Speed vs. Color
LCD monitors struggle with color and speed.
Color on an LCD has three layers of colored dots that make up the final pixel.
This transition from the on-to-off state is called the response time.
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For most screens, it rates around 8 to 12 milliseconds.
The problem with response time becomes apparent whenLCDmonitors display motion or video.
This phenomenon isn’t an issue if the monitor displays applications such asproductivity software.
However, with high-speed video and certain video games, it can be jarring.
Because consumers demanded faster screens, many manufacturers reduced the number of levels each color-pixel renders.
When referring to LCD panels, the number of levels that each color can render is used instead.
For example, 24-bit or true color is comprised of three colors, each with eight bits of color.
A color newspaper photo is a good way to see this effect in practice.
In print, the effect is called halftones.
Why multiply groups of three?
For computer displays, the RGB colorspace dominates.
There is another level of display that is used by professionals called a 10-bit display.
In theory, it displays more than a billion colors, more than the human eye discerns.
Once again, you have to look at the real color gamut of these displays.
Most consumer displays don’t say how many they use.
Instead, they tend to list the number of colors they support.
Does It Really Matter?
The amount of color matters to those that do professional work on graphics.
For these people, the amount of color that displays on the screen is significant.
The average consumer won’t need this level of color representation by their monitor.
As a result, it probably doesn’t matter.
As a result, it is best to determine your needs and base your purchase on those criteria.
