Monitor Calibration Service ???

[pcguy113]

As we all know, monitor calibration is a key aspect in producing good digital images.

The cost of monitor calibration hardware is pricey.

There is nobody in my area that performs this service. Therefore, I am wondering if this is a service worth providing.

Instead of investing in the monitor calibration hardware/software would you be willing to pay for the service?

How much?

Just an idea. Any/all feedback welcome.

Don

[Ikinaa]

How would you do it?

Go to the people to calibrate the monitor?
Make people bring the whole stuff to you?
Lend people the material for half a day?

[pcguy113]

My thoughts were to provide on-site service.

Otherwise, they would have to bring both PC and monitor in. Bumping/jostling and hitting the adjustment buttons/knobs transporting it home may undo the calibration.

On a part-time basis, as an extra money maker, and a good way to network with people, I was thinking of charging $29.95 for monitor calibration including custom profile creation, $39.95 for both monitor and printer.

Don

[John_T]

Dunno, monitors need recalibrating and profiling every two weeks to a month, and every time you change resolution, color depth, etc. Will people accept that or think you did a bad job when their calibration goes off?

Within a few months the cost of your work will equal the cost of a colorimeter kit, so will you loose or not get customers on that basis?

The monitor must warm up for half an hour to an hour (I say an hour) before you do the calibration. Are your customers going to do that before you get there, or are you going to drink coffee and gab 'til it's warm?

You've also gotta sell something that even people who should know don't even understand. Nine times out of ten you will find yourself having to straighten out your customer's computer and his brain before you can even start calibrating.

And of course the software must be installed on each computer you calibrate, so you will either have to violate the license or pay the price of multiple licenses.

It's a bright idea, but better think this one through pretty thoroughly.

[jboyd]

I'm with John,

Mine reminds me every 14 days to callibrate. That is just too often to have to pay someone to do it. It is hard enough to find time to get my car in for an oil change every 3 months - couldn't imagine trying to get someone to my house every other week to callibrate my monitor.

[Cordell]

I'm not sure it is necessary to calibrate "every two weeks to a month". That seems a little excessive to me, but of course it's up to you. As a matter of fact, I've never heard of anyone doing it every two weeks or even once a month. I calibrate every few months (90-180 days) just to do it and not because I think I need to. I haven't seen any issues that even give me the sense that I need to do it that often and I haven't had one problem with a print caused by calibration issues yet.

I think it can be only a good idea considering what the market is in your area. The problem is I think if you have clients who are serious about calibration will at the least spend $200 or less for the Spider and software. Others will see a need to spend the big bucks on more advanced systems and probably do enough work that requires timely calibration to invest in a system. In other words, I would think they would have a pretty good knowledge of the fact that calibration is important enough to try and maintain it themselves.

It's still probably worth the part-time effort if you already have the knowledge and equipment. Otherwise, I'm not sure if it is worth it to invest a whole lot. Maybe offer an annual subscription and calibrate as often as they need up to a point (every quarter??).

As for license it's just as easy to contact whomever the software maker is and ask what would it take to be allowed to do so.

All in all I think it is a good idea because the investment might be low, license fee depended. Enough market may not be there though.

Give it a try and good luck

[w10d]

cordell wrote:
I'm not sure it is necessary to calibrate "every two weeks to a month". That seems a little excessive to me, but of course it's up to you. As a matter of fact, I've never heard of anyone doing it every two weeks or even once a month. I calibrate every few months (90-180 days) just to do it and not because I think I need to. I haven't seen any issues that even give me the sense that I need to do it that often and I haven't had one problem with a print caused by calibration issues yet.

Most people selling calibration systems recommend calibrating every month, but I'd agree that for most users calibrating 4 times a year would be better than never :) I guess the point is that hardware calibration is much more accurate than judging 'by eye' so you shouldn't be aware of subtle differences in profiles from month to month.

Even 4 times a year will be expensive compared to a basic spyder/PhotoCal set-up, (if the person providing the service is charging enough for their time, traveling, etc.)

One more thought if you want to sell this service: Be prepared for customer's complaints when their prints and monitor still don't match!

[eric1]

anyone have a reputable source for this stuff?

thanks,
eric1