How do you cablibrate your monitor?

JSNG · 27th April 2006

I must admit that I know nuts about monitor calibration. Quite confused after reading some of the postings here too, hope someone can help to enlighten me..

If I just wish to ensure that:
1) the colour I view on the monitor is fairly accurate,
2) fairly consistent among photo-editing software and other software like acd see,
3) minimise colour differences when send to shops or labs for printing after editing them in pc
4) more or less close match with my printer output when I occasionally print via my home printer

Should I get a hardware calibrator, or just some clicks and adjustments will do?

If a hw calibrator is recommended, what shd I get for my purpose?

Saw a lot of diff names like spyder, xrite, huey, eye-one etc.. quite lost

Asked Cathay today they mentioned something like $365 for a spyder 2..

espn · 27th April 2006

Eye One is good, I'm looking at the XRite now, tempted but wallet empty even though gamutlabs offered me a very good price

firestone · 28th April 2006

Just go get a hardware calibrator.

You won't even need the latest version. Eye one display 1 works just as well..sub $100?
Many models are only abt $100+

Canew · 28th April 2006

Any comments on the Gretagmacbeth Huey?

JSNG · 28th April 2006

Eye One display selling at $100+?

What's the major diff between this and the spyder 2 and xrite which cost $300+?

Thanks for the replies

DeSwitch · 28th April 2006

Which is good? I've heard some ppl saying cheap one is no good. now dunno which to get as I have totally no experience but feel that I need to calibrate my monitors as my photo have different comments as under or over exposed.

firestone · 28th April 2006

Last yr ard July tink many of us bought online from overseas for around US$80 at B&H,JR.
Happy with it so far, no comments on the rest.

NMSS_2 · 28th April 2006

go for the mid range calibrator that will cost around 300-400. make sure that your monitor can support at least 8bit with adjustment panel control.

the colours i get from calibrated screen (gretagmacbeth eye-one v2) are as accurate as the prints i got from digi-lab.

billpepsi · 28th April 2006

If monitor is a few years old, better to get a new one instead.

YogiBear · 2nd May 2006

There's currently 2 popular brands in Singapore; a 3rd brand is starting to get popular via once-in-a-while promotion by GamutLabs.
You might also find that some GretagMacbeth products get repackaged under Pantone; they are basically the same.
Pls click on links to find out more..

1) Datacolor ColorVision: Spyder2express, Spyder2suite, Spyder2PRO, PrintFIX PRO.

2) GretagMacbeth/Pantone: huey, Eye-One Display LT, Eye-One Display 2.

3) X-rite: Monaco OPTIX-XR, Monaco OPTIX-XR PRO, Pulse Color Ensemble, Monaco EZ color.

Pls check with Cathay Photo or GamutLabs for local pricing of the above products.
For the un-informed, pls read the tutorials of each website to understand more about Color Management.

Calibration can only be done by professional technicians. Profiling is what we should be talking about.

Before one do any color or photo editing, one definitely must create a Monitor Profile for each monitor which one uses. Only when a monitor profile is created, only then will we proceed to do editing stuff or talk about color matters. Only then can we all talk and communicate the same color language.

There is no necessity to do Paper Profiling unless one do regular photo printing using their own printers. Mind you, such hardware printer profilers do cost a lot. The PrintFIX PRO and the Pulse Color Ensemble are examples of hardware for Printer Paper Profiling.
On the other hand, there are also software profilers which are priced much lower than hardware profilers. These do not perform as well but should be sufficient for a non-professional user. Examples are ColorVision PrintFIX PLUS (included in Spyder2suite & PRO editions) and X-rite MonacoEZcolor.
If you are on a tight budget, my advice is that you engage someone with the right hardware to do paper profiles for you. Such profiling need only be done once unless you change your home printer or use a different type of paper for your printer.

Here is a review and comparison of the more popular monitor profilers...
http://www.outbackphoto.com/color_ma..._08/essay.html

Here is a review on PrintFIX PLUS...
http://www.northlight-images.co.uk/r...tfix_plus.html

Hope this helps.

Kongo · 2nd May 2006

Considering the spyder 2 suite at the moment.

Cathay mentioned that the spyder2 pro has unlimited choices of colour temp to choose from, whereas the spyder2 suite has only a few choices.

