There are many computer monitors out there, and all seem to have similar specifications. It can be hard to find a clear answer to what’s the best monitor for art and graphic design.
So in this guide, you will find my recommendations for the best monitors for artists and designers. Let’s have a look!
Top 4 Monitors for Designers and Artists Compared
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This is a quick comparison of my favorite monitors for artists and designers. More picks are in the overview below, such as value picks and EIZO models.
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Budget Pick
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Upgrade Pick
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My Pick
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Professional Pick
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Description: Screen Size: 27 Inch Screen Technology: FreeSync IPS LCD Screen Resolution: 4K UHD 3840 x 2160 pixels Brightness: 350 nits sustained 10-bit color depth, 1.07 billion colors |
Description: Screen Size: 27 Inch Screen Technology: Wide Gamut IPS LED Screen Resolution: QHD 2560 x 1440 pixels Brightness: 350 nits sustained 10-bit color depth, 16-bit LUT (Look-Up Table) & 1.07 billion colors |
Description: Screen Size: 32 Inch Screen Technology: Wide Gamut IPS LED Screen Resolution: 3840 x 2160 pixels Brightness: 350 nits sustained 8-bit color depth, In-Panel Switching & 16.7 Million Colors |
Description: Screen Size: 32 Inch Screen Technology: Liquid Retina Screen Resolution: 6K (6016 by 3384 pixels) Brightness: 1000 nits sustained, 1600 nits peak P3 wide color gamut, 10-bit color depth |
Screen Size: 27 Inch
Screen Technology: FreeSync IPS LCD
Screen Resolution: 4K UHD 3840 x 2160 pixels
Brightness: 350 nits sustained
10-bit color depth, 1.07 billion colors
Screen Size: 27 Inch
Screen Technology: Wide Gamut IPS LED
Screen Resolution: QHD 2560 x 1440 pixels
Brightness: 350 nits sustained
10-bit color depth, 16-bit LUT (Look-Up Table) & 1.07 billion colors
Screen Size: 32 Inch
Screen Technology: Wide Gamut IPS LED
Screen Resolution: 3840 x 2160 pixels
Brightness: 350 nits sustained
8-bit color depth, In-Panel Switching & 16.7 Million Colors
Screen Size: 32 Inch
Screen Technology: Liquid Retina
Screen Resolution: 6K (6016 by 3384 pixels)
Brightness: 1000 nits sustained, 1600 nits peak
P3 wide color gamut, 10-bit color depth
Table of Contents
- Overview: Best Monitors for Designers and Artists in 2023
- Main Criteria for Choosing a Computer Monitor for Art and Graphic Design
- FAQs – Best Art Monitors
- Conclusion – Selecting the Best Art Monitor
Overview: Best Monitors for Artists and Designers in 2023
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Budget Pick: LG 27 UL500 UltraFine 4K UHD IPS LED Color Monitor
Screen Size: 27 Inch
Screen Technology: FreeSync IPS LCD
Screen Resolution: 4K UHD 3840 x 2160 pixels
Brightness: 350 nits sustained
10-bit color depth, 1.07 billion colors
With a surprisingly high-quality picture – deep color saturation, great accuracy, strong contrast and brightness, and exceptional sharpness – the LG 27UL500 UltraFine computer monitor looks much better than some monitors costing way more money.
And somehow, the LG 27-inch UltraFine still offers the highest levels of quality and reliability and looks and feels like a first-class product.
Artists can rest assured that the colors they see are accurate, with the LG UltraFine monitor’s IPS technology, 8-bit color depth (plus FRC – a Frame Rate Control system giving even better color depth), and a full 98 percent sRGB coverage.
In addition, the Radeon FreeSync provides smooth, dependable motion – great for animators. The wide viewing angle means an artist doesn’t need to adjust to the monitor while working, preventing fatigue and increasing creative concentration.
The least expensive computer monitor I know offers good enough performance for almost any artist on any level.
The LG 27UL500 UltraFine 4K UHD IPS LED Color Monitor is an amazing monitor for the money and definitely the best budget monitor for artists today.
