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HP's push into the market for graphic artists has delivered a color-accurate LCD priced well below its competitors.

We’ve seen super-accurate LCD monitors for artists and graphic designers before, but HP’s new entry into the market may be one of the first not to completely break the bank in the name of true color. The DreamColor LP2480zx 24-inch LCD boasts a palette of one billion colors for those who need it, but will come well short of the five-digit price tags found on many comparable monitors.

HP claims the 30-bit panel in the DreamColor delivers about 64 times the amount of colors an ordinary LCD is capable, making it ideal for those who make a living in graphics and need absolute accuracy. It uses an LED backlight for deeper reds, blue and greens, along with whiter white and black that HP claims is four times blacker than that found on an average LCD. Although its fully customizable, users can also select factory color settings like sRGB, Adobe RGB, Rec. 601, and Rec. 709 through a single button on the display.

The display was developed through collaboration between HP and DreamWorks SKG, the animation studio responsible for films like Shrek, Bee Movie, and Kung Fu Panda. Although it won’t be as pricy as other color-accurate LCDs, the LP2480zx will still cost significantly more than consumer LCDs with a price tag of $3,499.