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Grayscale, Gamma & Color
Grayscale Tracking
The Q2781PQ ships in its Standard Eco mode and Warm color temp preset. You can select sRGB from the options or calibrate in Standard mode as we did.
Our grayscale and gamma tests are described in detail here.
The default color temp preset is called Warm, but that isn’t quite the case with our sample. Whites have a very slight blue tint with an error that increases with brightness. It’s not a huge problem but enough that we recommend adjustment. The best fire-and-forget mode is sRGB, which is fine if you can accept a fixed output of 270cd/m2. That’s a little bright for most offices, but it may be OK for some users.
If you select the User color temp, you must adjust the RGB sliders or the image will be very blue in tone. Once that’s done, however, grayscale tracking accuracy is nearly that of a professional display.
Comparisons
Though 3.62dE isn’t the greatest average error in the group, it is higher than we’d like to see. It’s preferable to keep the number under three for grayscale that’s visually indistinguishable from perfect. Once you make the changes we recommend, however, accuracy is greatly improved. A .68dE average is pro-screen territory.
Gamma Response
We’ve always had good luck with gamma tests of AOC monitors. In the Q2781PQ’s case, a little work is required to find the best result. Standard mode at Gamma 1 is a bit too dark. If the panel had higher sequential contrast, this wouldn’t be an issue, but a little more pop is needed here. sRGB offers decent tracking, but the better choice is to select Gamma 2 and adjust the RGB sliders in the User color temp mode. That produces a line that only dips slightly at 10%. It offers just a slight bump in shadow detail so we can accept that result.
Comparisons
The Q2781PQ takes second and first in our two gamma comparisons. Tracking is tight, accurate, and rides the 2.2 line almost perfectly. This improves picture quality not only in perceived contrast but in color saturation and luminance as well. Keep reading to see those results.
Color Gamut & Luminance
For details on our color gamut testing and volume calculations, please click here.
The Q2781PQ’s native color gamut is slightly over-saturated in the red and blue primaries. The white point is also a little blue, so fixing that may bring the primary in line. Cyan and magenta are off in hue, but yellow hits its targets pretty well. On the luminance chart, we can see a general washing out of color except for blue, which shoots up to 22% over the neutral point. What’s needed here is better balance.
sRGB helps with the hue errors, but red is more over-saturated and luminance levels are still less than ideal. All colors are now closer to the neutral line, but blue is still 17% over the mark. The uncalibrated User color temp takes us back to the point we started at in Standard, so calibration is now necessary.
Adjusting the white point and gamma tracking takes overall errors down to an extremely low level. Red is reigned in as far as it can be, while the other colors hit their saturation target almost perfectly. Luminance levels are almost all zeroed-out except for blue, which still rides high at a maximum of 16%. At least it rises in a more linear fashion. Considering this monitor’s design intent and price, we’re seeing excellent performance here.
Comparisons
An average error of .84dE is enough to award the color accuracy win to the Q2781PQ. We’ve come quite far from the 3.0dE we started at. And the display is now in professional territory. While this level of precision isn’t a strict requirement for the general use category, we’ll always be impressed when a monitor measures well, regardless of its intended use.
Thanks to that slightly over-saturated red primary, sRGB gamut volume is over 105%. The Q2781PQ is perfectly capable of handling color-critical applications. Just use a custom profile to keep your work accurate. AOC doesn’t market it as a proofing tool but it can certainly serve as one.
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