Features of LG 27UL500 UltraFine 4K UHD IPS LED Color Monitor
- Screen Size: 27 Inch
- Screen Technology: FreeSync IPS LCD
- Screen Resolution: 3840 x 2160 pixels
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Brightness: 350 nits sustained
- 10-bit color depth, 1.07 billion colors
- USB-C, USB-B, HDMI, DisplayPort ports
- Eye-Care Technology for Extended Use
Upgrade Pick: EIZO CG279X ColorEdge Professional 27” Color Graphics Monitor
Screen Size: 27 Inch
Screen Technology: Wide Gamut IPS LED
Screen Resolution: QHD 2560 x 1440 pixels
Brightness: 350 nits sustained
10-bit color depth, 16-bit LUT (Look-Up Table) & 1.07 billion colors
The only monitor that can rival the Apple Pro Display above in terms of color fidelity, the EIZO CG279X is the perfect choice for professional artists and photographers who need absolute color accuracy, brightness, and contrast – and for a much lower price.
A truly professional caliber monitor, the EIZO ColorEdge has a startlingly beautiful screen with such depth and energy that any image will show brilliantly.
It is very easy to do the most detailed work, make the most minute and subtle adjustments and fixes, and see the effect of any retouching or editing work before submitting or printing a piece.
Still an expensive monitor, the EIZO CG279X ColorEdge Professional 27” Color Graphics Monitor is an absolute necessity for top-level commercial artists and illustrators, photographers, and animators, and it is, at that level, an amazing value.
Specifications of EIZO CG279X ColorEdge Professional 27” Color Graphics Monitor
- Screen Size: 27 Inch
- Screen Technology: Wide Gamut IPS LED
- Screen Resolution: 2560 x 1440 pixels
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Brightness: 350 nits sustained
- 10-bit color depth, 16-bit LUT (Look-Up Table) & 1.07 billion colors
- USB-C, USB-B, USB-A, DCI-D, HDMI, DisplayPort 1.2 ports
- Integrated Color Calibration and Heat Sensors for automatic color adjustment
- Anti-Flicker, Anti-Glare, Wide Viewing Angles, and Shading Hood to Minimize Fatigue and Improve Visibility
Value Pick: EIZO FlexScan EV2785 27″ Professional Color Graphics Monitor
Screen Size: 27 Inch
Screen Technology: Wide Gamut IPS LED
Screen Resolution: 2560 x 1440 pixels
Aspect Ratio: 16:9
Brightness: 350 nits sustained
8-bit color depth, In-Panel Switching & 16.7 Million Colors
Surprisingly inexpensive for a professional monitor with this kind of over-engineering and this level of performance, the EIZO FlexScan EV2785 is fully up to the needs of even the most demanding commercial or fine artist.
With full 4K UHD resolution, superb contrast, and brightness, this EIZO FlexScan look noticeably better than even the best, less expensive monitors that are designed for more normal consumer use, and like other EIZO monitors, it is designed for long work sessions with a minimum of fatigue or eye strain.
With IPS switching technology and 24-bit color, along with the material quality, the EIVO FlexScan 27-inch monitor can display 16.7 million colors with superb accuracy and brightness and is an ideal choice for color-critical work or color-loving artists like myself!
And the ultra-high resolution makes this a perfect choice for even the most intense and precise detail work, giving an artist exceptional visibility and control.
Even at almost 1,200 dollars, the EIZO FlexScan EV2785 27″ Professional Color Graphics Monitor is an easy recommendation for the best value in a truly professional monitor for artists.
Features of EIZO FlexScan EV2785 27″ Professional Color Graphics Monitor
- Screen Size: 27 Inch
- Screen Technology: Wide Gamut IPS LED
- Screen Resolution: 2560 x 1440 pixels
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Brightness: 350 nits sustained
- 8-bit color depth, In-Panel Switching & 16.7 Million Colors
- USB-C, USB-B, USB-A, DCI-D, HDMI, DisplayPort 1.2 ports
- Anti-Flicker, Anti-Glare, Wide Viewing Angles, and Blue Light Filters for Eye Comfort and Reduced Fatigue
My Pick: EIZO EV3285FX FlexScan Professional 31.5″ Color Graphics Monitor
Screen Size: 32 Inch
Screen Technology: Wide Gamut IPS LED
Screen Resolution: 3840 x 2160 pixels
Brightness: 350 nits sustained
8-bit color depth, In-Panel Switching & 16.7 Million Colors
A big, bold monitor with super high resolution and bright, beautiful colors, the EIXZO EV3285FX is a favorite among professionals, and it’s easy to see why.
