Monitor Calibration

[Bear]

Hi All,

Not being able to afford a hardware calibration device (ColorMunki, iOne, etc) I was looking around to see if there were any other ways of doing a reasonable monitor calibration for my LCD display and found this site.

Working on a laptop, I don't have that many controls, but managed to get the Contrast, Gamma, and Brightness balanced as per the guide images there. The display is definitely not as "in your face" as previously, almost looking a little muted, but I guess that is probably because I'm used to it being set so rich and vibrant.

I'd be interested in what others make of this site, and whether anybody who has the proper tools feels that the images they provide at this site give a good configuration that matches well on their systems?

[Doug Pardee]

There is simply no substitute for a hardware calibrator. This is especially true for laptops, whose displays are usually inexpensive TN LCDs.

Hardware calibration consists of 3 steps:

1. Manually adjust the external controls to get the monitor reasonably close;
2. Create LUT tables for the video card to provide the proper gamma response curve for each of the color channels; and
3. Create an ICC profile file that tells color-aware software what results your adjusted video card and monitor give so that they can adjust what they send to the video card.

Anything less is—less. The process provided at that site only does the first step, but it's the second step that is crucial. In fact, with hardware calibrators you're often told that if you're using an inexpensive LCD monitor you should put your monitor controls back to "factory settings" in step 1 because adjusting them will typically make your monitor harder to calibrate.

I can't recommend anything short of a hardware calibrator if you're going to be adjusting your photos based on what you see on the screen.

[Bear]

Many thanks for the feedback and the detailed explanation Doug; guess I'm going to have to save up for a hardware calibrator.

[theArchitect]

I know what you mean it does seem a bit expensive for something you're not going to use all that often. If you're a member of a camera club, it might be worth asking them to invest in one out of their budget so that everyone can benefit.

[WVCoalMiner]

Uhhhh Spyder2Express is $59 at amazon I just got one.

[Bear]

Originally Posted by theArchitect

I know what you mean it does seem a bit expensive for something you're not going to use all that often. If you're a member of a camera club, it might be worth asking them to invest in one out of their budget so that everyone can benefit.

That's a good idea. Thanks. I shall have to look around in my area and see if I can find one.

Originally Posted by WVCoalMiner

Uhhhh Spyder2Express is $59 at amazon I just got one.

Thanks. That could be number two on my Christmas Present list, after trying to persuade my better half that she really does want to buy me a 70-300...

[l.k.madison]

Originally Posted by Bear

That's a good idea. Thanks. I shall have to look around in my area and see if I can find one.


Thanks. That could be number two on my Christmas Present list, after trying to persuade my better half that she really does want to buy me a 70-300...

Good luck with getting that lens - the 28-300 is on the top of my list and my hubby's all like "I'll see what I can do" but he's the master at eBay so I have faith in him.

I use Huey on our desktops and our laptops (one of those things you don't realize you need until you use it for the first time-kinda like that lens you want) - I got it for my birthday, but I'm thinking it was only $150. I'm not sure where to get it online, but mine came from our local Apple store (my second favorite store ever - a hole in the wall camera store just outside Dallas ranks first .