Are Curved Monitors Good for Graphic Design?

If you work in graphic design, you may be wondering if a curved monitor will suit your needs. As technology advances and the market grows, many designers are wondering the same thing. But is a curved monitor good for graphic design, or is there a better option?

Curved monitors are useful for graphic design because they provide a more immersive experience and allow for a wider user perspective. However, since a curved screen takes some getting used to, many individuals believe the price isn’t worth it.

If you are in the market for a new screen, a curved monitor might be just what you need. However, you should know a few things before taking the leap. Read below as we cover the basics of curved monitors and tell you whether or not using one is good for graphic design.

Is A Curved Monitor Good for Graphic Design?

When the market for curved displays began to emerge, many consumers were unsure about which to choose, especially those in graphic design, gaming, and web design.

Working in graphic design often entails having multiple windows or programs running simultaneously. However, instead of using a single ultra-wide flat-screen, many designers will use two flat 27-inch monitors side by side.

This is because the image can appear distorted on a wide screen. The borders of a flat screen are going to be further away from your eyes than the center of the screen when you’re sitting close to it. This can make the image look distorted, which isn’t good for making high-quality images.

The best way to solve this problem is to use a curved screen. A curved monitor makes sure that the entire surface of the screen is about the same distance from your eyes, which reduces the amount of distortion and can also help with eye strain. 

How Do Curved Monitors Work?

At the start, curved panels were first created by bending a flat panel after it had already been constructed. However, this caused performance difficulties such as oval mura and color mixing at curved edges, giving curved monitors a lousy reputation.

But things have changed, and modern curved displays are more than simply flat panels bent into a curve.

Manufacturers used various sophisticated techniques to overcome those technological problems of the past and build a high-performance curved display.  As a result, the LCD panel construction does not distort the picture on the screen, reducing the possibility of a foggy look on your screen.

The use of flexible glass keeps the monitor’s curve safe and allows users to see more of the light that the screen projects. The color display is kept on the bottom of the screen instead of the top, allowing for better vibrancy and truer colors.

What Are the Benefits of Using a Curved Monitor for Graphic Design?

Choosing a curved monitor for your graphic design work has several advantages over using a traditional flat-screen display. Here are some of the main benefits of using a curved monitor for your graphic design work.

Curved Monitors Cover a Wider Field of View

With a curved screen, all areas of the screen are the same distance away from you, resulting in consistent visual quality across the monitor. The bigger displays of curved monitors, which often have an aspect ratio of 21:9, will also make it easier to work with several windows while undertaking graphic or web design work.

They Are More Comfortable for Your Eyes

The curvature seen in curved displays is critical for decreasing eye strain, as it reduces the movement from one monitor to another while working.

They Create a Display with More Accurate Colors

The large color range of curved displays is particularly important since it allows designers, using valuable tools like Placeit, to create various hues without distorting the image.

You may notice a change in color if you view the pixels off-axis on a wide, flat display. Curved monitors are more color-accurate than flat displays since each pixel is aligned in such a manner that it points directly at you.

Curved Monitors Eliminate Distortion

The spherical shape of the eye’s retina causes picture distortion that is corrected by curved technology. While flat pictures might look slightly inclined or trapezoidal, curved screens appear flat to the human eye.

What are the Downsides of Using A Curved Monitor for Graphic Design?

While a curved monitor can definitely be a worthwhile investment, this doesn’t necessarily mean that it will work for everyone. Here are a few things you should consider before switching to a curved monitor:

Curved Monitors Typically Have Lower Resolution

If you’re looking for a 4k resolution display, you’re not likely to find one that is a curved monitor—at least not one that’s budget-friendly. The good news is that 1440P or 1080P resolutions are sufficient in most cases.

Plus, curved displays frequently have a broader spectrum of colors, sharper visuals, and deeper black values, meaning that they are often better than their flat counterparts when compared to 1080P displays with the same resolution.

A Curved Monitor Is a One-User Device

If you often work in a group setting, a curved monitor may not be the best for you. While curved monitors are great for designers working on their own, these types of screens weren’t designed with two or more users in mind.

The curved design is set up to mimic peripheral vision, with the user positioned in the center of the screen. Other viewers will have a poor experience on a curved display since it has been calibrated to show each pixel from the best possible angle to the viewer.

They Are More Expensive

The best curved monitors are typically larger in size and come with a heftier price tag. Sure, getting two separate monitors can be pricy, but you’re still likely to invest more if you opt for a curved screen.

Final Thoughts

When it comes down to it, deciding whether a curved monitor will work for you is more of a personal choice. Curved displays are good monitors for graphic designers, but they don’t always suit everyone’s needs.

Regardless of what you decide, you now have the knowledge you need to make an informed decision on whether a curved monitor will work with your business and the benefits (and drawbacks) that come with it.