Full 4K UHD resolution, in combination with a 32 inch screen, makes even the most exacting, detailed work much easier and more precise, and 24 bit color, along with IPS technology, allows for the most accurate color display and control.
But the EIZO FlexScan is so popular among professional artists, illustrators, animators, photographers and video editors not just because of the accuracy and control they get, but because it is designed for long, detail-intensive work sessions – anti-flicker technology, high refresh rate, auto-brightness sensor, anti-glare screen and blue-light filters all provide maximum comfort and minimum eye strain.
Another superb monitor from a company that clearly knows commercial and fine artists and our needs, the EIZO EV3285FX FlexScan Professional 31.5″ Color Graphics Monitor is the best truly professional large format computer display for artists on the market today.
Features of EIZO EV3285FX FlexScan Professional 31.5″ Color Graphics Monitor
- Screen Size: 32 Inch
- Screen Technology: IPS LCD
- Screen Resolution: 3840 x 2160 pixels
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Brightness: 350 nits sustained
- Contrast Ration: 1300:1
- 8-bit color depth, In-Panel Switching & 16.7 Million Colors
- USB-C, HDMI, DisplayPort 1.2 ports
- Anti-Flicker, Anti-Glare, Wide Viewing Angles and Blue Light Filters for Eye Comfort and Reduced Fatigue
BenQ Pick: BenQ EW3280U 32 inch 4K UHD Eye Care Monitor with IPS Switching
Screen Size: 32 Inch
Screen Technology: FreeSync IPS LCD
Screen Resolution: 3840 x 2160 pixels
Aspect Ratio: 16:9
Brightness: 350 nits sustained
10-bit color depth, 1.07 billion colors
It seems like some of the biggest and most well-known manufacturers of computers, monitors, and accessories are starting to suffer from issues over lower quality and reliability recently, and their latest lines and models just aren’t what they used to be.
On the other hand, BenQ seems to be going in the opposite direction.
Their latest 4K monitors are absolutely superb in performance, material quality, construction, and reliability. And BenQ is already famous for offering amazing value for the money.
This is certainly true for the BenQ EW3280U 32-inch 4K monitor.
Not just an ultra-high resolution monitor in specifications, this screen has a startlingly sharp and bright image, with depth and life and true, rich colors.
While I would normally be a little wary of a computer monitor billed as a multi-media display, with obviously a lot of engineering and resources put into speakers and sound, it is clear that the same engineering has led to a monitor that has everything even the most serious or high-level artist or animator might need – and, somehow, at a true bargain price for this level of equipment.
A big, bright, high-resolution screen that can be worked on for long periods of time without fatigue or eye strain, the BenQ EW3280U 32-inch 4K UHD Eye Care Monitor with IPS Switching is the best large format computer monitor for artists on the market today and the best value.
Features of BenQ EW3280U 32 inch 4K UHD Eye Care Monitor with IPS Switching
- Screen Size: 32 Inch
- Screen Technology: FreeSync IPS LCD
- Screen Resolution: 3840 x 2160 pixels
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Brightness: 350 nits sustained
- 10-bit color depth, 1.07 billion colors
- USB-C, USB-B, HDMI, DisplayPort ports
- Eye-Care Technology for Extended Use
Dell Pick: Dell Ultrasharp U2718Q 27-Inch 4K IPS Monitor
Screen Size: 27 Inch
Screen Technology: Dell HDR LCD
Screen Resolution: 3840 x 2160 pixels
Aspect Ratio: 16:9
Brightness: 350 nits sustained
10-bit color depth, 1.07 billion colors
The Dell Ultrasharp 27-inch monitor shows just how good of display quality we can get these days for not a lot of money.
With exceptional brightness, contrast, resolution, color depth, and color accuracy all immediately obvious the moment you look at it, and more and more obvious the longer you work, the Dell Ultrasharp also clearly shows how certain great monitors with the same specifications as others, can somehow look and work much better.
