This portable monitor could be perfect for your photography and post-production: ProArt PA169CDV review

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This Portable Monitor Just Might Be Perfect for Your Photography and Post Production: ProArt PA169CDV Review

Mobile displays are becoming very popular, especially because more and more creative professionals are adapting to an on-the-go lifestyle. However, this feature-packed monitor could be perfect for photographers and other digital image creators.

Portable monitors are useful in many ways, not just for photographers but also for anyone who uses tablets and laptops for work. Carrying a secondary display can let you do more at once and improve ergonomics when juggling multiple apps and/or files while working. There is a very long list of portable monitors available on the market in various shapes and sizes, however not all of them offer top resolution, color accuracy and functionality. in just one device. The ASUS ProArt PA169CDV combines the leading functions of two very useful tools for photographers and digital artists.

ProArt PA169CDV

The PA169CDV is a 15.6-inch IPS panel with a 16:9 aspect ratio housed within slim bezels and encased in a thin, glossy surface with anti-reflective and moisture-resistant coating. This has a functional display size of 13.6 x 7.7 inches (345.6 x 194.4mm) with a maximum resolution of 3840 x 2160 (4K) at a refresh rate of 60Hz. However, this 15.6-inch 4K screen has a maximum brightness of 400 nits, to run at such brightness it is necessary to use the included power adapter. When powered by USB-C from a computer, it can only go up to 180 nits.

For mobile monitors, the specifications mentioned above are quite common. However, one of the things that makes this portable monitor stand out is that it is capable of displaying 10-bit color with 100% SRGB and Rec709 color space. It has a maximum contrast ratio of 1200:1 and is VESA DisplayHDR400 certified. The PA169CDV is both Calman Verified and Pantone Verified and comes with an individual panel color accuracy factory report showing a specific highest color accuracy rating when properly calibrated.

These displays typically have a Delta E <2 standard but can achieve even higher accuracy depending on lighting conditions and individual calibration in the actual lighting environment where they will be used. The specific score tested for this article had a maximum rating of 0.53, which is much better than what the specifications state.

More than just a screen

In addition to being a slim monitor that works with just a single USB-C cable and can have remarkable color accuracy if properly calibrated before use, the ProArt PA169CDV also functions as a monitor. 15.6 inch pen. Equipped with Wacom’s EMR technology, this portable display works with a battery-free pen with 4096 different pressure levels and a comfortable working angle of up to 40 degrees from all sides. The pen also comes with a customizable button, a customizable digital eraser on the far end, and replaceable tips.

The 13.6 x 7.7-inch screen is also the same functional area for use with a pen or touchscreen. Usually, screens that are compatible with both touch and pen tend to malfunction. However, in my experience, pen detection will quickly enable palm/touch rejection to ensure that no unintended inputs are made, especially when drawing or edit.

To complement the pen display’s functions, on the left side of the panel is a revised version of the ProArt dial first introduced in ProArt Studiobook laptop a few years ago. This customizable dial allows you to cycle through pre-selected functions such as exposure, contrast, saturation, brush size, opacity, and any other available functions across multiple applications. linear adjustment. While the dial has a huge ergonomic impact since everything is within easy reach on and around the screen, there are no programmable buttons or hotkeys that can help switch between tools in Photoshop. and other applications are exponentially easier.

Control panel function

As a functional secondary touchscreen, much like the secondary displays on ASUS laptops, the PA169CDV is also compatible with the ASUS control panel, a customizable, compatible virtual editing panel. with selected applications, mainly applications in Adobe. Ecosystem. This turns the screen into a control panel with buttons and dials assigned to certain functions depending on the application being used. For example, for Adobe Lightroom, each dial can be assigned to sliders on the develop module, providing a unique and potentially more productive user experience.

Application

With all the features and capabilities packed in, the PA169CDV can do a lot of what photographers and other related creative fields might ask for on the go. It can be as simple as extending the desktop for better productivity, multi-tasking like working on one screen while viewing content on the other, using it as a secondary screen for capturing photos or video content, to using it as a secondary display. a more in-depth editing tool through touch functions and in the form of a pen display.

Dozens of manufacturers offer a variety of portable display options in a variety of shapes and sizes. However, not many of them offer the resolution and color performance of ProArt series displays. At the same time, brands like Wacom, Huion and Xencelabs make very capable tablets and pen displays but what makes this particular product stand out is that it has all the top functions and specifications along with with innovative features all in one device.

There are certainly some ways this could be made even better, such as by adding hotkeys or a separate editing shortcuts panel. Cost aside, it would be nice to have an OLED variant with a wider color gamut, brighter output, and even higher contrast. Additionally, it can also be helpful to have a built-in battery or removable portable power source to keep it portable and balanced even when used in situations outside of a typical editing desk. .

Those improvements aside, this color-accurate portable and pen display is already a remarkable product that combines the functionality of tools that many digital imaging creators use. personal use.