Image & hardware Specs for iMac slideshows on a Large Flatscreen TV?

Rob-F · 03-14-2010

I set up a hundred or so digital images and ran them as a slideshow on my 21" iMac. They looked really good at the 21" size, so now I'm wondering about shooting digital images for display on a big flatscreen monitor. I don't have the flatscreen yet, but anticipate buying one. So, some questions:

How high a pixel count can a Hi-res monitor take advantage of? Aren't they limited to around 1024 pixels wide? So would a 10mp image that is already over 3000 pixels wide be wasted, even on the hi-res monitor? Or am I wrong to equate pixel width directly with monitor resolution?

What is the largest monitor screen that would reveal all the detail in the digital image, yet not be so over-magnified that sharpness and gradation begin to suffer? Since this is related to viewing distance, let's assume 8 feet for now.

Plasma or LCD? I tend to think Plasma, for the tonal range. What do you think?

Rob-F · 03-15-2010

Thanks for the reply! So, if it's 1920 x 1080, then would I be correct to assume that anything over 2mp, the product of 1920 x 1080, is superfluous for the purpose?

Also, am I correct in thinking that the resolution does not increase with screen size? so a 50" 1920 x 1080 will not show more detail than, say, a 42" or even a 36"?

Rob-F · 03-15-2010

Hey, that was easy! Thanks again!

Finder · 03-15-2010

As far as reproduction quality, are you going to be color managing the screen or workflow? What will drive the show? Does it recognize color management. I think an LCD will do very nicely.

We run a three monitor panel at our center. It is effectively a 4080x786 display--about 10-12 ft wide. The slides are sRGB JPEGs. They are designed in Adobe InDesign and resized in Photoshop to the screen resolution. PowerPoint drives the show.

However, if you want to run a single display for specific periods--not 24/7 like us--an impressive way to do it would be a rear projection screen and a digital projector. Hang that from a high ceiling in a big space or find a huge window and project it to the outside world.

Rob-F · 03-15-2010

Well, I think I will stick to a single monitor. I think I might drive it with my 13" Macbook, as it is easier to bring to the flat screen than the heavier iMac. I generally make my color adjustments on the Macintosh screen using Aperture. I shoot mostly in Adobe color space. Should I expect surprises in color when I display on the flatscreen TV?