A Hybrid Powerhouse – The BenQ SW271C

“Overall, the SW271C has really helped to take the guesswork out of editing. There’s nothing more annoying than sending a print off and finding the colours are out or the tones are wrong due to an inaccurate screen. So, now I can edit both video and stills with confidence, knowing that the colours and the final results will be spot on because they will look exactly as they did on my screen at the editing stage.

“Meanwhile, the separate and upgraded Hotkey Puck G2 device that comes with the monitor is great for creating preset shortcuts and also looking at different colour profiles at the touch of a button. You can also adjust the brightness, contrast and volume of the monitor through the Hotkey Puck, and it’s just so easy to use.”

Further benefits that help the hybrid operator to zip through their postproduction workload as quickly as possible include the ability to work with HDR material, since the SW271C is compatible with both HDR10 and HLG formats. It’s also possible to preview the HDR effect of video content during the editing process to ensure the best results. “This is an awesome capability”, confirms Ross, “and I can also vouch for the fact that it makes my Xbox games look great!”

For Ross, there’s no going back and, as the imaging industry gears up to become yet more multi-faceted, the need for kit that can truly handle all formats will continue to grow. The best operations will also look for ways to speed things up without losing their edge, and colour consistency will be a key element of this.

“If you’re sending stuff off to labs and you’re getting results back where you’re thinking that the colour’s not quite right, then perhaps it’s time you started to get more serious about calibration, ” says Ross. “For me, the difference is huge: as someone who hasn’t always used highend monitors, I can vouch for the fact that when you do get one, you’ll notice the difference straight away and it will just make your work so much easier.”

More information:  rossgrieve.com   colorconfidence.com and other retailers