As a digital artist and 3D animator, the one product that most helps me in my job is a high quality monitor. The ViewSonic PT813 exceeds my expectations for visual quality. This monitor is so good, that I purchased three of them.

I spend my days and sometimes nights creating graphics and animations for television. Consequently, a large part of my life is spent staring into a computer monitor. As a digital artist, the issues that are important to me include accurate color depiction, clarity of image (sharpness) & quantity of displayable information (resolution).

Color
Color depiction is an important yet difficult task when moving between RBG (computer) & NTSC (television) environments. It can be a challenge matching colors on a computer monitor to those on a TV. The PT813 allows me the flexibility to make adjustments that allow excellent matching abilities. Due primarily to the limitations of NTSC, it’s never possible to create a perfect match, but the PT813 allows me to be more precise than ever before.

Clarity
Clarity (like color) is both an objective as well as subjective thing. The objective aspects are based on dot pitch (.28mm for the PT813) and resolution. These are both excellent for the PT813. I personally find the visibility and clarity of the ViewSonic CRT’s to be outstanding. I use four computers in my work environment, and often find myself looking at information on a computer across the room. I don’t have to squint or move closer to read them; the information is bright, clear and readable.

Resolution
Though not as large as some of the latest monitors from ViewSonic and other manufactures, the rock solid and crystal clear 85Hz at 1,600 x 1,200 resolution of the PT813 is ideal for working with all of the broadcast software I use each day. I actually find myself favoring the 85Hz/1280 x 1024 resolution for most work. At higher resolutions, most programs icons and display structures would be far too small for practical use. It is gratifying though, to know that when needed, the higher resolutions are available. It is important to note, however, that using these high resolutions demands a display card equal to the task. Currently, I use both the Intense3D (now 3Dlabs) Wildcat 4110 and the 3Dlabs Oxygen RPM. They are both excellent cards, though the Wildcat comes at a premium price.

I have been using ViewSonic monitors for about five years now, and computers in general for over twenty. I have found ViewSonic monitors to be long lasting, high quality, excellent products. I have never been disappointed with them, and would recommend them unreservedly to anybody in the graphics, design, CAD & 2D or 3D-animation industry.

Note: The PT813 is no longer a current ViewSonic monitor, though it can still be purchased from major equipment suppliers (at a good price). Also, based on my experience with ViewSonic products, I would say that my Epinion could be applied to the entire line of ViewSonic Professional level monitors.




Recommended: Yes