computer screen seeing different

[Lamora]

Hi, I haven't been on much, but in the next few mths I will be on a whole lot more. My question is, when I upload a photo, I noticed that different angles on the screen shows a lighter or darker picture. How do I know what one is the true color? Or is this a normal thing?

Thanks for any response..

 

[KmH]

You likely have a Twisted Nematic (TN) type display.

TN displays have narrow accurate viewing angles, and as you move your head (or change the display angle) the colors and brightness change.

For critically looking at images an In-Plane Switching (IPS) type display is preferred because IPS display have broad accurate viewing angles.
http://www.tnpanel.com/tn-vs-ips-va/

TN displays are less expensive than IPS displays. IPS displays range from about $300 to top of the line pro models that can cost $10,000+.
NEC makes some wide gamut IPS displays in the $1000 to $1500 range.

 

[Big Mike]

As mentioned, some types of screens (TN) are bad for photo editing because they look different when viewed at different angles. For photo editing, get yourself an IPS type screen.

But just because you use an IPS screen, does not mean that what you see will be correct. You still need to calibrate the display, which requires a calibration device...something like THIS.

And if we go a little further down this rabbit hole....the screen probably can't display all the colors that may be in the image. The cheaper monitors can't display all the colors in the sRGB color space...which is considered a small gamut color space. Many photographers will work in/with larger color spaces like AdobeRGB or ProPhotoRGB. Last I heard, the expensive 'wide gamut' monitors could display almost all of AdobeRGB (but nearly all of ProPhotoRGB).

As you can see, the whole topic of displays and color management can get fairly convoluted. It's certainly necessary that you become and expert, but if this (photography) is something that you want to take seriously, then I'd certainly suggest looking at an IPS monitor and a calibration device.

Check this out http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials/color-management1.htm