Monitor Calibration: Is it Really Necessary?

[MDJAK]

I've been told by informed members here that when they view my pictures on the web they have a color cast to them and that I should calibrate my monitor.

The only "monitor" I use is the slim LCD that comes attached to my MacBook Pro 17".

Is there really software, either within the computer or without, that will affect the way it delivers its colors? I thought calibrators only really worked on CRTs which had those type adjustment parameters built in.

Also, I see in B&H (where I may stop today as I will be near there) that there are versions of Huey, etc that cost only $79. Is it necessary to get an Eye 1 or Spyder for $200? I don't like to go cheap on anything, but if they do the same thing, I might as well.

Sorry if this has been covered before. Hopefully I've put a different spin on the mundane.

mark

[magicmikey]

I found that using a profiler that my LCD monitor improved greatly. I also used it on my iBook and it helped a lot. The first time I profiled my LCD monitor, I used a borrowed Eye-One Display 2.

Seeing how much it improved the color of my monitor, I bought a Spyder2 Express to use on a regular basis. While the Spyder2 Express gave me a pretty good profile, it didn't calibrate how light or dark my monitor was. (The instructions tell you to use the factory presets for the monitor.)

Unfortunately, that made my monitor too bright. Photos I sent to local labs kept coming out the right color but the wrong density.

I saw a special price on the Eye-One Display 2 on Buy.com and jumped on it. (Taking advantage of the Google Checkout discount for first time users, I got if for around $155.)

Ultimately, I think a Spyder2 Express works fine for setting a color profile for the monitor but I prefer to have the contrast and brightness set using the profiler, as well, so I recommend at Eye-One Display 2 or comparable calibration system.

Michael

[MDJAK]

Thank you, Michael.

All other opinions are welcome.

mark

[PetKal]

Sorry Markey, I'd like to help but I know nothing about this subject.:(

[condyk]

Eye-One II son ... I did all the research a year ago and posted here for info. I was surprised at the difference. The new Spyder 2 or Plus or something might be better than the original Spyder. Do a search for reviews.

[PacAce]

I'll second the Eye-One II (eye one eye eye? :mrgreen: ) recommendation. :)

BTW, to answer your original (title) question. No, monitor calibration is not really necessary. But be prepared to hear complaints from others saying that your pictures have a color cast to them. :lol: ;)

[asylumxl]

i don't have any special calibration software, i calibrated mine in the most basic way, and the prints look identical to images on the screen. i'd say on a decent monitor, it isn't necessary.

[RichNY]

The price is now $152 less $10 for $142 plus shipping. This is the best price I've seen it selling at.

[René Damkot]

I got by for quite a while using the 'calibration' tab in OSX's display settings.
However getting a Monaco OptixXR did improve the display. Not a huge improvement, but a definate one.
I third the Eye One recommendation ;)

[magicmikey]

The price is now $152 less $10 for $142 plus shipping. This is the best price I've seen it selling at.

That's actually the price I paid but I have to pay tax when buying from Buy.com so it brought the price back up. (TN has a 9.25% sales tax!)

Michael

[b1gdaddy]

i don't have any special calibration software, i calibrated mine in the most basic way, and the prints look identical to images on the screen. i'd say on a decent monitor, it isn't necessary.

Agreed. I calibrate mine to a final print from my printer, don't care how it looks on other peoples screens.

[freaking102]

if calibration is necessary, i ask why do mfgs sell monitors that poorly portray color?
monitors/computers are expensive, seems to me they should work OK out of the box.

[JohnJ80]

I've been told by informed members here that when they view my pictures on the web they have a color cast to them and that I should calibrate my monitor.

The only "monitor" I use is the slim LCD that comes attached to my MacBook Pro 17".

Is there really software, either within the computer or without, that will affect the way it delivers its colors? I thought calibrators only really worked on CRTs which had those type adjustment parameters built in.

Also, I see in B&H (where I may stop today as I will be near there) that there are versions of Huey, etc that cost only $79. Is it necessary to get an Eye 1 or Spyder for $200? I don't like to go cheap on anything, but if they do the same thing, I might as well.

Sorry if this has been covered before. Hopefully I've put a different spin on the mundane.

mark

Yep. you do.