Any current user here? Other than 6500k, what r the other color temp choices available for the non-pro version?

idor · 3rd May 2006

Originally Posted by espn

Eye One is good, I'm looking at the XRite now, tempted but wallet empty even though gamutlabs offered me a very good price

BBB... you will not regret getting monaco....

espn · 3rd May 2006

Originally Posted by idor

BBB... you will not regret getting monaco....

You sponsor me si boh?

YogiBear · 3rd May 2006

Hi all,

I've amended my script above about software based printer profilers.
The current ColorVision product is PrintFIX PLUS which is packaged with the Spyder2suite & PRO editions.
ProfilerPLUS & PRO are older scanner based software which have already been phased out.

regards,
YB

YogiBear · 4th May 2006

Btw, here is a review and comparison of the more popular monitor profilers.
Pls check with Cathay Photo and GamutLabs on how to buy some of these products.

http://www.outbackphoto.com/color_ma..._08/essay.html
.

JSNG · 4th May 2006

Hi YojiBear,

The info and links that you have provided are very useful and informative. Thanks a lot for your input!!

From the reviews seem like the Optix XR r more accurate. Since the price is abt the same with the Spyder 2 suite I guess the X-rite is a better buy.

But the fact that the Spyder 2 suite does include the Printfix Plus in the package may worth considering. The Optrix XR does not include any software or features that can help printer or paper profiling?

husaini · 4th May 2006

anybody willing to offer a service to calibrate and be paid for it so that each of us dont have to buy one each time?

YogiBear · 4th May 2006

I'm also offering Monitor Profiling service. Pls see my profile and check my past threads.

Originally Posted by husaini

anybody willing to offer a service to calibrate and be paid for it so that each of us dont have to buy one each time?

YogiBear · 4th May 2006

Back to the topic on Paper Profiling, the ColorVision PrintFIX PLUS software can be downloaded from ColorVision Europe website as a trial (dont know what the limitations are as I havent tried it out yet after downloading). The software is known as PrintFIX Plus 1.0 and there are different versions for Win/Mac.

Terence · 4th May 2006

I can do printer profiling if anyone is interested, monitor too for that matter. It's not as simple as monitor profiling and takes a bit more time. Drop me an email if interested in this paid service cs@21frames.com No PM Please.

Printer profiling software/hardware don't come cheap so don't too surprised by the price I quote. But think about it, no more mismatched colors in your entire workflow, from screen to print.

27th April 2006	#1
JSNG Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 84	How do you cablibrate your monitor? I must admit that I know nuts about monitor calibration. Quite confused after reading some of the postings here too, hope someone can help to enlighten me.. If I just wish to ensure that: 1) the colour I view on the monitor is fairly accurate, 2) fairly consistent among photo-editing software and other software like acd see, 3) minimise colour differences when send to shops or labs for printing after editing them in pc 4) more or less close match with my printer output when I occasionally print via my home printer Should I get a hardware calibrator, or just some clicks and adjustments will do? If a hw calibrator is recommended, what shd I get for my purpose? Saw a lot of diff names like spyder, xrite, huey, eye-one etc.. quite lost Asked Cathay today they mentioned something like $365 for a spyder 2..

27th April 2006	#2
espn Deregistered Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Planet Nikon Posts: 22,045	Re: How do you cablibrate your monitor? Eye One is good, I'm looking at the XRite now, tempted but wallet empty even though gamutlabs offered me a very good price

28th April 2006	#3
firestone Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: West Posts: 399	Re: How do you cablibrate your monitor? Just go get a hardware calibrator. You won't even need the latest version. Eye one display 1 works just as well..sub $100? Many models are only abt $100+

28th April 2006	#4
Canew Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Tampines Posts: 2,093	Re: How do you cablibrate your monitor? Any comments on the Gretagmacbeth Huey?

28th April 2006	#5
JSNG Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 84	Re: How do you cablibrate your monitor? Eye One display selling at $100+? What's the major diff between this and the spyder 2 and xrite which cost $300+? Thanks for the replies

28th April 2006	#6
DeSwitch Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: 1.45N 103.83E Posts: 2,745	Re: How do you cablibrate your monitor? Which is good? I've heard some ppl saying cheap one is no good. now dunno which to get as I have totally no experience but feel that I need to calibrate my monitors as my photo have different comments as under or over exposed. __________________ NPX Multiply

28th April 2006	#8
NMSS_2 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Northen part of Sing a pore Posts: 2,011	Re: How do you calibrate your monitor? go for the mid range calibrator that will cost around 300-400. make sure that your monitor can support at least 8bit with adjustment panel control. the colours i get from calibrated screen (gretagmacbeth eye-one v2) are as accurate as the prints i got from digi-lab. __________________ My Wordpress Blog Flickr

28th April 2006	#9
billpepsi Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: The 3rd Rock Posts: 1,272	Re: How do you cablibrate your monitor? If monitor is a few years old, better to get a new one instead.