While it is not the least expensive computer monitor on the market, the Dell Ultrasharp is worth the money and more – a truly premium product in terms of material quality, workmanship, and performance, and more than sufficient for all levels and kinds of art production, from amateur to serious professional. It is also a perfect monitor for the art student or newcomer to growing into.
Superb resolution, colors, brightness and contrast, and overall excellent quality make the Dell Ultrasharp U2718Q 27-Inch 4K IPS Monitor the best mid-priced monitor for artists or photographers on the market today.
Features of Dell Ultrasharp U2718Q 27-Inch 4K IPS Monitor
- Screen Size: 27 Inch
- Screen Technology: Dell HDR LCD
- Screen Resolution: 3840 x 2160 pixels
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Brightness: 350 nits sustained
- 10-bit color depth, 1.07 billion colors
- USB 3.0, HDMI, DisplayPort ports
- InfinityEdge Ultra-Thin Bezel
Professional Pick: Apple 32-inch Pro Display XDR
Screen Size: 32 Inch
Screen Technology: Liquid Retina
Screen Resolution: 6K (6016 by 3384 pixels)
Brightness: 1000 nits sustained, 1600 nits peak
P3 wide color gamut, 10-bit color depth
This is the most beautiful monitor I’ve ever seen, and if the price were no object, it would be absolutely my first choice.
A big 32-inch monitor with absolutely best-in-class brightness, contrast, color coverage and accuracy, and pretty much every other category – in fact, it is in a class completely by itself.
But all of that cannot possibly prepare you for the experience of seeing or working on the Apple Pro Display XDR – the life and depth of images, the breathtaking beauty, and the way you can see and better work on every single aspect of your art.
In fact, if you have ever made a mistake on a piece of art and not noticed it until after you had professional prints made (or, more upsettingly, have submitted the work to a client!), well, I daresay it wouldn’t be possible with this screen – you would see the mistake straight away.
But you also see the beauty, quality, and skill of your work and your own talent, in all its glory, and that is one of the things I love most about the Apple Pro Display XDR. It is such a stunning monitor and makes my artworks look so good that I always end up feeling like a better artist – and, somehow, I think this makes me a better artist.
Yes, that’s it, not just the confidence it brings, but every single thing about the Apple 32-inch Pro Display XDR with Retina 6K Display & Nano-Texture Glass will make you a better artist, and it is without a doubt the very best monitor for artists on the market on the market today – and probably for a long time to come!
Now, is it worth almost six grand? Yes, absolutely! Whether you (or I) can afford it or not, well that’s another question… But don’t forget you’ll also need a Pro Display Stand, which is not included and costs more than most other monitors in my guide!
Specifications of Apple 32-inch Pro Display XDR
- Screen Size: 32 Inch
- Screen Technology: Liquid Retina
- Screen Resolution: 6K (6016 by 3384 pixels)
- Brightness: 1000 nits sustained, 1600 nits peak
- Contrast ratio: 1,000,000:1
- P3 wide color gamut, 10-bit color depth
- Super Wide Viewing Angle
- One Thunderbolt 3 port, three USB-C ports
Main Criteria for Choosing a Computer Monitor for Art and Graphic Design
It’s easy to see how the best computer monitors for graphic designers and artists can help any designer and artist work better.
The high resolution offered by 4K monitors allows for a level of precision in fine detail work not possible even a few years ago. The color fidelity that comes from IPS (In-Plane Switching, which improves a screen’s color fidelity and visibility), along with other technologies, lets you see what you’re doing with color choices, contrasts, and complements, as well as very subtle gradation and shading.
What Makes a Good Computer Monitor for Artists and Designers?
Probably the most important things in choosing the best computer display for artists are:
- 4K Resolution – that is, at least 3,840 horizontal x 2,160 vertical pixels
- IPS Screen Technology –greatly improves both color fidelity and off-angle visibility
- Flat Screen – many artists find that their artworks display, and can be seen, more accurately on a flat panel monitor
- Anti-Glare, Brightness, Anti-Flicker, Blue Filters, and other Technologies to Reduce Fatigue and Eye Strain
- Superior Material and Build Quality and High Levels of Dependability
But it’s not all about specifications. It’s common to see two different monitors with the exact same specifications look enormously different.
