23" Cinema display poor color consistency

I just hooked up my brand new aluminum Apple Cinema HD Display 23 after waiting for weeks for it to arrive. I was pretty disappointed when I immediately noticed the far left and right edges had a dingy yellow tint to them when viewing white windows (such as Finder windows). I also noticed a darker bluish vertical band just to the left of the center when working in LightWave which has a gray background.

So to test the color consistency I then switched the desktop to a medium gray and hid everything else. Sure enough, there was a subtle, but noticeable bluish vertical band about 3" wide just to the left of the center. I then switched the desktop to white and could also see that the far right and left edges were slightly dingy yellow about 2" wide on each side.

I recalibrated the display 2 - 3 times and tested various brightnesses and viewing angles. No matter what I did, the color problems persisted...

I had this $2000 23" Apple HD monitor attached to the Mac with a $400 17" Sony DVI LCD right next to it as a second monitor. The Sony wasn't as good at wide angle viewing, but performing the same gray/white desktop tests showed nice consistent color across the screen. For $2K this HD monitor should have at least as good color consistency as a $400 DVI LCD...

I'd be curious to see how other people's HD 23 monitors hold up with these simple tests. Set your desktop to solid color gray and see how consistent the color holds across the screen. Do the same with solid color white...

Since I run a high end multimedia studio, I need consistent color across the screen. I bought the Apple Cinema display because I thought it was the best I could get...

I packed the monitor up and my associate has just gone to the closest Apple store to see what can be done... I hope this is just an isolated problem that can be quickly resolved. Hopefully I just got a bad monitor and hopefully Apple will just replace it with one with better color consistency...

I'll post the results here...

Thanks,
-MikeS

Posted on Aug 17, 2004 12:15 PM

349 replies

Aug 11, 2005 1:18 PM in response to Community User

Thanks ClearView,

Just take two photos with a digital camera. One of the screen showing a solid white desktop (will show the yellow sides if you have them) and one showing a solid gray desktop (will show the darker/bluer band left of center if you have it). Then post the images on any web site that you have, a personal one, company one, or .Mac account and then just post links (the url of each image) to the following thread...

http://discussions.info.apple.com/webx?128@@.68a92810

It's very unlkely that all three of these screens came from the same batch... One came from MacMall last June, one came from Ohio I think last August and this last one came from PA this month...

It's also very unlikely that I only happened to get three lemons out of a bowl of cherries... it's more likely that most users just don't notice or aren't bothered by the problems that seem to be inherent in every unit I've seen so far... That's why I'd LOVE to see someone post some photos of a good screen... it would give me hope that they do indeed exist... so I can return mine again... 😉

Here are the photos of my first two screens... with instructions on how to test yours...

http://dreamlight.com/insights/bugs/hd23.html

I'll post photos of my third unit sometime next month (after it's had time to settle... 😉

Thanks,
-MikeS

Aug 11, 2005 2:07 PM in response to Michael Scaramozzino

Hi Mike

We have one problem. Gave my camera away and waiting for my new one. Would a screen capture help? I captured White, Light Gray and Dark Gray if this is helpful. I just reduced them to 900px. I do have a website for my business but I haven't a clue how to do anything but navigate it. Email me at youhoo59@yahoo.com and I will email you my website address with all kinds of contact info for me.

One way or another we'll get you squared away. Hang in there!

Aug 12, 2005 3:07 PM in response to Community User

A screen capture shows what's on the screen, but not how it's displayed. This is because screen capture works at the level of the computer itself, whereas the problems with the 23" are manifested at the display.

Therefore, unless I'm mistaken, what is needed is a photo of the display, not a screen capture.

Aug 13, 2005 3:42 AM in response to Nigel Moore

Both displays use the same LC panel. However, the circuitry/backlite schemes are completely different, apparently resulting in a "white" panel banding problem.

Aug 13, 2005 10:08 AM in response to Michael Scaramozzino

Hello,

I am new to this forum and recently decided to purchase a 20" or 23" (have not decided which one yet) Cinema Display from Apple and started doing Google searches to find reviews on the product and was startled to find so many posts about this "pink and yellow and blue" defects on all of them. How bad is it? Is it something that is just an eyesore and can you deal with it. How does it affect your graphics and printouts, as Iam into graphics and design and how would the pink and yellow (if I ended up with it on my display) affect my work? I am just not visualizing it yet. I have not had the chance to see the displays at the Apple store, except from afar but will go to the store and look at a few closely to see if I see the Pink and see if it bothers me. Anyone on here have a Display that does not have any of those problems? I just would hate to spend that much money on one and find out it is really bad as you all say it is. But then again, I feel maybe it is all subjective? I was looking at Mike's pics of his Display and I see the pink but it's very slight and so is the blue. Now, I definitely would have to go to the Apple store and check them out and ask the Rep at the store about it before I spend that much money. Thanks guys.

Aug 13, 2005 2:17 PM in response to Christopher

Hello Christopher, welcome to Apple discussions.

The colour cast has really been reported for the 23", not the 20" (the panels are manufactured by different companies who supply them to Apple).

Your best bet is to go to an Apple store and see for yourself.

Aug 13, 2005 2:21 PM in response to Bill Gallagher

OK, so this is news to me. I realise that they have different circuitry and backlight, and I've read here a number of people complaining that the Dell was actually too bright. But I hadn't read anything on white panel banding problems with the 20" ACD. I did a search here and found one specific thread with three people complaining (IIRC!). Are there any other reports?

