Monitor brightness issues

[Bob Davis]

I'm posting this on three NG's since I don't know which applies best to this
problem. Here's the hardware list:

Sony E540 (primary monitor, 21")
Sony A240R (secondary monitor, 17")
Matrox G450 32mb dual-head on AGP
Gigabyte 8KNXP mobo w/ P4 2.8C (HT) and 2gb DDR3200 RAM
OS: WinXP Pro

I use this system for photo editing (PhotoShop, Nikon Capture, etc.) and
both monitors emit a noticeably brighter picture until they have been active
for 15 or 20 minutes, although the larger monitor shows this effect more
prominently. It, of course, is the monitor I use for photo editing. This
occurs when first started in the morning and when brought out of sleep mode
(set to activate after 30 minutes at idle). I cannot do any critical photo
editing until the monitors warm up.

Sony's tech support (level 1) acted like the problem has never been seen
before, but if it continues offered to replace either or both monitors in
warranty. A friend who operates a digital photo lab says that his high-end
editing software (used on PC's) recommends never using a screen saver for
this reason. Another photographer also using a PC mentioned that his
monitor calibration device recommends not running tests unless the monitor
has been on for some time. This leads me to believe the brightness issue I
experience may be common.

Has anyone else encountered this phenomenon? A second system in my studio
(Matrox G400SH with el cheapo Samsung 17" monitor) does not seem to vary in
brightness at all. I can live with this, but I'd rather not. I've run
Adobe Gamma and contrast is set to 100 and brightness at 5 after calibration
on the larger monitor (warmed up, of course). The second monitor is set to
87 and 37, respectively, and brightness is about equal.

Any suggestions would be appreciated. TIA.

 

[Mark S.]

Has anyone else encountered this phenomenon? A second system in my studio
(Matrox G400SH with el cheapo Samsung 17" monitor) does not seem to vary in
brightness at all. I can live with this, but I'd rather not. I've run
Adobe Gamma and contrast is set to 100 and brightness at 5 after calibration
on the larger monitor (warmed up, of course). The second monitor is set to
87 and 37, respectively, and brightness is about equal.

Any suggestions would be appreciated. TIA.

Try alt.graphics.photoshop usenet group for more indepth discussion of this
sort of issue than here.

MarkS

 

[Amanda]

Hi,

I have a similar problem but mine's a little different.
My screen has faded considerably (since yesterday) and
has a yellowish sheen. Does anyone know how to fix it?
I've tried restarting it, fiddled around with the
resolution etc and nothing has fixed it.

I can still use it but after a while I get a headache so
I'd appreciate a long-term solution!

It's a Packard Bell monitor if that makes any difference.
Thanks for your help.

 

[W. Schmidt]

Hi, looks like a new monitor is in order. You can try it on adifferent box,
but looking at the make I am pretty sure the monitor is on its way out. Make
sure there are no speakers or other equipment with big magnets sitting close
by or if you moved anything around since it happened, move it back

 

[DonderFliegen]

Hi,

I have a similar problem but mine's a little different.
My screen has faded considerably (since yesterday) and
has a yellowish sheen. Does anyone know how to fix it?
I've tried restarting it, fiddled around with the
resolution etc and nothing has fixed it.

It may be possible that your VGA connector has come unseated. Have you tried
fiddling with that? It might help

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Comptia A+ certified.

Sure I know how to copy disks. Where's the Xerox machine?

 

[Bob Davis]

It may be possible that your VGA connector has come unseated. Have you tried
fiddling with that? It might help

The folks on the alt.graphics.photoshop NG seem to think this is a normal
phenomenon, and several reported that their monitors do the same thing.
Yes, I tried re-seating the VGA connector, but it did not help. Here are
some comments I received over there:

1. It's very common for CRT monitors. I can't trust my Sony FW900 the first
30 to 45 minutes after a cold start (it's way to bright too). TFT monitors
don't have that "problem".


1a. Except that TFT monitors are NTSCT - Never The Same Colour Twice
;-)

1a1. That depends on the quality of the TFT.

2. What you are describing is what happens when you turn on any CRT. It
takes time to warm up - usually about 30 minutes. And using it for any
critical work involving images before it has had time to warm up is not
recommended.