Digital BW, The Print

Ellen:
I don't know what your budget is, but you might want to look into the LaCie
321.  I have always used CRT monitors, and in fact bought a LaCie 22" last
spring when I heard that they were going to stop making them.  I thought
that at least this way I could have a good monitor for a few years while the
LCD's evolved to the point where they were ready for critical use.

Another photographer and I recently had the LaCie 321 demonstrated for us by
one of the national LaCie reps, and it was REALLY impressive.  With their
calibration software (I think it's called BlueEye Pro) and hardware (a puck
made for them by Gretag), it is possible to do a hardware-based calibration
that runs automatically once you start it.

I found that you could set a low luminance value (85-95 cd/m2) and get an
image from which you could make critical judgments for printing.  I've found
that most LCD's are too bright and have too much contrast to be used this
way.

I have a file that has 100 squares of grey from 100% to 1%.  With the 321
calibrated, I was able to see distinctions between almost every patch, and
with great neutrality in the grays.  Typically this same image will show
lots of red-magenta in many grays when viewed on a calibrated CRT monitor.
If I needed a new monitor at the moment, I wouldn't hesitate to get this
one.

My understanding is that for critical purposes, most monitors won't be much
good after 3-4 years if they are used many hours a day.  I'd be hesitant to
spend good  money on a "refurbished" unit.

Best,

Stephen Petegorsky