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The R45w-30’s default picture mode is Standard, and it isn’t too far off the mark. It benefits from calibration, but some users might be satisfied with its native state.
Grayscale and Gamma Tracking
Our grayscale and gamma tests use Calman calibration software from Portrait Displays. We describe our grayscale and gamma tests in detail here.
You can see the R45w-30’s warm tone in the first chart above. The error is only a tad over the visible threshold, so not all users will notice it. If a monitor is to have a grayscale error, red is preferable to green or blue because it is less obvious. Gamma tracking is perfect except for the 90% step, which is a tad too light. This has no significant effect on picture quality either.
Calibration removes all grayscale errors and achieves pro-level accuracy. Gamma is improved with only tiny dips (too light) measured at 10 and 90%. This is excellent performance. Remember that the R45w-30 is a value-oriented monitor.
If you engage the sRGB mode in the color temp menu, grayscale is fixed with slight red/green errors at brightness step 70% and higher. This is acceptable for most graphics editing scenarios but is a little shy of the qualifications needed for the most exacting color grading work. This is acceptable performance and I’m glad to see that the R45w-30 includes a usable sRGB mode.
Comparisons
4.06dE isn’t a great default grayscale score for the R45w-30, but it is at least a red error rather than green or blue, which are more deleterious of image quality. Things look much better after calibration, which despite the fifth-place finish, is still a pro-level result. All the panels are impressive in this test.
The R45w-30 does very well in the gamma comparison with a tight 0.08 range of values and a 1.82% deviation from the 2.2 reference. The actual value is 2.16 and that is due solely to the slight dips at 10 and 90% brightness. All other steps are on the 2.2 line. This is excellent performance.
Color Gamut Accuracy
Our color gamut and volume testing use Portrait Displays’ Calman software. For details on our color gamut testing and volume calculations, click here.
The R45w-30’s native gamut covers a good portion of DCI-P3 and hits the target points with only slight deviation. You can see hue errors in cyan, magenta and yellow, which are a byproduct of the reddish white point.
Calibration reduces the error value slightly and tightens up the hues for yellow and cyan. Magenta is still slightly off and red is now a tad under-saturated. The visual difference is extremely small. The picture looks better, thanks to the improvement in grayscale and gamma tracking. Color is essentially the same. Like most wide-gamut screens, green is a little under-saturated. This is very good performance.
The sRGB result is similar with off-hue magenta and a little under-saturation in red. The sRGB mode is suitable for most graphic editing but there is a little room for improvement. It is, however, better than most value screens which don’t have usable sRGB modes.
Comparisons
The R45w-30 is right in the mix with its gamut result of 2.00dE. And that’s roughly the same value for both DCI-P3 and sRGB. It performs consistently in both modes, which is a good thing. Whether you use the R45w-30 just for gaming or for work too, its color will satisfy.
Gamut volume is on the high side of average for the genre. You won’t find too many ultra or mega wide monitors with 100% coverage of DCI-P3 at the sub-$1,000 price level. The R45w-30 does a solid job in this regard. It has more than enough color for SDR and just enough to deliver good HDR. The 100.48% coverage of sRGB is ideal, having neither too much nor too little volume.
Test Takeaway: The R45w-30’s grayscale, gamma and gamut metrics have no visible issues. Calibration is required for the best picture, but you can just get away with the default settings because the error tends to red. It has average to high color volume among ultra and mega wide screens to where any more color would cost you significantly more money. At its price level, the R45w-30 has excellent and very competitive color performance.
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