What Is Contrast Ratio and Why Does It Matter in Display Quality?

by ·

What Is Contrast Ratio and Why Does It Matter in Display Quality?

Searching for a new display for work and personal use? Picked the perfect device already – maybe a high-end 4K TV, a special gaming monitor, or an ultra-compact portable monitor. You surely saw that almost every brand always puts contrast ratio at the top of its product and description information. For those who aren’t so into technology specifications, it may not be that obvious as to why this particular one matters. If you’re one of those confused people, we have great news for you.

A Good Contrast Ratio is Essential to Buy a Display

Trust us when we say that this tech detail is one of the most important if you want to be sure that you have chosen the best monitor for you. It has everything to do with the color accuracy, the clearness of the display, and other features that can really enhance the total output quality of any screen.

In this very guide, you are about to read, we will be showing you everything there is to know about this detail, and for your help, we have divided all the information you may need about contrast ratios into these easy sections: what it is, why it is important, how it may affect the overall picture, the way manufacturers measure it, and what to look for if you’re on a market to buy the right one.

What is a Contrast Ratio?

As mentioned before, contrast ratio is the difference between the white and the black a display can show. To put it into a simpler way, you can see it as the maximum brightness a monitor can output divided by its minimum brightness level. They are often represented by a number like this: 1000:1. In this case, the number one, which is the lower value, represents the black pixels’ luminance and the higher number is how bright the white pixels are. Now, if you break it down:

  • A higher contrast ratio means better black and brighter whites.
  • A lower contrast means grayish blacks and faded whites, which makes the entire picture flat and less impressive.

Keep in mind that the contrast ratio is one of the important factors for the way we perceive all the colors and designs projected by the screen. A display with a higher contrast ratio is bound to make for a much more enjoyable viewing with better and more defined shadows, darker black, and more saturated colors.

Static vs. Dynamic Contrast Ratio

So, as you already have learned by now, the contrast ratio is what differentiates a dull and lifeless screen from a brighter and more sharp one. When it comes to your monitor’s output, we always advise sticking with a higher one. Don’t be fooled when you get to see the difference between the two and how manufacturers measure it.

  • Static Contrast Ratio

The static one is the one which refers to the ratio of the brightest and the darkest pixels that your screen may emit at a certain time. This one is considered to be the more practical and reliable number when it comes to your monitor’s performance.

  • Dynamic Contrast Ratio

As for the second one, it usually refers to the way a display manipulates its contrast in terms of time. For example, if it dims the dark areas of a movie and brightens up the lighter ones. The result is an illusion of a wider range, which is definitely a misconception when you look at the marketing behind it. Even though the second one is more commonly used in product advertising, keep in mind to always go with a higher static number when you are looking for the best 4K portable monitor or any other one for that matter.

Why is Contrast Ratio Important?

In the meantime, here are a couple of details as to why this information piece is a crucial part of any display.

  • The visibility and clarity of dark scenes.

If you are a person who likes watching a lot of movies or are also a very big fan of gaming, chances are you might experience darker environments a lot. The higher the contrast ratio of your device is, the better the visibility you have in these kinds of settings. It can be especially useful if you are going for an HDR content experience, where blacks in a lower contrast ratio would look grayish and less detailed.

  • Color accuracy and vibrancy.

Even if you have a high resolution in your laptop, desktop, or any other portable monitor, if the contrast is lower, it will surely look grayish and dull. This is why a high contrast display is necessary if you want your colors to really pop and all the shades and hues to stand out. A high contrast display is always able to bring the most vivid colors with a more bold distinction if you are to view more complex or colored content.

  • Eye comfort.

This may not apply to you if you are to use your device in a well-lit room. However, in a darker setting, low contrast displays can often be one of the reasons why your eyes may get tired and even hurt if you are to use your device for a long period of time. If you are to work on your monitor for a very long time or for tasks that are more productivity or even creative-oriented, a higher contrast ratio always comes in handy. It also makes texts sharper and much easier to read for both entertainment and work.

  • Improved HDR.

HDR in this case requires higher contrast for it to be more effective. It usually expands the darker and the lighter range of any visual. In case your monitor has a low contrast, this feature will definitely not work for you as it would expand the black hues and the white one as well, which will surely make the content look dull and less colorful. A good contrast is bound to make sure that this type of media is outputted as vivid and as best as it should.

Display Uses

Here are some display examples of how important the contrast ratio is:

  • Portable Monitors for Professionals.

Professionals in the graphic design industry are often photographers or video editors who need accurate and high contrast. This is so they can make sure that the things they use for their work are all true-to-life reproductions, whether it be editing in the studio or on a more mobile platform.

  • Gamers and Movie Watchers.