One will seem crisp, sharp, three-dimensional, and alive, and the other will look meh…
So while specifications and the latest technologies are certainly important, just as important is the quality of the components, construction, and graphic design elements and, of course, a beautiful, bright, accurate, and stable display.
After looking at and testing lots and lots of monitors and talking to friends, colleagues, and other artists and graphic designers, I have put together this guide, intended to make sure you find the best computer monitor currently available for commercial artists, fine artists, animators and illustrators, professional and serious amateur photographers.
All these monitors are fully compatible with all platforms and current hardware, so if you’re running Apple macOS, Windows, Linux, or are on Chromebook, they will work for you.
It comes down to what’s important to you and what you can afford. All of the monitors in this guide for best computer displays for artists have great color and resolution, depth, life, and light, but they look better as you go up in price.
So if your budget is somewhat flexible, and if, for instance, perfectly accurate color representation is vitally important to your work, spend a little more.
The corresponding recommendation from my list will give you slightly better and slightly better-looking colors. And the same thing could be said for resolution or other factors.
These are all great computer monitors for artists, though, and whichever one you buy will have the color fidelity, brightness, and contrast, and resolution you need, will be a joy to look at and to use, will make you a better artist and improve your work, and will offer the best value you can get for the money.
FAQs – Best Art Monitors
Based on my experience, I recommend monitors from EIZO, for example, Eizo EV3285 4K Ultra-Slim Monitor or EIZO ColorEdge CS2731 27″ IPS LCD Monitor.
A good monitor for art has a 4K UHD resolution (3840 x 2160 pixels), uses IPS Screen technology, and delivers high brightness and color gamut for reliable color accuracy. It also uses technologies to reduce your eye strain and fatigue. I recommend monitors from EIZO, for example, Eizo EV3285 4K Ultra-Slim Monitor or EIZO ColorEdge CS2731 27″ IPS LCD Monitor.
From my experience, a 27″ or 32″ 4K UHD (3840 x 2160 pixels) IPS monitor with high brightness and color gamut is best for design. I recommend monitors from EIZO, for example, Eizo EV3285 4K Ultra-Slim Monitor or EIZO ColorEdge CS2731 27″ IPS LCD Monitor.
I have a good experience with either 27″ or 32″ monitors, either 4K UHD 3840 x 2160 pixels or Retina XDR displays from Apple.
Conclusion – Selecting the Best Art Monitor
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I hope this article has communicated how important it is to have the best monitor possible for your design work and how little we can trust specifications or even prices as guides to finding the best display for artists.
Getting back to what I said at the beginning, it might be easy enough to understand how the right monitor would make any artist work better and up their game – with resolution and color fidelity being key and other factors like eye comfort also being super important.
But there are other reasons why the right computer display for artists is so important to find and to have.
One is that the best monitors help you learn – and, believe me, you are never too old, too experienced, too knowledgeable, or too good an artist to learn!
Really seeing exactly how colors interact with each other – when the colors themselves and their slight shifts and changes are perfectly represented – allows us to understand better color theory and practical usage of colors in our artwork.
So we get better and better and more comfortable using color in the future.
The same is true with detail. When we see exactly how textures, fine lines, and the tiniest details affect the object and the overall composition – in terms of space, perspective and dimensions, balance and relationship, color and light – we learn more about composition, representation, and much more.
We could also say this about screens with great brightness, accurate geometry, low distortion, and other technical advantages – but only when those advantages and advances are clearly seen on the spec sheet and the display screen.
I hope my guide helped you to choose your new monitor for your design work and you will have a lot of fun designing, illustrating and painting your creative ideas!
Visit my blog – Art Side of Life – for all kinds of artist resources – online courses, tutorials, reviews, and more.
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Hi, I am Iva (rhymes with “viva”). I am a full-time self-taught artist behind Art Side of Life® and a Top Teacher on Skillshare. I have 15 years of experience in the creative field as a concept designer, illustrator, art director, and now freelance artist, content creator, and art instructor. My goal is to help you get your creative groove on with Procreate and make awesome art through practical classes, tutorials, Procreate brushes, and guides on art tools, supplies and resources. About me »