Aug 13, 2005 4:36 PM in response to Nigel Moore

Hello Nigel Moore,

Did you read all of this thread? Here's a couple more;

"Topic: 23" Cinema display poor color consistency"
Michael Scaramozzino, "23" Cinema display poor color consistency" #14, 03:29pm Aug 23, 2004 CDT

"RE: Does anyone have photos of a good ACD 23"
http://discussions.info.apple.com/webx?7@@.68a92810/64

There have also been a number of articles posted on various web sites regarding banding, including one that wants to start a class action suit, and is asking for case #'s from people with problem displays.

FWIW, my opinion is that unless your a consummate pro or fanatic, you may not ever notice, but it seems from the research that I've been doing, that banding/pink/blue colorized lcd's are a bit more common for all brands than is thought.

However, with all that said, I personally decided on the Dell 24" with a coupon/deal. And yeah, the Dell did have some discussion threads complaining about "too bright", but from all I've been able to find, that seems to have been corrected to the point where people who returned monitors are satisfied now with the improved screens.

To me, the traffic on the boards regarding the ACD's are not showing a trend towards an improved product.

Again, this is a FWIW. You have to do the research and make an informed choice.

Respectfully,
Bill Gallagher

Aug 14, 2005 7:31 AM in response to Bill Gallagher

Bill

You've flat out confused me now. Originally, you were talking of the 20" ACD (post #171.1), and it was that to which I referred (#171.1.2). This thread, and the other that you linked to, refer to the 23", which is where the problems are being seen.

When I said that I did a search and found few compaints (#171.1.2.1.1), I was searching on the 20" ACD.

Aug 14, 2005 10:04 AM in response to Nigel Moore

Hello Nigel Moore,

Sorry, but I originally started out researching the 20" ACD and the alternate Dell, then gradually migrated toward the 23-24 ACD-Dell displays, where I finally settled. So all of this was a compilation of checking out flatplanel LCD's and after all that, I came to the conclusion that all LCD will eventually suffer some change of quality over time.
FWIW only, and again I'm not promoting one or another, my perception is that the ACD's had significant more issues than the Dells. And I truly wanted to buy Apple.
Again, didn't mean to confuse you or anyone out there, just saying that if your going to invest this much $'s in a display, you should make your own research, come to a conclusion your then hopefully you will be satisfied with the right choice that you made.

Here are two other sources of information if your not already visiting them;
http://www.macintouch.com/
http://forums.applenova.com/

Bill Gallagher

Aug 14, 2005 10:53 AM in response to Bill Gallagher

Bill

Thank you very much for your reply, I appreciate you taking the time to clarify my confusion!

You're right, all screens will deteriorate over time (the phosphor in CRTs dims, as does the backlight in TFTs.) There is, at this time, and as far as I'm aware, no screen that will last forever, so we have to make the best choices that we can based on other criteria.

I've certainly read good things of the Dell displays, with the one caveat of their brightness. If you can live with this, so miuch the better, because I figure that it means that the screen has more leeway for the brightness to dim before the screen is unusable. Therefore, from my simplistic way of looking at it, these screens should have a greater lifespan.

With respect to the quality of the panels, the 20" ACD and Dell are identical. Although I have read that the Dell has slightly richer colours, I guess this is down to its backlight.

Where things really fall apart, it seems, is with the 23" ACD, the panel of which is made by a different manufacturer.

If I was in the market for a 23/24" display, the Dell would be favourite. As it is, I'm looking more towards a 20", and the ACD is more in the running.

Aug 14, 2005 5:45 PM in response to Nigel Moore

Has anyone with any of these problems (over bright, colour cast, colour banding)tried calibrating the display with a colorimeter, Spyder, X-Rite, Macbeth and so on?

What was the result?

I am sure this is not a cure but just wondering if adjusting the monitor by calibration and creating a monitor profile might in any way turn a sick display into one that is more useable, particularly if they cant be replaced by a healthy one.

My interest is that I am still looking to replace two 17" Apple monitors with two larger displays and have held off buying, having read all the problems folks are having.

Gary

Aug 14, 2005 6:40 PM in response to Nigel Moore

Nigel,
Appreciate the constructive, helpful and courteous response confirming that I'm not too much off track on this. Yeah, when I started my choice it was ACD, now escalated to 24". As I've too many accumulating,+'s your way for the elegant response.
See you around the boards!
Bill Gallagher

Aug 14, 2005 8:06 PM in response to Gary Scotland

"Has anyone with any of these problems (over bright, colour cast, colour banding)tried calibrating the display with a colorimeter, Spyder, X-Rite, Macbeth..."

I "got the red out" of my first 23 using the system calibration tool. However, this did not correct any of the other problems. My new display was calibrated using a Spyder2 and I am most satisfied with the results.

DD

Aug 15, 2005 8:30 AM in response to Nigel Moore

That's correct.

A screen capture will always look perfect. It is simply a snapshot of the frame buffer in the video card, before it's ever sent to the monitor to be displayed.

To see how the screen looks you need to take a photograph of the actual LCD showing a known image. I've found that a photo of the screen displaying a solid white desktop will usually show if the screen has the yellow sides problem and a photo of it displaying a solid gray desktop will show if it has the darker/bluer vertical band just left of center problem...

Thanks,
-MikeS

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23" Cinema display poor color consistency