Choosing Monitors as an Artist: What Your Eyes Need

TechFeatured

Apr 3

Tech for Artists by: World in Focus

Contrary to the belief of some, not all display screens are built the same. If you’ve ever continuously ground away at a project for hours on end and found your eyes feeling strain, the display that you use can be the reason why. Regardless of whether you’re trying to edit photos, make digital art, or browse the web, knowing how to choose the best monitor for digital art and graphic design can potentially improve both your workflow and your eye health.

IPS Panels

IPS (In-Plane Switching) display panels are considered the standard for people who work with visuals looking for a color-accurate monitor. They offer incredibly accurate colour reproduction and a viewing angle of up to 178°, meaning colours stay consistent even when viewed from the side. This makes tasks like tweaking shadows, adjusting hues, or fine-tuning small details far more reliable — you can trust that what you see on screen is what everyone else sees too.

IPS backlighting is also notably stable across the whole screen, which helps prevent the flickering that is a major contributor to eye strain during long working sessions. The trade-off is a contrast ratio of around 1000:1, where deep black tones can look slightly washed out. IPS displays also carry a higher price tag than other options, but for anyone serious about colour-critical creative work, the benefits are well worth it.

VA Panels

VA (Vertical Alignment) displays are the option many people gravitate toward, and for good reason. They boast much deeper blacks and higher contrast ratios than IPS panels—often reaching 3000:1 or more. This makes them fantastic for consuming media or working in darker room environments.

However, they come with a catch for creatives. VA panels can suffer from colour shifting when viewed from off-center angles, meaning the hues you see might change depending on how you are sitting. For professional design work, that lack of consistency can be frustrating. From an eye health perspective, the deep contrast is generally comfortable, but the potential for colour shifting means you might catch yourself leaning or straining to verify true colours.

OLED Panels

OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) screens represent the cutting edge of display technology. Because each pixel emits its own light and can turn off completely, OLEDs deliver infinite contrast, perfect blacks, and incredibly vibrant images.

But for artists, OLED technology carries a specific risk: burn-in. When static images are left on the screen for extended periods, they can leave a permanent ghost image behind. Anyone staring at the same rigid Photoshop or Illustrator interface layout day after day should be aware of the long-term risk.

Colour accuracy is another consideration. OLED colours are vivid — sometimes too vivid — and what appears on your screen may look quite different on someone else’s display, which can throw off creative decisions. OLED panels also tend to flicker at lower brightness levels, so keeping brightness up during long sessions can help reduce eye strain.

Conclusion

When comparing IPS vs VA vs OLED monitors, there is no display type that is inherently better than all the others. Each has its own distinct traits suited to different uses. IPS is best for accurate colour reproduction in creative work, VA provides a comfortable everyday experience, and OLED delivers visuals that are simply stunning. At the end of the day, choose the display that fits your intended use — and take care of your eyes while you’re at it.

If you want some tips on the right PC workstation for your creative space, see our guide here: Your Computer Is Slowing Down Your Creativity

About the Author:

Founded in 2016, World in Focus is a youth-led non-profit organization that seeks to aid individuals of all ages around the world in accessing affordable eye care. They fundraise to raise awareness for the necessity of eyesight, support treatments for congenital eye diseases, and supply prescription glasses and contact lenses to students who would otherwise not have access to them.

Since their founding, World in Focus has organized over 30 fundraising and awareness events, raising more than $8,500 while engaging their local community and reaching audiences internationally.