If you are serious about your photography and do any post processing on a regular basis, you need hardware calibration. Software calibration is fairly subjective, even the good ones. I guess I'd estimate them at +/- 30% or so. It is only as good as you can eyeball it - no better.

The problem is that the more photos you post process without it being calibrated, the more you images you are potentially adding wierd tints too. I learned this lesson the same hard way you are - when people viewed my shots on line telling me I had a wierd tint. When I calibrated and saw what they meant - boy was I shocked. Problem was, I had several thousand shots with a wierd tint to them after processing.

J.

[nadtz]

if calibration is necessary, i ask why do mfgs sell monitors that poorly portray color?
monitors/computers are expensive, seems to me they should work OK out of the box.

Turning on/off any screen changes the screen over time. There is probably a 'baseline' for a new screen when it is tested, but most people dont care that much about accuracy (if you spend the money on an eizo or the like you *still* get a calibration device with the monitor most of the time).

[JohnJ80]

Electronic components and backlights drift color with time (aging), temperature and humidity. It is a fact of life in the technology of every monitor or display out there.

The monitors do not "poorly portray color" if they are properly adjusted - and that is the function of the calibrating hardware and software.

J.

[MDJAK]

The price is now $152 less $10 for $142 plus shipping. This is the best price I've seen it selling at.

Okay, first, thanks to all who responded.

Second, I order it from buy.com. But now I'm concerned.

There are two items on B&H, one for $229 and one for $199. Which one did I get from buy.com?

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/465156-REG/Xrite_EODIS2_Eye_One_Display_2.html

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=getItemDetail&Q=&sku=472514&is=REG

What is the difference between the above? They both come with 3.0 software.

mark

[RichNY]

Mark, I may be mistaken but I believe they are the same product but the older inventory with the Pantone name on the box is being blown out for $30 less. X-rite aquired Pantone and merged their competing product lines- I don't believe you can buy the old X-rite Monaco any longer.

[Cathpah]

I'm all about monitor calibration, but I can say I was a bit dissapointed when I calibrated mine--not saying I shouldn't've done it...it just didn't make my monitor any better than it really was...just trueer in color. With both of my monitors (dell standard LCD and notebook monitor) in general, it just seemed to make them darker. No matter what, I'd rather have a color correct monitor than a bright one, but it was still a bit dissapointing.

in the end, what I really learned is that I need a real photo editing monitor (such as a good eizo) if I want color correct and performance out of a monitor.

sorry mark...hope that doesn't take another bit out of your wallet.

[MDJAK]

Mark, I may be mistaken but I believe they are the same product but the older inventory with the Pantone name on the box is being blown out for $30 less. X-rite aquired Pantone and merged their competing product lines- I don't believe you can buy the old X-rite Monaco any longer.

Well, if you are mistaken and steered me to the wrong product:

BELMONDO: BAN HIM.:lol: :lol:
in the end, what I really learned is that I need a real photo editing monitor (such as a good eizo) if I want color correct and performance out of a monitor.

sorry mark...hope that doesn't take another bit out of your wallet.


As for you, I'll be dreaming Eizo now, you rat.

But, my daughter just asked for a new computer to take to college in September. You see, her Apple is like two years old now:rolleyes:
It may work out, though: I'll give her my 17 inch MacBook Pro (I have two) and get an iMac 24 incher. :) :D

[magicmikey]

RichNY is correct. The ones that are being sold by Buy.com (and I got one of them) say Pantone and gretagmacbeth on them. The newer ones only say gretagmacbeth. They are the same units. X-Rite bought gretagmacbeth.

The software will need to be updated but you can get the updated software at either Pantone's site or X-rite's site.

[MDJAK]

Thank you magic. I can rest easy now, and Richny will remain a member in good standing another day. ;) :)

[poloman]

Agreed. I calibrate mine to a final print from my printer, don't care how it looks on other peoples screens.

This will always work perfectly! As long as you never leave your house or show your prints to anyone or post you photos anywhere. :)

Calibration is done so that everyone is on the same page (more or less).

[RichNY]

Well, if you are mistaken and steered me to the wrong product:

BELMONDO: BAN HIM.:lol: :lol:



As for you, I'll be dreaming Eizo now, you rat.

