Help needed for my birthday!!

imagesofhim

If money were no object and you could build the PERFECT PC for photography--what would you build? Be as specific as possible with reasoning included. I have a friend that is willing to build my dream... problem is, I need help with my dream!

I can't afford to change all my software to MAC, so that's why I need the PC specs...

Thanks in advance!

dbveto

Maximum PC just had this article about this subject. It is going to be my new pc someday.

http://www.maximumpc.com/article/how-tos/how-_build_ultimate_digital_photo_studio_pc

Newsy

dbveto wrote: »

Maximum PC just had this article about this subject. It is going to be my new pc someday.

http://www.maximumpc.com/article/how-tos/how-_build_ultimate_digital_photo_studio_pc

I'd change the monitor.

They list the HP ZR30w 30-inch IPS LCD Display. I'd buy a Dell U3011 instead.

This is simply because the HP lacks an on screen display menu to adjust key parameters such as RGB sliders. The only hardware controls are for Brightness & Contrast. There are no hardware controls on the monitor for RGB which is a handicap during calibration.

The Dell U3011 does have an OSD menu for those and uses the same H-IPS TFT LCD panel as the HP.

http://www.tftcentral.co.uk/reviews/dell_u3011.htm

If you want to go better but still mid-level in pricing I'd look to any one of the PA series monitors from NEC - the 24", 27", or pending 30". Get the version that comes with the matching SpectraView II calibration kit. These are very good monitors for image editing.

If you want to go "ultimate" then budget for an Eizo or Lacie - something like $2000 and up.

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imagesofhim

Thank you both, sooooo much! I'll update when it's done!!!

catspaw

btw, I've heard Adobe will do some swaps of the PC discs for Mac on current software. Might check what choices you have in that, as could end up not costing much software wise!

Newsy

Something to be aware of...

Both the HP and Dell monitors mentioned earlier are "Wide gamut". They will display about 100% of the sRGB color space and about 100% of the AdobeRGB color space.

For most people, their first computer monitor is basic sRGB gamut (NOT wide gamut) unit.

When they switch to a more expensive wide gamut monitor they are often dismayed by the over saturated reds, greens, and skin tones.

The key to using a wide gamut monitor and being happy is understanding color management. You will have to use image viewing software that is color managed as should your editing software also be. You will also have to understand the use of ICC profiles and correctly assign them as required.

The advantage of a wide gamut monitor is apparent to people who capture JPEG's in AdobeRGB color mode on their DSLR, or capture to a RAW format and then later extract the image into the AdobeRGB or ProphotoRGB space (Lightroom 3's native working space is ProPhotoRGB and this cannot be changed). Also, people with advanced multi-ink photo printers will be closer to getting a screen that matches their prints.

For most people who edit images for posting to web sites (like Smugmug) or send out their images to Costco or Walmart.... sRGB is all they need. Costco's are starting to get a few locations with wide gamut printers but typically, most off site printers ask you to provide an image in the sRGB color space.

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