Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/990701
64 CINEMONTAGE / Q2 2018 64 CINEMONTAGE / Q2 2018 means the pixels are not so miniscule that you can't see what's going on, but fine enough to offer smooth, high- resolution results (see Figures 2 and 3). Another important feature of the Z38c Super- Wide Curved Display is the fact that, while many other displays only support 8 bits per channel, the Z38c is a true 10-bit monitor. This means it can display over a billion simultaneous colors. Subtle color gradations will therefore appear smoothly with minimal banding compared to an 8-bit display. Upon taking it out of the box for the first time, I could see that the Z38c was solidly designed and built. With its sweeping curved screen and solid base, its sleek and stylish look will fit into any studio. In addition to the stand, you can also mount the display on an industry-standard VESA mount. PORTS AND CONNECTIONS There are several ways you can connect the Z38c to your computer (from an HP Workstation to an Apple iMac). To start, there are DisplayPort and HDMI 2.0 ports. However, the display also has a powerful USB-C connection that not only connects data and video, but can handle up to 65 watts of power as well. This makes it an excellent way to connect the display to your workstation, especially if you want to power it from a mobile device, considering it doesn't require more than 65 watts (see Figure 4). There are also several USB 3.0 ports, which make it easy to connect devices such as keyboards, mice and drawing tablets. There is also an audio jack, security lock slot and, of course, the power connection. On the lower right side of the display are a set of menu buttons with which you can adjust color and brightness, as well as access various color profiles. I did not have to adjust anything since I found that color on the HP Z38c display was excellent right out of the box, having been factory- calibrated (a factory calibration report was included in the box). The display has almost complete coverage for the sRGB color gamut (98%) and around 310 nits of brightness, which will do nicely for all kinds of creative work. If you are a high-end motion picture colorist or own a color-correction shop where color must be as accurate as possible, you may wish to look at HP's 31x DreamColor 4K display that includes a built-in colorimeter. However, for ultra-wide goodness, the Z38c will have you covered with very good color fidelity to boot. As mentioned above, the HP Z38c includes a subtle curve across its sweeping width. Why the curve? To begin with, it makes the display extremely immersive, basically filling up your entire peripheral vision from left to right. However, there is another important reason for the curvature. The optimum viewing angle of a display should be as perpendicular to your line of sight as possible. By curving the panel slightly, the pixels at the edges of the display face you more directly. This results in a more optimal viewing angle and thus better color and contrast. CONCLUSION Displays are a critical component of any workstation, and they're even more crucial if you're involved in the visual arts, filmmaking, visual effects and 3D animation. While the HP Z38c is not the only ultra-wide curved display available, it is a true artist's display and a cut above the others. Knowing that it's part of the HP's premium Z Series assures that it was built to very high standards and meant to withstand heavy workloads. Once you've experienced working on an ultra- wide display such as the Z38c, you'll be hooked by the immersive experience it delivers and the refreshing lack of a gap between the two separate displays. Perhaps the only thing better would be to have two Z38c displays. While that may sound awesome, in truth, a single HP Z38c Super-Wide Curved display leaves little else to be desired. f TECH TIPS Figure 3: The Z38c Curved Display is perfect for mixing audio. There is ample room for a wide mixing panel with plenty of tracks during this session of Pro Tools. Figure 4: The HP Z38c includes a USB-C port, which is capable of transmitting not only video and data, but also power over the same line.