Games and other visual forms of entertainment look so much more immersive with the use of a higher contrast. This would make everything stand out a lot more – brighter explosions, deeper shadows, more lifelike settings, and a lot more detail that is so vivid. If you have chosen to buy a 4K portable monitor or even a bigger and heavier one, having high contrast will always work for your best interest. This way, you will be sure that you will be able to see every little detail even in the most intense scenes.

  • Everyday Use with Touch Screens.

Mobile business travelers or remote workers can use their devices to its best for productivity since it has the touch screen feature. Since better contrast is bound to work for your best interest, it will also help with the viewing of everything you are working on. This would be especially useful for all the people who are doing PowerPoint presentations in various light settings and situations, whether it be in the conference room or working from your favorite coffee shop.

Contrast Ratio Measurement

As there is not a universal standard in the measurement of the contrast ratio, this would be the reason for different brands to report so many contrasting numbers for this particular data. It is also no wonder for this fact to be the reason why manufacturers have developed many different methods in order to present all their products in a more flattering way. Here are some methods as to how the contrast ratio is measured:

  • Full On/Full Off Method

This one usually measures the brightness of the completely white screen in comparison to a completely black one.

  • ANSI Contrast

ANSI contrast, however, is a method that measures the white square’s brightness contrasted with a black square which are both placed into a checkerboard pattern. This in the long run would give you a much more real-world comparison.

  • Dynamic Contrast

This is also used to help with the way the manufacturers adjust the contrast from light to dark in terms of time. For example, if a dark scene would be in a low brightness and a lighter one to be at a higher brightness setting. However, just as what was said before, you will most likely see this number inflated with all of the marketing that is done for a specific brand.

The best way of how to find out the contrast of a display that you have chosen to use or want to buy is by having a look at some reviews of it or even check out some third-party evaluations if it is all possible.

Display Technology

Depending on the display technology that is used, every single kind would be able to emit a different kind of contrast. Here are some of the most common types of display that are used, and a little detail as to what kind of contrast is bound to come with each one:

  • IPS (In-Plane Switching) Panels.

You are all so very much likely to have seen this one because it is found in the laptops, tablets, and even on portable monitors. IPS as we all know has its set of advantages. For example, it can produce a much more vivid color with better accuracy in a larger viewing angle. However, as for the contrast, these types of screens often max out at around 1000:1. It is safe to say that higher numbers have been present in some very premium and expensive IPS panels, but no matter what – if you are to use one of these in a dark room, your blacks may often look grayish.

  • VA (Vertical Alignment) Panels.

VA panels are so much more superior when it comes to contrast than the first type that was mentioned before. This is so because they have a much higher starting point of about 2000: 1 and the upper range to max out at around 6000:1. They are bound to look so much more vivider, which is why VA panels are recommended the most for movies and games in lower light settings. On the other hand, they may have a very limited viewing angle.

  • OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode).

This type of display has an infinite contrast ratio which basically means that your blacks are bound to be the darkest. This is so because each individual pixel has the ability to turn on and off individually in a need to be of utmost image quality that it provides. Of course, that also means that it will cost you a lot more in case you are to find it. OLED’s are so far very rare for portable monitors, but with the time that passes, this situation will only be changing.

Ideal Contrast Ratio

So, now that we have just about finished discussing everything there is to know about this detail, we will provide a range of certain and different uses and what would be the perfect range that you would be looking for depending on what the monitor or display you are to choose is for.

  • Use cases
  • Ideal contrast ratio
  • Office work & Browsing
  • 800:1 or higher
  • Creative professionals
  • 1000:1 or higher
  • Gaming & Movies
  • 3000:1 or higher (VA/OLED preferred)
  • HDR content
  • As high as possible (true HDR requires 5000:1+)

 

Final Conclusion

No matter what you use your chosen display for, you can be sure that contrast is a vital piece to the entire output picture quality that we all wish our devices to have. This also goes for all types of digital media and other things that you may use them for. Even if you are not into technology or even gadgets that much, you can bet on the fact that we are all in some way or another using our screens on a daily basis.

As technology, of course, is only going to be improving when it comes to the aspect of portable monitors, contrast ratio in the future will only matter the more. When you are about to purchase the one that you will like or end up buying in the end, we highly recommend that you don’t end up disregarding this detail for it is the thing that can make all the difference for you. Remember that the more professional, interactive, and new the gadget is – the higher the contrast will be.

Keep in mind that if you end up checking out some before and after pictures of your own screen, the ones which are set to lower contrast are so much more grayish and dull than the ones that are cranked up to a higher setting. So, if you are about to go on the market in search of either a 4K portable monitor, an interactive touchscreen, or even just your regular monitors and laptops, we once again advise you to never underestimate the power of a higher contrast ratio.