But, my daughter just asked for a new computer to take to college in September. You see, her Apple is like two years old now:rolleyes:
It may work out, though: I'll give her my 17 inch MacBook Pro (I have two) and get an iMac 24 incher. :) :D

Now if memory and the posts in this thread serve me correctly, you didn't post your question until after you made your purchase! (I hope the title fairy isn't watching or you could end up with 'Premature purchaser' under your name ;)

If you do go with the 24" iMac then take a look at the iLugger (http://www.ilugger.com/24-inch-imac-case.cfm) I picked one up and it is surprisingly great to travel with. I was sold when I watched the video on this link.

[condyk]

This will always work perfectly! As long as you never leave your house or show your prints to anyone or post you photos anywhere. :)

Calibration is done so that everyone is on the same page (more or less).

Correct ... and Marky has done good. Looking forward to some accurate colour repro lad. You will also find PPing much easier and it will yield better results.

[kuanyu]

I use the spyder 2 Pro and it has help alot.

[MDJAK]

Now if memory and the posts in this thread serve me correctly, you didn't post your question until after you made your purchase! (I hope the title fairy isn't watching or you could end up with 'Premature purchaser' under your name ;)

You have no memory so how could it serve you? I did NOT purchase the item. How would I have known about buy.com? I never heard of da bums.:lol:
As to the title fairy, I've got it in the woiks for you to be tagged but good.:oops:

If you do go with the 24" iMac then take a look at the iLugger (http://www.ilugger.com/24-inch-imac-case.cfm) I picked one up and it is surprisingly great to travel with. I was sold when I watched the video on this link.

And now I remember you're the nut that carries around a tower. You must be strong like bull:cool: :lol:

[MDJAK]

Correct ... and Marky has done good. Looking forward to some accurate colour repro lad. You will also find PPing much easier and it will yield better results.

Thank you, sir. I hope it's easy to use. No more green casts to my posts. It's shipping today. But I opted fo' the free shippin', so it's probably on a slow boat from China.

I'll announce on engraved gold notices when it arrives port side.

me

[MDJAK]

I'll second the Eye-One II (eye one eye eye? :mrgreen: ) recommendation. :)

BTW, to answer your original (title) question. No, monitor calibration is not really necessary. But be prepared to hear complaints from others saying that your pictures have a color cast to them. :lol: ;)


Yeah, thanks, Leo. I've been hearing them loud and clear.

Don't know why, but monitor calibration just isn't sexy.

[RichNY]

You have no memory so how could it serve you? I did NOT purchase the item. How would I have known about buy.com? I never heard of da bums.:lol:
As to the title fairy, I've got it in the woiks for you to be tagged but good.:oops:


And now I remember you're the nut that carries around a tower. You must be strong like bull:cool: :lol:

My 24" iMac is probably lighter than your shooting gear! Just to prove it to you I'll use it when I bring my iMac to you to calibrate its screen ;)

[MDJAK]

An offer I can't refuse. :)

[prime80]

I just got the same calibration unit a couple of months ago. I really like it so far. It immediately helped me get rid of very cool color-cast I was getting when printing, but the biggest benefit to me was getting my contrast/brightness set correctly. I was always getting cool, dark, high contrast prints back from the lab, and had basically started PP'ing everything too bright, with a warm cast, and low contrast. Now I can actually PP to what I want to see in the prints and come up with some pretty good results. Highly recommended.

[RichNY]

An offer I can't refuse. :)

Does this refer to calibrating my iMac or my new title :D

[Mark Marnell]

Hi If you are going to use a spyder on a mac the one to get is the spyder2 pro the cheaper version does not work right for gamma on macs according to my research.i have used it on my g4 power book and it certainly looks like a lot different on my Lcd than the standard mac Lcd profile ..Its simple to use as in the default mode just takes a few minutes however i am waiting for delivery of my new epson 3800 so the real proof of the pudding will be the print as it delivers

[jdizzle]

Hi MDJAK! I would highly recommend the Eye One Display 2. I can actually see an improvement in true color rendition on my monitor. I have printed quite a few shots and I am very pleased that what I saw from my monitor was actually what I saw on paper. I had the Spyder express and it did not render true color on my monitor. I'm going by my experience and most color labs will recommend the Eye One product. Hope this helped. Cheers!