut
Earlier this century, a group of scientists and intellectuals who
called themselves the Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage (CIE)
had the goal of defining color. Using as much objectivity as is
possible with this highly subjective topic, they developed a
coordinate system for categorizing the world of colors.
Theoretically, based on this system, every color we see can be
described in terms of x, y coordinates for red, green, and blue
components. Taking it one step further, every device that reproduces
colors can also be described based on the x and y values of its red,
green, and blue colors. The total number of colors prescribed by the
two-dimensional plot of these x and y coordinates is often referred
to as the device's "color gamut." The first question in a comparison
of LCD versus CRT color quality is whether the color gamut of today's
best LCDs is as extensive as that of the CRT. The answer is yes.
Plotting the x, y values for the red, green, and blue colors shows
that the color gamut of an LCD is as large as that of a typical CRT.
In other words, there are no longer any compromises in the total
colors available when using a flat-panel display. In addition to this
two-dimensional color description, color has a third dimension: its
brightness. As previously described, a flat panel substantially
outperforms a CRT on the brightness axis. Adding this third dimension
to the color comparison shows that the total volume of colors
perceived from an LCD such as the Apple Cinema Display actually
becomes larger than the volume of colors corresponding to a CRT.
While it's difficult to notice the impact of brightness on color when
you view CRTs and LCDs independently, it's easy to see the difference
when you put the two types of monitors side by side. You'll
immediately notice that the LCD's colors appear more vivid and
lifelike because its total color gamut is perceptually larger than
that of the CRT. The benefit of this larger perceptual gamut is that
you can use the LCD in normally lit settings such as offices and
homes-with little reduction in the dynamic range of colors being
displayed (that is, without the colors becoming washed out). A CRT in
a darkened room performs similarly to an LCD in this regard, but the
LCD provides a greater color range in a room that isn't dark. Content
creators who have been forced to sit in darkened rooms to do their
work on a CRT will appreciate this difference.
Now for some really useful info for those who may be working with HD
displays today, or those who plan to in the near future. eCinema
Systems offers a display processor for use with the Apple Cinema
displays and one Sony panel that offers the same resolution as the
Apple 23" unit. The processor take in HDSDI and provides a variety of
ways to view HD source at its actual pixel resolution. The following
web page provides some very interesting information along with actual
image comparisons of HD source on LCD panels and broadcast quality HD
CRT displays. The differences are stunning.
http://www.ecinemasys.com/products/edp100/edp100_intro.htm
Regards
Craig
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