2nd May 2006	#10
YogiBear Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: JurongWest.SG Posts: 1,006	Re: How do you calibrate your monitor? There's currently 2 popular brands in Singapore; a 3rd brand is starting to get popular via once-in-a-while promotion by GamutLabs. You might also find that some GretagMacbeth products get repackaged under Pantone; they are basically the same. Pls click on links to find out more.. 1) Datacolor ColorVision: Spyder2express, Spyder2suite, Spyder2PRO, PrintFIX PRO. 2) GretagMacbeth/Pantone: huey, Eye-One Display LT, Eye-One Display 2. 3) X-rite: Monaco OPTIX-XR, Monaco OPTIX-XR PRO, Pulse Color Ensemble, Monaco EZ color. Pls check with Cathay Photo or GamutLabs for local pricing of the above products. For the un-informed, pls read the tutorials of each website to understand more about Color Management. Calibration can only be done by professional technicians. Profiling is what we should be talking about. Before one do any color or photo editing, one definitely must create a Monitor Profile for each monitor which one uses. Only when a monitor profile is created, only then will we proceed to do editing stuff or talk about color matters. Only then can we all talk and communicate the same color language. There is no necessity to do Paper Profiling unless one do regular photo printing using their own printers. Mind you, such hardware printer profilers do cost a lot. The PrintFIX PRO and the Pulse Color Ensemble are examples of hardware for Printer Paper Profiling. On the other hand, there are also software profilers which are priced much lower than hardware profilers. These do not perform as well but should be sufficient for a non-professional user. Examples are ColorVision PrintFIX PLUS (included in Spyder2suite & PRO editions) and X-rite MonacoEZcolor. If you are on a tight budget, my advice is that you engage someone with the right hardware to do paper profiles for you. Such profiling need only be done once unless you change your home printer or use a different type of paper for your printer. Here is a review and comparison of the more popular monitor profilers... http://www.outbackphoto.com/color_ma..._08/essay.html Here is a review on PrintFIX PLUS... http://www.northlight-images.co.uk/r...tfix_plus.html Hope this helps. __________________ :[Monitor Calibration Service using Spyder3Elite]: Last edited by YogiBear; 18th May 2006 at 03:32 AM.

2nd May 2006	#11
Kongo Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 3,258	Re: How do you cablibrate your monitor? Considering the spyder 2 suite at the moment. Cathay mentioned that the spyder2 pro has unlimited choices of colour temp to choose from, whereas the spyder2 suite has only a few choices. Any current user here? Other than 6500k, what r the other color temp choices available for the non-pro version?

3rd May 2006	#14
YogiBear Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: JurongWest.SG Posts: 1,006	Re: How do you cablibrate your monitor? Hi all, I've amended my script above about software based printer profilers. The current ColorVision product is PrintFIX PLUS which is packaged with the Spyder2suite & PRO editions. ProfilerPLUS & PRO are older scanner based software which have already been phased out. regards, YB __________________ :[Monitor Calibration Service using Spyder3Elite]:

4th May 2006	#15
YogiBear Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: JurongWest.SG Posts: 1,006	Re: How do you cablibrate your monitor? Btw, here is a review and comparison of the more popular monitor profilers. Pls check with Cathay Photo and GamutLabs on how to buy some of these products. http://www.outbackphoto.com/color_ma..._08/essay.html . __________________ :[Monitor Calibration Service using Spyder3Elite]:

4th May 2006	#17
husaini Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 74	Re: How do you cablibrate your monitor? anybody willing to offer a service to calibrate and be paid for it so that each of us dont have to buy one each time?

4th May 2006	#20
Terence Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: I'm a Llama! Posts: 4,716	Re: How do you cablibrate your monitor? I can do printer profiling if anyone is interested, monitor too for that matter. It's not as simple as monitor profiling and takes a bit more time. Drop me an email if interested in this paid service cs@21frames.com No PM Please. Printer profiling software/hardware don't come cheap so don't too surprised by the price I quote. But think about it, no more mismatched colors in your entire workflow, from screen to print. __________________ Visit my photo blog Email only please, NO PM!